MERIT Program

MERIT is an amazing opportunity to experience a curiosity driven community of educators united in their mission to help students innovate and think critically. Every day of the program offers exposure to the most creative minds in the ed tech space, as well as opportunities to plan ways to integrate new best practices into our teaching and leading. I love how the "work" of the program is meaningful and exactly what I want to be doing to move my own professional development forward. I am so grateful to have a new network of educators passionate about student innovation and success. — Miriam Singer, MERIT Alumnus

Back when Merit was called Earn while you learn there were just so many skills I didn't know I didn't know. The Merit program taught me so many skills that a decade later would ease my transition into online learning under COVID. — Charles Schletzbaum, MERIT Alumnus

I chose MERIT on the recommendation of a colleague and I am SOOOO grateful to them. I was looking to improve and extend my technology skills in the classroom. It could not have come at a better time with the implementation of Distance Learning. Having a wonderful cohort of teachers and instructors allowed me to learn new skills, new programs, new ways of looking and presenting information in my classroom. I have utilized so many new things that have continued to enhance my teaching. Some programs/tech I cannot live without that I learned about during my MERIT program: Canva, Adobespark videos, and EduProtocols. — Kori Evans, MERIT Alumnus

MERIT was a giant sandbox with lots of interesting people - it was fun to hang out with the few go-getters from so many local campuses. I think it provided a safe an open space to experiment and make silly mistakes that I could eventually turn into cool experiences for my students. — Jonathan Ho, MERIT Alumnus

FAME: it was great! The activities, the camaraderie, and the math, of course! — Sue Duffek, MERIT Alumnus

OMG, ALL THE TECH THINGS! Despite being in Ed.Tech for many years with a Master's in IT. I always learn something new (strategies, app, website, devices) with Merit. Brainstorming with others, and the mental, emotional support of the KCI team has been invaluable this year! — Dawn Ryce, MERIT Alumnus

I learned so much about integrating technology in a meaningful and impactful way that is still relevant to my career. This program shifted my professional trajectory and my learning from the program still impacts those around me. — Kanjana Bell, MERIT Alumnus

I wanted to heighten my technological skills and saavy as a teacher. I did not realize that MERIT would be as transformational for me as it was: no other professional development that I engaged in made as much of a difference for me. I flipped the audience for my students’ work from being for just me to being public / for others / peers. The quality of work improved drastically and the engagement my students displayed in the work they were doing was heartwarming. — Emily Burton, MERIT Alumnus

This program has pushed me in all of the best ways! I consider myself a relatively tech-savvy, progressive educator and even still this program has taught me SO MUCH more than I knew and most importantly inspired me. Every time we meet I am inspired by our two leaders and the members of this tiny community we've built. We can be silly and vulnerable and take risks in a safe way. I've been pushed outside of my comfort zone every time and it has truly benefitted me, my students, my colleagues, and my school. I feel honored to be connected to KCI and the people I have met through this program. Thank you for allowing me to participate! I'm in it for life! — Sarah Schopfer, MERIT Alumnus

I chose the MERIT program because I longed for a sound, hands-on learning experience for my students and KCI was the leader in sound teaching and learning. I also wanted a program that would enable me to network with people outside my district and build professional learning connections in the broader education community. — Carrie Tibbs, MERIT Alumnus

I applied for the MERIT program because I wanted to learn more about using technology in my primary classroom. The program turned out to be about so much more than I thought. Each day we learned about the best teaching practices and then we had a chance to apply those practices. We met with grade alike peers and brainstormed projects. We formed strong bonds with other teachers and facilitators that 12 years later are still going strong. Each day at MERIT I felt celebrated as a teacher. I left MERIT a better teacher, a more confident teacher and part of a strong cohort. — Camille Johnson, MERIT Alumnus

I loved being with a like-minded group full of creativity, building ideas, and thinking outside the box! I met and created relationships with people from districts all around the Bay Area and still enjoy hearing what they are doing in their districts and what new things they are trying! — Libby English, MERIT Alumnus

As an educator, I was looking for a way to further engage my students in ways that we could grow together while learning. MERIT provided me the experience to teach my students as digital natives to comfortably access new technologies as they came along and to feel confident about creatively implementing tech in innovative ways. — Christina Aronen, MERIT Alumnus

I am a MERIT 2011 fellow. MERIT was one of the best professional development experiences I’ve ever had. After MERIT, I went on to present at edtech conferences all over the state, including CUE, ISTE and California League of Schools. I still keep in touch with the professional networking community that came from my time at MERIT. While it was over ten years ago, I am still using the tools and skill set I took from MERIT. I highly recommend this amazing program. It will change your life! — Kristen Berg, MERIT Alumnus

