St Petersburg, FL High-School Teacher Takes Down Global Technology Award

Checking in with some local pride here. When the school four blocks from my old house in the 'burg takes down a world-wide Microsoft competition, I've got to blog it. Note I had nothing to do with Louis Zulli and his earning this award, but he just made my 'local hero' list.  For high-school engagement points check out Alfred Thompson's blog post link below.

Louis Zulli is a teacher at St Petersburg, Florida's Lakewood High School in the Center for Advanced Technologies . He recently took first prize in the at the 2011 Global Forum Educator Awards. The specific category he won was the Cutting-Edge Use of Microsoft Technology for Learning. World-wide, note the second and third place winners were from Belgium and Malaysia. There were over 200,000 applicants across all categories vying for the top prize.

You can listen to an interview of Louis via Ted Webb and WFLA-AM at this link. https://www.970wfla.com/player/?mid=21608565  . The clip runs approximately five minutes and positions the competition as, “a tremendous accomplishment among 200,000 applicants". Louis describes his students’ innovative use of technology and explains how their education is preparing them for careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics industries. He also shares his experience in the competition while emphasizing his opportunity to collaborate and learn from teachers across the globe. Interestingly, he calls out the placement of "Professional Developer Tools and Operating Systems" into his students hands as key to his student's success in the long run.

Lakewood High Link - https://www.lakewood-hs.pinellas.k12.fl.us
US Educator Winner List - https://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/aug11/08-01IEF11PR.mspx 
World wide winner list - https://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/nov11/11-10EdAwardsPR.mspx 
Alfred Thompson's blog post - https://blogs.msdn.com/b/alfredth/archive/2011/08/02/congratulations-louis-zulli-jr.aspx