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T TEACHINGEACHING

Fall 2026
MINNESOTA’S K–12 EDUCATION CONNECTIONTODAYTODAY MN ™
MN

From Concept to Career: How Congratulations 2026

ROCORI’s Technology Center is Minnesota Teacher of the Year

Transforming Students into Makers David Davis!

We are beyond excited to announce that career around breaking barriers and expanding
Señor David Davis, Music Teacher at Park access to learning opportunities for students.
Ryan Hauge, advanced manufacturing facility during the Spanish Immersion, is the recipient of the 2026 His innovative teaching, student-centered
ROCORI 6–12 Secondary Principal school day. The facility functions as a small- Minnesota Teacher of the Year award! approach, and commitment to equity are
ROCORI Public Schools scale modern production environment where “A major issue in public education is part of what makes him the 2026 Minnesota
Just half a mile from our high school students move through the complete indus- that students often have too little ownership Teacher of the Year.
and middle school campuses, a leased trial workflow—taking an initial concept to over their own learning,” Davis said. “The In 2022, Señor Davis had an innovative
industrial park space is changing the tra- CAD design, running digital simulations, future of public education can be meaning- idea, and he applied for a grant through the
jectory of hands-on learning at ROCORI. producing prototypes through CNC machin- ful, relevant and joyful when we trust students’ Park Public Schools & Community Foundation
Secured through a lease levy, the ROCORI ing or 3D printing, and managing final inherent brilliance, creativity and intrinsic to purchase groove boxes. These electronic
Tech Center (RTC) was opened to provide assembly, testing, and redesign. motivation.” music-making platforms allowed students to
middle and high school students with broad, By blending mechanical engineering, We couldn’t agree more. We are so proud create beats, rhythms, and original composi-
immersive experiences that simply cannot be electrical systems, computer science, materi- of your leadership and authenticity, and look tions. Pushing against traditional music norms
replicated within traditional classroom walls. als science, and automation, the center breaks forward to seeing you continue to see, inspire and standards, his goal was to work against a
At its core, RTC was built around a key down traditional subject silos. Students gain and empower each student! system rooted in rigid structure, so students
educational philosophy: Students learn to hands-on proficiency with cutting-edge St. Louis Park Public Schools who did not see themselves reflected were able
become makers and problem-solvers, rather Industry 4.0 equipment, including indus- to take part in something bigger.
than simply users of technology. Instead trial and collaborative robotics, sensors, David Davis believes music belongs to The grant transformed possibilities inside
of absorbing isolated engineering con- PLCs, computer vision, digital twins, and everyone. his classroom.
cepts from a textbook, students step into a As a music teacher at St. Louis Park
fully equipped, self-standing robotics and Continued on Page 6 Public Schools, David Davis has built his Continued on Page 20

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