HCS teacher Cameron McKinley achieves Google Certified status

Cameron McKinley has become “Google Certified” - the first Hoover City Schools educator to hold that distinction. McKinley gained this prestigious designation following the Google Teacher Academy in Atlanta in late June.

“This has been an amazing learning experience; one of the best I’ve ever attended. I’m excited that Hoover City Schools has the Google tools and Google Apps for Education available for every student and every teacher,” McKinley said. “I can’t wait to return and work with our team to share the many new things I’ve learned here.”

The Google Teacher Academy is a two-day intensive program that recognizes educators who are doing innovative and exciting things in their classrooms with technology. McKinley has been a technology coach at Hoover City Schools for 12 years. In her capacity, she assists classroom teachers with technology and its educational application in the classroom. 

In the Google Teacher Academy, McKinley joined 35 other participants who received hands-on experience with Google’s products and technologies, learned about innovative instructional strategies and received resources to share with colleagues. The completion enables Academy participants to become “Google Certified Teachers” who share what they learn with other educators in their local regions and beyond.

“I’ve met so many amazing educators from around the country and outside the country. We have formed a collaborative group that will help me to continue to learn and share new things with Hoover and the surrounding communities and across our state,” McKinley said.

Google Certified Teachers are exceptional educators with a passion for using innovative tools to improve teaching and learning, as well as creative leaders and ambassadors for change. They are recognized experts and widely admired for their commitment to high expectations for students, lifelong learning and collaboration, according to Google.

The Google Certified Teacher program was launched in 2006 with the first Academy held at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California. The program has since held several academies across the U.S., Australia and U.K., expanding the ranks of Google Certified Teachers to more than 800 educators worldwide. 

-Submitted by Jason Gaston