Unique Convocation Energizes Teachers in Forney ISD for a Great School Year
On Wednesday, August 9, Forney ISD teachers experienced a new and unique convocation as they began preparing for another great school year in Forney ISD. The District anticipates nearly 10,000 students this year, the largest enrollment in the history of Forney ISD and teachers are busy getting ready for the first day of school which is Monday, August 21.
This year's Forney ISD convocation included a welcome back presentation from Forney ISD Superintendent Suzanne McWilliams followed by an invigorating, interactive, hands on presentation with Travis Allen, a young visionary promoting digital learning in the classroom.
Allen, currently a senior at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, created a viral YouTube video while he was in high school on revolutionizing America’s education through the use of mobile technology. Today, he operates his growing organization, iSchool Initiative. With the support of his team, Travis has presented in more than 40 states and eight countries, allowing him to reach an audience of more than 300,000 people! He has been featured on CNN, Huffington Post and Forbes.
In 2011, Allen was the winner of Google Young Minds competition and in 2012 he was invited to the White House for Education Datapalooza. In 2015 he won the Georgia Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. He is quickly becoming one of the most influential leaders of the emerging digital learning movement.
Allen's message to the Forney ISD teachers was today's students have the tools and resources at their disposal which has created a need for a new set of skills. He stressed that In today’s society, it's imperative for students to become passionate lifelong learners who have the ability to problem solve and manage an unknown future.
One of the many tools that Allen has developed is the iSchool Bus, a fun and challenging experience designed to foster a positive culture around educational technology through problem-based learning. All of the teachers in Forney ISD experienced the iSchool Bus during campus rotations and the Escape the Bus challenge.
In addition to the Travis Allen presentation, Forney ISD teachers were treated to lunch sponsored by the Forney Education Foundation and the opportunity to meet and learn more about local businesses in Forney.
The Forney Education Foundation sponsored the 2017 Forney ISD Convocation this year.
