Dowler chosen for Foothill’s Technology Coordinator

Wendy Dowler was chosen to be the new Technology Coordinator this year. Credit: Rachel Horiuchi/The Foothill Dragon Press

After 14 years of teaching English 9 and English 11, Wendy Dowler has been selected for the position of new Technology Coordinator.

The Technology Coordinator/Technology Specialist is a hybrid position. Dowler specializes in writing grants for new technology devices, distributing new ideas, and facilitating anything else having to do with technology along with teaching English classes.

The position opened up when Melissa Wantz, Foothill Dragon Press adviser, English 9 teacher and past Technology Coordinator, left for Harvard-Westlake last year.

Although Dowler enjoyed her previous position, she needed a challenge.

“I had the same schedule for 14 years and I love my classes. I mean, students are the best part of the job, they are and always will be. But I was just ready for a new challenge,” she said.

Over the years, Dowler has had a growing interest in technology and how she can incorporate it in her classroom.

“I have been getting more and more into technology in the last eight years and my classroom is almost completely paperless at this point,” she said.

Principal Joe Bova believes that Dowler was more than qualified for this position for numerous reasons.

“She knows the needs of our school, she has already been a leader with technology on campus,” he said. “She was one of the first people to apply for the grants, you know, the mobile devices. She’s super excited about technology.”

Dowler’s experience and skill is exemplified by her passion to find new ways she can help her students.

“I stay up late at night looking into apps and I incorporate that into my classroom and it’s just something that I’ve become passionate about. It’s fun, it’s easy and I love talking to people about doing that,” Dowler said.

Although technology interests Dowler, teaching is her number one priority. She is teaching one period of English 9H and one period of English 11.

“I would have never ever had done this if I had to give up teaching completely. That’s a deal breaker for me, there is no way that I would have ever given up my classes,” she said. “The kids are the best part of teaching, by far they are always the highlight of the day.”

-Sienna Romero