It was an honor to participate in MERIT as an out-of-state participate with the intention to expand resources, make connections with outstanding educators, and return with a plethora of new ideas. MERIT was one of the best professional development opportunities in my career and I became a better teacher for my students, as well as shared my learning with colleagues. P.S. We all learn better when we have fun! — Cobey Doi, MERIT Alumnus

Collaborative, Creative, Engaging Educational Professional Development. This program reignites your passion to share learning experiences. Everything I learned I could use in a classroom. My students and my peers benefited from all I learned and shared. I was prepared and able to provide engaging activities both online and in person. — Helen Rike, MERIT Alumnus

"MERIT interested me because one of the main keys to student success is relevant teaching. Students need to be able to make connections between curriculum and the real world. If a student never asks ""why are we learning this"" then I know I have succeeded. I also wanted to learn more about how to bring technology into my classroom on a regular basis. During remote teaching I knew I was not as good of a teacher as I could be. I was a bit out of my element and I needed more tools and methods for online teaching. OBI was introduced at the perfect time. I was able to make better connections with my students and the engagement strategies we learned helped to improve student achievement. Both of these programs are great and the staff at the KCI is amazing :)" — Ashley Stubbs, MERIT Alumnus

I am participating in ELLI, my 6th program at KCI. KCI is a place where like minded innovators converge. KCI programs promote lifetime learning and support your growth as an educator, collaborator, leader and human. Once you take one you will be hooked. — Sarah Williams, KCI Alumnus

KCI is the center of the Bay Area universe for progressive education professional development. The programs are all about the people and KCI attracts the best. — Mark Loundy, KCI Leadership Alumnus

I came for the units and STAYED for the COMMUNITY! The KCI family is supportive, useful, conscientious and truly tuned in to the needs and realities of working teachers. You won't regret (or dread ) the time you give to these programs!! OBI and MERIT are the best professional development I've ever been a part of! — Kelley McMillan, KCI Alumnus

The community that I built through both MERIT and ELLI has inspired and empowered me to become a better educator. Whenever I participate in a KCI program, I always leave with more knowledge on how to better support my students and more confidence to push the boundaries of education, both in my classroom and at my site. — Misty Kluesner, KCI Alumnus

MERIT and OBI exposed me to so many tech tools that have now become essential in my day to day teaching life. They taught me how to utilize these tools and gave me ideas on how to implement them. Without a doubt, the key word to describe these programs is "Innovation". The diverse ways that they have shown me how to incorporate technology into my instruction has fundamentally changed the way that I teach. It has given me the tools and strategies to try new things. It has changed the way I look at learning tools and how I use them. I have been able to not only improve my instruction within my class, but these lessons have bled out to my entire campus. I am now using these tools to improve my campus community and help make things more accessible to students. I would not have ever been able to do this without the support and exposure to technological tools through the two KCI programs I've taken. I'm forever grateful and this program is a MUST TAKE for any educator that is trying to add spice and flavor to their instruction! — Mac Pham, KCI Alumnus

I was looking for some new tools to inspire my teaching and to engage my students, and the MERIT program was it! What a wonderful way to spend part of my summer. No PD, no workshops, and no conferences - before or since - have come close to the quality of MERIT! — Jacob Berg, MERIT Alumnus

I fell into the KCI programs with MERIT. The program was recommended by a co-worker and at the time I was in major need of professional development, to keep me inspired and growing. Since the first class I knew that I wanted to be part of the KCI team. I have taken as many classes as I could. I have worked with KCI on Mini-Merit programs and I was introduced and presented at CUE conferences. I love the ease of all these programs. They are taught, not in a traditional collegiate way, but as a friend might share their passions. Each of the leaders are skilled presenters, communicators and teachers. The curricula are set up to be used in class immediately, without much prep (which teachers are in short supply of). Thank you KCI and your team. — Zachary Hansel, KCI Alumnus

I have always enjoyed experimenting with technology and incorporating tech into my teaching when possible. I had previously participated in two mini-MERIT workshops, and I was extraordinarily fortunate to receive a grant to participate in MERIT19, for which I am eternally grateful. MERIT was hands-down the best professional learning activity I have had the privilege to be part of. For me, MERIT was like a shot in the arm, replenishing my passion for teaching and learning. I really appreciated the creativity, innovation, and above all the positivity of both the participants and leaders. It was a joy and an inspiration to be part of such a dynamic group of brilliant educators. I learned so much in that short time span that it took me weeks of review to begin to process it all. My MERIT experience helped me to feel prepared when we unexpectedly had to roll into distance learning in March, 2020, and also enabled me to assist fellow teachers through that time. Thank you!! — Laurel Matsuda, MERIT Alumnus