By Dr. Ferrell Miller
JC Breakfast Optimist Club
As a youth Michelle McDaniel was involved in 4-H. As she got more involved in 4-H, Michelle said she wanted to become Extension Agent as an adult. “I enjoyed working with both young children and adults” and that seemed like a natural fit for her as a career. However, her studies at Kansas State University prepared her to be a licensed teacher in Family and Consumer Science (FACS) as well.
As things happen to many people, life took a turn and her dream of becoming an Extension Agent came true. Following graduation from Kansas State University, Michelle completed an Internship as an Extension Agent in Wabaunsee County.
Following the internship, in 1991 Michelle McDaniel changed directions in her life and was hired at Junction City Middle School as the Family and Consumer Science teacher. This was the time when computers played an important role in the work teachers did in the classroom to record grades, keep attendance and other tasks we now take for granted and are basic uses of the computer. During this time she was a part of a group of teachers that helped other teachers with their technology questions and presented technology-based professional development for teachers in her building.
Mrs. McDaniel, who is a twice National Board-Certified Teacher, was so interested in more things which could be done by using the computer that she enrolled in numerous Integrated Technology Institutes offered by USD 475. In about 2012 Michelle was asked to teach a Multimedia, a computer class at JCMS, which was in addition to two other technology classes taught by other staff. She agreed and developed her own curriculum that focused primarily on various areas of Graphic Design and Coding.
Ten years later, Michelle applied to be a Technology Education Coach in USD 475 and was hired. She said “this provides me with opportunities to work with students (youth) and teachers (adults)” which was my goal as a youth.
Michelle is assigned to Junction City Middle School, Fort Riley Middle School and Morris Hill Elementary School. “I am invited into the classrooms to give guidance, teach, co-teach, work independently with students or a teacher to solve problems or assist with integration of any computer based extended learning projects. The projects include a variety of programs and websites that encourage creativity with demonstrating student learning such as digital creative presentation, video creation, creation of virtual spaces, coding and robotics, and proper use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and many other tasks.”
The JC Breakfast Optimist Club is having a fundraiser on Monday, February 9 from 11:00 AM until close at JC’s BBQ & Grill. Ten percent of the cost of all purchases and donations will go to the Club for their work with 15 youth organizations; 3 scholarships; support of a Junior Optimist Club at Junction City High School and St. Xavier’s Catholic Schools; donations to the Magdalene Project and Project Lift The Burden, which is a Club project to help families who have unpaid breakfast and lunch bills in USD 475.