Hello friends and happy holidays! I just want to share the news that I have

received an early Christmas Present from The Connecticut Technology

Education Association. I have won the Tech Ed Middle School Program of the

Year for my classroom at Weston Middle School! This is the biggest thing

that has happened to me professionally and I'm absolutely elated! This has

been a great year for me and this award really caps it off with a BANG! If

there's any way I can help fellow teachers, please let me know. By all

means, have a wonderful holiday.

Sincerely,

Mark Evans

December 10, 2003

Mark Evans, left, holds robotic creation of theme park ride representative of his technology education program at Weston, Connecticut Middle School. Evans talked about importance of technology education with Al Bruhn, right, during a live call-in broadcast February 19, 2002 on Comcast TV 23. Technology education helps students to achieve higher test scores claims Mark Evans, Weston Middle School Technology Education teacher. Mark Evans appeared on USA TV Talk Live with Al Bruhn on Comcast Community Access Channel 23 February 19, 2002. During the broadcast, Mark Evans demonstrated a miniaturized version of a theme park mechanical ride designed and constructed by his WMS students. There�s a direct correlation between higher CAPT test scores and technology education curriculum. Technology education requires and demands higher thinking order skills and is achievable by students from all demographic backgrounds, Mark Evans said. Weston Public School district is in the forefront of technology education. Public school officials go to Weston Middle School to see first hand the academic value of technology education. Mark Evans showed a Lego video including middle schoolers and First Competition video including high schoolers during the live call-in at Comcast. Although students may not like math, they excel at its application when used in conjunction with school based technology education according to Mark Evans. Despite the need for experiential learning among students, technology education provides in class learning, that promotes and enhances academic achievement similar to field trip experiences associated with experiential learning.