Frank Miracola Scholarship Award
Frank Miracola 21st Century Educational Excellence Award
As one of the original creators of the 21things4teachers, the loss of Frank Miracola to cancer in 2010 left a large void. Our 21things4team, along with the REMC Association of Michigan, the MACUL organization, and Michigan Virtual (MVU) continue to honor his legacy by selecting an annual winner of the Frank Miracola 21st Century Educational Excellence Award.
Applicants are innovators in their classroom, demonstrating the implementation of educational technology aligned to the ISTE Standards. The honorees represent a creative and courageous approach to digital age teaching and learning.
Winners are awarded and recognized at the annual MACUL Conference.
Frank Miracola was an amazing educator who spent his 30+ year teaching career advocating for the integration of technology in the classroom. Known nationally as the "Free is Good" guy, Frank presented at local, state, and national conferences on the free web tools available to educators.
An elementary teacher for 23 years, he became an Interactive Learning and Instructional Technology Consultant for the last 10 years of his life. Known far and wide for his prowess as a digital storyteller, Frank did numerous workshops on creating, editing, and posting digital stories. He was also a pioneer in promoting educator use of personal learning networks such as Twitter, FaceBook and Plurk.
A former winner of the prestigious Milken Educator Award, he was recognized as one of the top teachers in the state of Michigan. An original creator of the 21things4teachers, 21things4administrators, and 21things4students, Frank Miracola was a legendary innovator in technology education. His philosophy promoting free resources for educators was the premise from which the 21things web sites were built, providing a portal for FREE just-in-time training for educators around the world.
Continuing the Legacy
Help us continue the legacy of Frank's work by rewarding innovative educators working to incorporate technology into their classroom.
Send donations to the MACUL Organization, c/o Frank Miracola 21st Century Educational Excellence Award:
520 S. Creyts Road
Lansing, MI 48917
Partners Continuing this Award
Frank Miracola's networking and professional connections continue even after his passing, and the generous contributions of many individuals and organizations keep the spirit of "Free is Good" alive. With Frank as a former member of the RITS (REMC Instructional Technology Specialists), a past president of the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning, and a pioneer in online education, he was an inspiration to many. These three organizations continue to generously support the award: Michigan Virtual University (MVU), Regional Education Media Centers Association of Michigan (REMC), and Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL).
Nominations
Nominations are open each year between September 20th and October 31st for the Frank Miracola 21st Century Educational Excellence Award. This award is supported by REMC, MACUL, and Michigan Virtual in an effort to select an innovative EdTech using educator across K12. Winners are honored at the annual MACUL Conference.
To apply or nominate, visit here: https://forms.gle/WZdyQPxJNZbf3Aki7
Andy Losik - 2024
Andy Losik is an elementary STEM teacher currently teaching at Hamilton Community Schools. A former METs-MACUL grant winner, Andy transformed his school’s Maker Space with a Glowforge laser cutter. Andy believes in using digital tools in order to create authentic learning experiences. For example, his students are using the laser cutter to create the characters from wood and then write digital stories. Andy even taught kindergartners and first graders how to laser-cut gingerbread houses from graham crackers and present them to their teachers. In his elementary STEM classes, this helps change the mindset that Chromebooks are just for consumption when they need to be utilized for creativity and much more. Andy also launched an initiative called the "Chromebook Creativity Project" where he focused on sites, apps, and tools for Chrome that foster creativity.
Holly Schomaker - 2023
Holly Schomaker, K-6 Media Center Specialist at Utica Community Schools, was honored as the Frank Miracola 21st Century Educational Excellence Award winner for 2023. A regular contributor to the 21things4 project, Holly is also a blended learning leader in the Macomb Academy for Digital Educators. She serves on the 21things4 Student Advisory Committee, and is an active contributor to her county's #MakerSpace initiatives - teaching a variety of classes. Holly is a Schoology Champion and ISTE Certified Educator who inspires others with her positive attitude and enthusiasm. Holly truly exemplifies the 21things4 vision of curating and sharing free resources to improve digital age teaching and learning across her community!
