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Pittsburgh Public Schools Teachers Sweep TRETC Innovation in Education Awards

On the evening of January 14th, the Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference (TRETC) gathered at The Robotics Factory to honor educators making an impact in education, including leaders and post-secondary, secondary, and elementary educators, for the Innovation in Education Award.

 

Dr. Edwina Kinchington (Science and Technology Academy) took home the Innovation in Education Award for the Secondary category. Dana Navaroli (Science and Technology Academy, 2023 Innovation in Education Award Winner) noted in her nomination the incredible impact Dr. Kinchington has on the school.

 

“It takes a team,” Dr. Kinchington said in her acceptance. “We have our District, our Principal, Ms. Benjamin, here, and of course, Ms. Navaroli, who won last year. It really is about everyone with the same mindset and vision…all students can learn.”

 

Afterward, Heather Laurent (Woolslair STEAM Academy) won the Innovation in Education Award for the Elementary category.

 

“I’m able to teach 5-year-olds how to program robots, solve problems, and draw blueprints to engineer new projects,” Heather shared. “It’s not easy, but it’s about changing the way that they think and the way that they learn and giving them the encouragement that they can learn, and they can do something that is hard.”

 

Ms. Laurent’s nomination included data noting the growth in total enrollment and science scores school-wide due to her collaborative work with others at the school.

 

The Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference, hosted yearly by the Pittsburgh Technology Council (PTC), was attended by over 400 participants this year from across the globe in Pittsburgh. For more information about PTC and TRETC, please visit https://www.pghtech.org/