By Michael Quirk

michael.quirk@oxforeagle.com

The Oxford School District has named Stephanie Stallings as the 2015-2016 OSD Employee of the Year.

Stallings, who serves as the Instructional Technology Coach for kindergarten through 12th grade in the district, said she was honored and humbled by the award.

“I was overwhelmed,” she said. “It was shocking that there are so many people that are more qualified than I am. I am flattered.”

Stallings has taught for 18 years, including the last eight in the OSD. She received her bachelor’s in secondary education from Mississippi State and her Masters in Education Technology from Arkansas. One of the main duties as instructional technology coach is to work with teachers on how to incorporate technology into their lesson plans and train them not only how to use it, but how to teach students to use it as well.

“My role is really more for to help the teachers: develop lessons, be a mentor, model lessons where we’re really focusing on a one-to-one environment where students grades 7-12 have a computer,” she said. “Creating a learning environment that covers course objectives and incorporates the technology side.”

Currently, the district has a 1:1 rate of Apple MacBooks to students in grades 7-12. Stallings hopes to one day have a 1:1 rate for all students in the district and to become an Apple Distinguished School. Becoming an ADS means the schools use their Apple devices to the fullest extents possible.

The biggest challenge for Stallings is keeping up-to-date with the ever-changing tech climate. She acknowledged, “it changes everyday and when it changes, I need to change with it.” According to OSD superintendent Brian Harvey, that’s not the only challenge she faces. Stallings also trains employees and administrators across the district with new technology and Harvey paid her gratitude for such.

“Thank you for being patient.”