K-12 Hero: Joey Norris, McDowell County Schools

Learning.com is delighted to share that Joey Norris, Coordinator of Technology Integration at McDowell County Schools in West Virginia, has been named a finalist for eSchool Media’s K-12 Hero Awards. Norris was recognized for his significant efforts to champion digital literacy across his rural district.

“I’m honored to be recognized by eSchool News,” said Norris. “But, of course, any recognition is secondary to knowing that our students have the skills and knowledge to not just survive but thrive in the digital future, whatever that pathway may be for them.”

After years as a math teacher, Norris returned to the rural West Virginia county where he grew up to spearhead the district’s technology instruction. He was among the first educators to pilot the Learning.com curriculum offered through the Mountain State Digital Literacy Project, which aims to ensure digital equity for West Virginians.

Amid the challenges of the covid-19 pandemic, Norris carefully implemented the program with an eye toward ensuring equitable access to digital literacy and computer science education for all of McDowell County’s students. He tailored the curriculum pathway with a focus on providing the foundational skills that students would need to stay safe online as they engaged in remote learning.

Norris’ commitment continues today. Once the urgency of the pandemic subsided, he strategically expanded the district’s digital literacy curriculum to include a wider array of digital concepts to equip students to excel in online assessments, core subject productivity, and college and career readiness. He also provides professional development opportunities to teachers across the district, to help them integrate technology into their core curriculum, and to improve their own confidence in increasingly digital educational environments.

“Ensuring the students of McDowell County receive instruction in digital literacy equips them with skills they need in school, and perhaps even more importantly, to compete for careers in the future,” said Brian Rose, SVP of Learning.com. “Visiting McDowell County and seeing first-hand the dedication of the educators, I’ve seen Joey’s commitment to ensure digital equity for all students. Joey is a true educational hero and deserving of this recognition.”