Quarta is in her 12th year of teaching, sixth at Unity Point. She teaches Technology classes for kindergarteners through eighth grade.

“We do a lot of building skills year to year,” Quarta Said. “When I start out with them in kindergarten, they can do home row typing by the end of the year. The eighth graders, we are coding, and we do a variety of different skills and activities.”

All of Quarta’s classes are being done remotely this year.

“The kids are used to what we are doing, we’re just doing it on a different platform,” Quarta said.

Dealing with the challenges presented by the pandemic was right in Quarta’s wheelhouse. So much so, the Unity Point administration asked her to train the rest of the school’s teachers about using the Google platform.

“Teaching students is totally different than teaching adults,” Quarta said. “Kids are born into it. They’re like ‘I want to click the buttons. I want to get started now’ Adults are more like ‘What do I need to do? What happens if I click this?’ They’re more reflective before they act.”

Quarta says she can see teachers using many of the tricks and tools learned during the pandemic well into the future.

“We have a variety of grade levels,” Quarta said. “A lot of teachers have interest in keeping Google Classroom for their learning management system, whether it’s just to place materials or important information for parents. We have tools like Flip Grid where kids can record themselves and show what they know. It’s not like it’s a one tool fits all. There’s whatever works for that individual teacher.”

In her nomination, Mary Beth Goff said, “Since the global pandemic began Mrs. Quarta has been a technology rockstar!!! She developed Google classroom trainings for our teachers, provides regular tech support for them and has created meaningful lessons for our students. In addition, she has created Google classroom tutorials for parents and has been available throughout the day to support them when they have needs related to technology. In addition, she has been available during parent Zooms to help guide parents and answer questions about technology, devices, and internet. A Most Valuable Teacher is one without whom we could not operate…Mrs. Quarta fits that definition. She has taken a situation that for many students, families and teachers would be ultra stressful and has led them through it with a sense of confidence and grace that has made them all feel as though they could not only survive but thrive. She is definitely our Most Valuable Technology Super Hero!!!!

If you know of a Most Valuable Teacher, let us know. You can nominate a Most Valuable Teacher here.