MERIT

In 2013, I attended the most incredible professional development of my life. Every time I talk about MERIT, people might think I’m exaggerating its benefits — but then, after they experience it, they are on the “KCI junkie” bandwagon. MERIT originally was the acronym for Making Education Relevant and Interactive through Technology (and before that, it was called “Earn While You Learn”). The thing is, it really never focused on tech… it definitely offered a bunch of technology tools for students to use, but MERIT does way more. The program helps teachers become more student-centered, focused on learning, and builds a tremendous network of innovative and creative educators that become lifelong friends.

Before MERIT, I was shy and lacked a lot of confidence. You can ask every single person who witnessed my presentations in 2013-14 during the program. They saw me shaking, sweating, and glasses fogging up. Put me in front of students, and I was fine; I couldn’t do it without anxiety and panic when I was in front of adults and colleagues.

The summer intensive was two weeks packed full of instruction and relationship building. The MERIT Director was one of my edu-heroes, and she brought creativity, inspiration, and fun to the program. The Assistant Director and instructional team were also key to bringing in different areas of expertise, and it was so evident that they truly loved being educators. I kept a journal of every day as part of the process, and it’s fun to go back to see how inspired and excited I was at the time. We had four follow-up classes after the two week summer session, and we graduated in April 2014.

I don’t think I learned more about using technology tools, but I definitely learned that I don’t want to be a two-by-four teacher (staying within the two covers of my teacher manual and the four walls of my classroom). I also learned through MERIT that no matter how much I teach skills and regurgitation, my kids will not remember it after the test. When I make learning meaningful, personalized, and REAL, it stays with my students. I still have students who remember their poverty project work, their Digital Diva work, and more. They remembered when they had voice and choice. They remember when it was related to their future careers and interests or real-world scenarios.

During MERIT, I became more involved with East Bay CUE, eventually becoming their President and Past President. I was nominated as their emerging teacher of the year. After MERIT, I earned a CUE Gold Disk in 2016. I became a MERIT instructor and a mini-MERIT director and instructor. I also jumped into public education and obtained my California Administrative Credential. I worked as a district technology integration coach and was promoted to be their Director of Innovation, Design, & Technology. I also became the Director of MERIT in January of 2017. In August, I was hired as KCI’s Innovator in Residence. And this upward career surge is all because of MERIT.

MERIT builds confidence. It validates good teaching, and it creates a PLN of great educators that you cry, laugh, and learn with beyond the program.

Learn more about the MERIT program here.