Renee Dawson

USA and Canada

Crawford W. Long Middle School

As a veteran special education teacher, Renee has entered the educational technology world with a focus on digital equity for all students. She encourages students with special needs to join her student technology team and help them thrive with technology and their learning in the classroom. She has also started a Minecraft for Education Program with Minecraft Student Ambassadors in her middle school. She was faced with the concern from teachers that students were playing Minecraft and not focusing on their learning. Instead of banning Minecraft in the building, she taught herself how to play and became not only a Certified Minecraft Teacher, but a Minecraft Student Ambassador Sponsor and Minecraft Global Mentor to help support educators all over the world with using Minecraft in their classrooms.

Renee inspires and empowers other women by making them an active part of her Personal Learning Network, connecting with them on Twitter and other social media platforms. Renee also believes in differentiated Professional Learning and works with the other teachers in her building to support them in whatever way needed to incorporate cutting edge technology in their classrooms to increase student engagement.

Rising Star