To promote educational excellence, the Alabama Education Association serves as an advocate for its members and leads the advancement of equitable and quality public education in Alabama.
Auburn City Teacher Named Distinguished Technology Educator
Laura Jeidy-Brown, an eighth grade English teacher at Auburn Junior High School, has been named an Apple Distinguished Educator. Apple created the Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) program to recognize K-12 and higher education pioneers who are using Apple technology to transform teaching and learning. Recipients of the ADE distinction are active leaders who help other educators rethink what’s possible with an iPad and a Mac to make learning deeply personal for every student.
Jeidy-Brown has been teaching for 18 years. Her love of reading drew her into the profession, and now, connections with her community and the chance to support her students’ growth and development keep her love of education strong. “It is such a wonderful honor to be a part of their education development,” Jeidy-Brown said.
Only 400 educators worldwide, and 100 in the United States, earned the ADE recognition this year. To apply, Jeidy-Brown created a two-minute video showcasing the different ways she uses Apple products in her instruction. She focuses on classic lessons while using technology to enhance her students’ understanding. “It’s not replacing the paper and pencil,” Jeidy-Brown said. “I’m using technology to create unique opportunities for them to dive deeper into something and create a product that is creative and much more individual.”
Like many educators, Jeidy-Brown is using technology that is completely new to her since she began her teaching career. In some ways, she is learning alongside her students as technology continues to evolve rapidly. Safety is a top priority as she teaches her students to use the new technology available to them. She is constantly ensuring students are making good choices using technology devices. Especially as Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to transform our society, she also prioritizes teaching her students the basic skills necessary to accomplish tasks rather than relying on AI and tech to do the work for them.
“When I started teaching, we didn’t even have Wi-Fi,” Jeidy-Brown said. “It’s been an interesting time period to become a teacher.” Outside of the classroom, Jeidy-Brown is dedicated to sharing her knowledge with her fellow educators. She has twice presented at the Alabama Educational Technology Conference, showcasing her use of Apple products. She also hosts site-based professional development in her local community to teach other educators how to use certain programs.
The ADE program will provide Jeidy-Brown with opportunities for further growth through conferences and access to a network of educators who support each other and encourage innovation. “Because I will have these learning opportunities and professional growth through the Apple program, I’m going to be so motivated to continue to grow as a teacher and to innovate,” Jeidy-Brown said. “I’m excited to try something new.”