Featured Educator of the Month

In this section of our Newsletter, we are honored to recognize the great STEM education work being done by our Participating Schools and CTE/STEM teachers at our Participating Schools. If you are not already a DHEDF Participating School we invite you to follow the instructions at the end of this Section to join so you can then have access to the DHEDF private pages for Participating Schools. This month we are pleased to recognize:

David Huggins, Pani McKenzie, Bryant Booze, and Michael Ingerson

We are grateful to Superintendent Cole Young of Mohave Valley School District #16 ,Mohave Valley, Arizona, for sharing with us the following nomination of David Huggins, Pani McKenzie, Bryant Booze, and Michael Ingerson of the MVJH Innovation Lab

Nomination by Superintendent Young:

“I am honored to nominate David Huggins, Pani McKenzie, Bryant Booze, and Michael Ingerson from Mohave Valley Junior High (MVJH) for the Dee Howard International Education Foundation's (DHEDF) Featured Educator of the Month. These educators are the driving force behind the MVJH Innovation Lab, a transformative learning space that has significantly enhanced students' educational experience and earned both state and national recognition.

“Located in rural Mohave County, where we endearingly refer to as 'Where the Sidewalk Ends...,' MVJH serves our community with limited access to resources and STEM opportunities. However, through the innovative leadership of David, Pani, Bryant, Michael, and principal Charlotte Hansen, the school has created a state-of-the-art STEM hub that provides our students with the technology and tools to bring our world closer together, allowing our students the opportunity to compete on a global stage. They have taken an outdated library and transformed it into a cutting-edge STEM lab, complete with interactive touch screens, gaming consoles, a broadcasting booth, a weather station, and hands-on programs in rocketry, flight simulation, drone technology, 3D modeling, graphic design, and virtual reality. The lab offers an immersive, hands-on learning environment where students build critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills—preparing them for careers in technology and the global economy.

“David, Pani, Bryant, and Michael have gone beyond traditional teaching methods to create a space where students not only learn content but also understand the "why" behind the technology they use. They are empowering students to think critically, collaborate with peers, and solve real-world problems. This approach ensures that students are not just passive consumers of technology but active creators, using these tools to accelerate their learning and hypotheses into outcomes. Their commitment to hands-on, experiential learning fosters the skills necessary for success in today’s technology-laden world.

“Their work has garnered significant recognition, including the Verizon Spotlight School designation and the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) Golden Bell Award for Exemplary Programs. In addition to their contributions within MVJH, these educators have also been at the forefront of creating the Arizona Rural Schools Innovation Network (ARSIN), partnering with neighboring districts in Northern Arizona. Their leadership in this collaboration has allowed them to share their challenges, successes, and best practices in STEM education, helping rural schools overcome barriers and providing equitable access to educational technology and career pathways. Through these efforts, they have inspired other districts to launch their own innovation initiatives and embrace new teaching and learning methods.

“MVJH Innovation Lab is leveling the playing field for students, providing them with opportunities that are often more accessible to students in larger urban areas. For many of our students, this is their first exposure to cutting-edge technology and career-focused learning. By fostering inclusivity, engagement, and essential life skills, David, Pani, Bryant, and Michael are making a profound difference in their students' lives—preparing them academically, socially, and emotionally. The lab allows students to explore STEM pathways that, in many cases, wouldn’t be available until high school or beyond.

“These educators are continually looking toward the future. With Innovation 3.0 already on the horizon, they plan to expand the lab further to include a robotic arm and an outdoor STEM space focused on hydroponics and solar energy projects. They are committed to embedding STEM learning across all subject areas by working with content teachers to ensure that every student sees the relevance and real-world application of what they are learning and why. Their forward-thinking approach ensures that this program will continue to evolve and grow, providing even more opportunities for students in the future.  In fact, we are working on the Discovery Den at the Elementary feeder school to assist with this initiative, developing and deepening the understanding of the skills we value as a District.

“David, Pani, Bryant, and Michael embody the vision of ‘Why Not Our Kids?’ as they lead the charge in reinventing and revitalizing education for public school students. Their tireless efforts to transform the educational landscape for the students of MVJH and their leadership in driving innovation across Northern Arizona make them exceptionally deserving of the honor of DHEDF's Featured Educator of the Month.”

https://www.verizon.com/about/news/rural-school-cutting-edge-education

https://youtu.be/fwieyv1_k8o



I appreciate your consideration!

Student Focused! Future Driven.

For the kids,



Cole Young, M. Ed

Superintendent

Title IX Coordinator

Mohave Valley School District #16

8450 S. Olive Ave.

Mohave Valley, AZ 86440

MVESD#16.org



Thank you David Huggins, Pani McKenzie, Bryant Booze, and Michael Ingerson for all that you do for your students, your school, and your community. You are an inspiration and role model for all of us. Well done!