When the Hays CISD Digital Learning Team decided it was time for the district to start recognizing special teachers for their confident and ground-breaking use of technology in the classroom, the choice for an inaugural “Genius Educator Award” honoree was a relatively easy one. Negley Elementary School teacher Jeremiah Thomas, a multiple Education Foundation Innovative Teaching Grant recipient for his creative ideas, was the Digital Learning Team’s hands down pick for what team member Katie Campbell termed “being an innovator and an educator who is not afraid to use technology!” Campbell and fellow team members Jamie Locklin, Tracy Mulligan, Caleb Hudgens, and Eric Rodriguez personally brought the locally-designed award (designed from old telephones) to Negley for a fun-filled presentation as NES Principal Melody Crowther escorted her celebrated honoree in for the surprise awarding. HCISD Digital Learning Team members include (back, l-r) Caleb Hudgens, Eric Rodriguez, Jamie Locklin; (front, l-r) Tracy Mulligan, Negley Elementary Principal Melody Crowther, honoree Jeremiah Thomas and Digital Learning Team member Katie Campbell. (Photo by Jim Cullen)