Teacher Jim Medina makes learning come alive for his fifth-grade students at Havencroft Elementary School in Olathe. Whether measuring distances in an origami frog-jumping competition or creating "Wanted" posters related to the books they read, Mr. Medina's students are active learners. They explore the business world by becoming bankers, lawyers and shopkeepers in a program called Exchange City, and study the U.S. Constitution through research, small-group discussions, and mock congressional hearings in a nationwide program called "We the People." Mr. Medina has been involved in the Building Leadership Team for six years, guiding staff in effective teaching practices, developing long-range school improvement plans and presenting school achievement data to state accreditation teams. He coordinates an after-school computer club for students and has conducted inservice technology training for both the school and the district.
1994 University of Missouri - Kansas City, M.A.
