Youssef Elias

Profile Information:

School / Work Affiliation

LAUSD

About Me

I've been an educator for over 11 years. I've always been a technology geek of sorts but never realized how I can use computers with my students.

When I started teaching I had 3 Macs in the back of the room that just there and collected dust. Although I was extremely proficient, I didn't think of using them with my students. One day a student came up and said "Can we use those?" pointing to the dust magnets in the back. I almost said no, but then thought “Sure why not.” The students LOVED IT. I began to see student engagement go up dramatically. I then began to incorporate the use of the computer in my lesson plans. Time on the computer became “standard Operating Procedure” in my classroom. I then had to learn how to fix computers because they were such an integral part of my classroom structure. Within a year I was the technology coordinator at that school.

I then got interested in teaching technology to students full time, and I found a school that was looking for a computer lab instructor and technology coordinator. Running a computer lab on a daily basis and teaching technology to students was a really valuable experience. I had the opportunity to write technology based curriculum and work on some geeky stuff like managing servers and such. That was a tremendous experience.

Four years after that, I moved into a position as a full time technology coordinator at a rather large Middle school. I got suckered into that job by a buddy of mine who left for greener pastures in Orange County, CA. Anyway, that job too was a tremendous learning experience. Although I delivered no technology instruction to students, I did a ton of PD with teachers. I thoroughly enjoyed that.

Now, I HAVE THE BEST JOB IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY. I work for a grant that help math and science teachers integrate technology into their curriculum. I love it. My teachers have been so willing to learn. They invite me into their classrooms on a daily basis to assist. I really fell like the luckiest teacher in the world.

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