Education Leader Program / Ron Houtman
Ron Houtman
Grand Rapids, MI
School affiliations
Websites and Publications
"The cure for boredom is curiosity. The cure for curiosity is worksheets."
-Alfie Kohn
For the past 12 years, Ron Houtman has worked at the Kent Intermediate School District and Kent Career Technical Center both teaching in the classroom and supporting educator professional development.
He remembers growing up with his Commodore PET and VIC-20, and knew then that computers were going to be part of his life as a career as well as a hobby. In every position that Ron has held, he has been sought out as someone who can help solve problems with technology.
Since 2000, when Ron started with the Kent ISD, he has been intensely engaged in helping students, teachers, and administrators understand how technology can be used in their teaching and learning practice, and how its use can help them achieve at higher levels. In addition to helping staff at the Kent ISD integrate technology into their teaching and learning practice, Ron serves as a Regional Instructional Technology Specialist for Kent, Ionia and Montcalm educators. He works tirelessly to develop, deliver and provide professional development around the highly successful 21 Things for the 21st Century Educator, 21 Things for Students, and 21 Things for Administrators professional development courses.
The leadership that Ron and the Kent ISD provides to local districts on technology plans helps them ensure that what they are planning to do actually solves teaching and learning issues. Area districts highly value his professional development, consultation, coordination, and strategic planning assistance. They consistently seek out Ron for his insight and advice on both educational technology implementation and how to improve teaching and learning practices in their schools.
