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Emilia Simoes

Emilia Simoes received her Bachelor's degree from Cal State University, Stanislaus and her Master's degree in Education from Cal State University, East Bay with an emphasis in curriculum and second language learners. She is currently the Director of Information Services and Technology for the San Luis Coastal Unified School District and has been making a difference for students and teachers in six states for over twenty years.

Emilia delivers a positive and upbeat message to help educators engage their 21st century learners. She strives to focus conversations about how technology can be a means to achieve educational goals. Emilia says, “My leadership style has always been a focused, gentle nudging of people surrounding me. I am passionate about helping educators understand how digital natives learn, and what skills these students need to balance their technology talents with their human gifts." Emilia has spoken on a variety of educational and technology topics at local workshops, state and regional conferences.

Emilia’s career in education has taken her across the United States where she taught for fourteen years. Emilia was one of two daughters of Portuguese immigrants from the Azores Islands, who grew up in the San Joaquin Valley in California. “It was my father's dream that we would go to college. He passed away before he saw his dream fulfilled, but I know he was there in spirit as we both received our advanced degrees.” It was during her years as a classroom teacher that she first became interested in technology.

While living in West Virginia, she participated in a statewide technology initiative with IBM known as the "West Virginia Study." A significant aspect of the study, conducted by researchers from Columbia and Hofstra Universities, detailed on the Milken Foundation web site, was that the educational gains achieved by West Virginia’s learning technology program proved to be cost-effective. Significant gains were made in reading, writing and mathematics. An analysis of effect sizes revealed that the implementation of learning technology was significantly more efficient than other popular interventions. She says, “Technology will continue to have an increasing impact as teachers who were raised with computers, digital natives, continue to enter the profession and grow in numbers." Emilia notes that the teachers who are most comfortable with integrating technology into instruction tend to be innovative in other areas of teaching as well.

While Emilia is focused on her job and works hard, she also strives to maintain positive relationships in her life and stays active in many ways. She adds, "I have been blessed with two wonderful children, a great family, amazing friends and talented co-workers!" Emilia enjoys working out at the gym, kayaking, dancing and is refreshing her guitar skills.

This is Emilia's first year as a Site Coordinator for Summer Institutes on California's beautiful central coast. Register for this unique Destination Conference to experience motivational and relevant sessions by experts in their field June 27-July1, 2011. Enjoy the natural beauty and family recreational opportunities that the "Happiest City in America" has to offer. 

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