Amy Morgan, technology director at St. Ambrose School in Brunswick, is the only educator from the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland to be named a 2020 recipient of the Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award from the National Catholic Educational Association.
This honor is presented to only a few recipients nationally in recognition of their contributions to Catholic education.
Morgan was to have been recognized at the NCEA conference in Baltimore, Maryland last week, but the event took place virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Since her 2009 arrival at St. Ambrose School, Morgan has been a second grade teacher and now serves as director of technology, which includes 21st century teaching methods integrated with STEAM – science, technology, engineering, art and math -- cross-curricular education and technology. She was instrumental in the school’s application for STEM – science, technology, engineering and math -- and STEAM designations and furthering its progressive computer science access and programming for students, as well as working with St. Ambrose’s educational partners.
Morgan leads the school’s FIRST LEGO League teams, the Broadcast Team and she is the College Credit Plus mentor.
Since schools were closed last month due to the health crisis, Morgan has been an integral part of the success of St. Ambrose’s distance learning platform. She also collaborates with other Catholic schools in the diocese to help them provide distance learning effectively to their students.
Morgan works with St. Ambrose pastor Father Bob Stec and the Warmth Project team to provide coats and gloves to the needy in the Cleveland area. She also was instrumental in leading her colleagues through various social justice initiatives at the school and taking students to help serve and celebrate a “first Thanksgiving” for students at a Cleveland inner-city school.
“It is truly thrilling and inspiring to work with Mrs. Morgan. She is the type of teacher who continually learns and hones her craft for the very best for our students, school family and broader communities. Mrs. Morgan exemplifies our growth mindset model. At St. Ambrose School, we R.E.A.C.H. -- we are resilient, empowered, accurate, creative, harmonious as she strives to provide everything every day for every student and staff member. We are so blessed to have her as a part of our faculty and family,” said Lisa Cinadr, St. Ambrose principal.
St. Ambrose was the first STEM-designated school in Medina County and in 2018, it became one of the only schools in Ohio to receive a STEAM designation by the Ohio Department of Education and Ohio Stem Learning Network.
Last February, St. Ambrose was one of only 18 schools in the country and the only one in Ohio recognized for outstanding practices in education as 21st Century Learning Exemplars.