About Mr. Ford
I've been involved with education and technology for over 30 years, moving back and forth between the two. On the education side, my background includes teaching high school English, managing a dorm of international students, and some time as a behavioral ed tech at KidsPeace. My work with technology has included time as the first webmaster for Maine's largest TV station, teaching Fortune 500 companies how to do custom workers compensation claim data reporting, and setting up a human patient simulator lab. Small side projects have included some fun with high altitude ballooning, a simulator project with NASA, and sending student-designed projects to Antarctica.
This is my fourth year at Surry Elementary School as the Technology Teacher. Having been around various forms of electronics my whole life, I enjoy supporting students as they learn about analog and digital technology. My classroom is the Design Lab - a digital fabrication studio, general Makerspace, and all-around home base. All students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8 have a weekly technology class with me and additional time to work on projects of their own design.
I'm the IT Coordinator. If it uses electricity or connects to our building network, I'm probably involved in some way. (Or will be involved in fixing it...) We moved our network closet this past year so our equipment wouldn't fry in the hot summer weather and we're going to add a new access point controller to the equipment cabinet in a couple weeks. From students whose device doesn't work to issues with our Internet access to budgeting and ordering, there's always something going on in the background.
Capitalizing on my work prior to this position, I'm the Gifted and Talented Teacher. Technology plays a part in a number of GT projects, but we look at all the possibilities for interventions and enrichments. I believe firmly that GT is about behaviors, not some latent academic ability. I'm also a big fan of Renzulli's Three Ring Conception of Giftedness: 1) Above average ability, 2) Creativity, 3) Task Commitment.
Like many teachers, I also pitch in wherever needed. You might find me setting up the PA system for an event, interacting with students who are having a challenging day, doing playground duty, or just covering a classroom because I happened to be walking by. No two days are ever the same, no two hours go completely as planned. And I love making a difference.
Beyond the school day, I can usually be found helping my wife get the last of our three children out of the nest, participating in the occasional medieval re-enactment event, learning how to use a printing press, and participating in the Teacher Advisory Group for Tinkercad.
"Being Told is the Opposite of Finding Out."
- James Britton
