RLAS Educator Receives the Apple Distinguished Educator Award

Kevin Konsler knows a few people who have won the Apple Distinguished Educator Award. He looks up to them, admires them, and is inspired by them. He never thought he would be one of them. 

It’s a rare and coveted distinction earned by around 3,000 people worldwide since 1995. About 100 people are chosen each year through an application process that requires a two-minute video that speaks to how the applicant has used Apple to have a profound impact on learning. It was two minutes to summarize 18 years in education and 16 years of using Apple tools to transform teaching and learning. 

Konsler, who has worked at Round Lake Area Schools for the past three years and serves as the Director of Technology and Innovation, has worked with Apple tools in education for nearly 16 years. He started his career as a special education teacher, and when his school district got access to iPads through a grant for special education students, he saw how technology supported learners no matter their level. 

Eventually, his former school district pursued one-to-one devices for all students. This created a new role for Kevin to step into, and one that he would hold for close to 12 years - an instructional technology coordinator. 

Kevin’s career trajectory had changed, and his role had transformed from one of a teacher to one of educational support and leadership. And his journey with Apple was just getting started. 

His former district went on to earn three Apple Distinguished Schools distinctions during his time as the instructional technology coordinator. When he transitioned to Round Lake Area Schools, he knew he wanted to continue to use Apple to help both teachers and students advance in their learning. 

He began with Apple Learning Week - an initiative he championed that invited a number of teachers to work with Apple Professional Learning specialists for one week a year to learn new ways to use technology. It was a start, but he wanted to continue to build a sustained professional learning experience. 

He now leads an AI task force and has created innovation teams at Round Lake schools in partnership with Apple Professional Learning to build educator confidence in using technology tools. These teams are made up of representatives from each of Round Lake’s 10 schools who receive coaching and support from Apple staff at their building three times each year. Those representatives can then share new strategies they’ve learned with other educators in their building.

The award is an amazing honor, and Kevin looks forward to continuing his work to expand the ways technology can be used to support education across all of Round Lake’s schools. 

Congratulations, Kevin!