Joe Miles

Joe Miles is passionate about getting technology in use within classrooms.  He’s passionate about technology use in every lesson to help ensure student engagement.  He takes time out of his busy teaching schedule to help educate other teachers on technology use in their own classrooms.  Joe’s dedication to creative technology usage with students.pours over into his service to fellow teachers in helping them to unlock their own creativity.  

Joe Miles is a man dedicated to educational technology not only within his own classroom but in many others.  He is a Google certified educator on levels one and two.  Mr. Miles is a Greenville County Mentor for Greenville County Schools.  Joe received his bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University with a concentration in extended history in education.  He uses his summer’s to participate in conferences and trainings to stay up to date on the latest and greatest.  

The Flexible Teacher

First and foremost, Joe is a dedicated teacher of 8th grade social studies students at Ralph Chandler Middle School in Greenville South Carolina.  He has committed to making learning engaging for all students through a variety of technology mediums integrated into every lesson.  He fully understands the importance of having variety for student learning.  He not only has made certain his students are exposed and using technology daily, but he’s empowered by creating a space for learning.  

Joe has been an innovator for the flexible classroom.  Old desk’s were thrown out and new more comfortable seating options were brought in.  He’s created a space his student are comfortable in so that maximum learning can take place in a relaxed setting.  Student’s like to play a role in decision making regarding their own learning, and Joe gives them those options.  He is always on the hunt for the next best thing to ensure his students are exposed to the latest technology.       

Year Round Learner

Mr. Miles doesn’t stop with just students in his classroom.  He is an educator of other educators.  Joe’s after work time and summers are taken up by being available to other educators.  After work he takes time to facilitate professional development courses in Google.  Being a Google certified trainer allows him to properly help and prepare other teachers for work within their classrooms.  He teaches at Summer Academy for educators in Greenville SC.  He has done seminars on “Google in the Classroom” and “The Flexibility of the Flexible classroom”.  

With the changing tides of technology daily, he encourages educators not to dive too deep when implementing technology and programs into their classrooms.  Instead he recommends that each year they find one or two great thing and master them.  Technology is overwhelming, especially in education.  Using his recommendation ensures teachers won’t get overwhelmed.       

Connections

In addition to year round learning, he believes in making connections and getting yourself educated. Connections with people in technology keeps you up to date on the latest and greatest.  The more connections you have, the greater the chance at knowing about up and coming positions within educational technology.  There are not many formal opportunities for teachers to sift through and learn all the new technologies available.  He encourages educators to dive in on their own and get yourself educated. He uses his summers to attend conferences to keep him up to date on the most current technology. Joe has participated in the Upstate Technology Conference, Midlands Conference, and SCAMLE in South Carolina.    

Living and Breathing Google

Out of every piece of new technology he has tried, there is one that will always take the top spot...Google.  Joe believes in Google everything.  He believes they offer such a great variety of features that all integrate perfectly together.  In his opinion, everyone should know how to navigate and use Google.  He appreciates that they are continually evolving with technology and offering more and more options.  Joe is down to earth, has a great personality, and is a great teacher.    

Written by: Charla Randall August, 2017