Julie Hoehing - 2022
The 2022 Frank Miracola 21st Century Educational Excellence award winner is Julie Hoehing, a 3rd grade teacher at Violet Elementary in Lake Shore Public Schools. Julie is an ed tech pioneer whose journey to transform her elementary classroom from no-tech to low-tech to tech embedded is a model for others and served her and her district well during the pandemic. She was one of the co-creators of the 21things4kids project, now the MITechKids and has been actively involved since 2016. She actively creates content and has submitted over 60 task cards to help K-5 educators bring ed tech to the classroom. Julie continues to actively present about the 21things4 projects and be a model for teachers everywhere who have made the leap to digital age teaching and learning.
Delbert Pike - 2021
Delbert Pike was selected in 2021. Del has been a middle school teacher at Ionia Public Schools and a consistent contributor to the 21 Things project for over five years. He serves on the advisory committee and has written and reviewed numerous Quests and technologies such as H5P for the student project.
Courtney Conley - 2020
Courtney Conley is a library media specialist at Crissman Elementary in Utica Community Schools that was selected in 2020. Courtney has been a part of the 21things4students, MITechKids, Classroom Makers, and 21things4teachers projects and a MACUL, REMC, and ISTE presenter. She is a leader in online learning, serving as a presenter at Macomb 2020 Blended Learning Academy. Courtney spearheaded the redesign of the region̢۪s Maker Space for teachers across the service area (REMC 18S).
Daryl McLeese - 2019
Daryl McLeese received the Frank Miracola 21Things Educational Excellence award in 2019. He successfully completed 15 years of teaching at the middle school level teaching grades 6-8 Science, English, and Technology. Daryl successfully implemented the 21 Things For Students (21t4s) in both ELA classes to dive deeper in his technology classes. He created the over 100 animated videos that introduce each Thing and Quest, worked with students to record the animated character voices for many of the animated videos, and served on the Advisory Committee.
Julia Lengemann - 2018
At the 2018 MACUL Conference, Julia Lengemann of Oxford Community Schools was selected for her extensive work on the 21things4students project. Julia has been actively teaching the content in her high school business classes, as well as participating on the revisions to the site for over five years.
Kathryn Grunow - 2017
The 2017 Winner was Kathryn Grunow, a Digital Media teacher at Malow Junior High in Utica Community Schools. Kate serves as a 21things Tech Boot Camp instructor, is a 21things4students Pilot Teacher, and is a critical part of the revision team every summer for the 21things Project. Dr. Jennifer Parker presents the award.
Kay Wejrowski - 2016
The 2016 winner, Kay Wejrowski, is a Library Media Specialist from Swan Valley High School. Kay, shown here with her 21things Instructor Kay Hauck, REMC 5 Director, prepared the following video about her experiences.
Sarah Monnier-White - 2015
2015- Sarah Monnier-White - Chippewa Valley Schools. Sarah is shown here with Kevin Clark the 2015-16 incoming MACUL president.
Kevin Emmons - 2014
2014- Kevin Emmons, Clarkston High School, Clarkston Community School. Kevin Emmons, is seen here receiving his award from MACUL Executive Director Ric Wiltse and REMC Executive Director Sue Schwartz.
Sylvia Tilman - 2013
2013- Sylvia Tilman, Gompers Elementary/Middle School in the Detroit Public School system.
Shauna Coleman - 2012
2012- Shauna Coleman is an elementary media specialist at Black Elementary in the Warren Consolidated School District. Shauna is seen here with Dr. Jennifer Parker-Moore and Jan Harding at the 2012 MACUL Conference after receiving her award.
Judy Hornberger - 2011
2011- Judy Hornberger is a middle school computer teacher at Chatterton Middle School in the Fitzgerald Public Schools.