Sara Connors of Cal Young Middle School named K-8 Technology Teacher of the Year
Sara Connors has been teaching since 2003 and this is her third-year teaching technology courses at Cal Young Middle School in Eugene, Oregon with a student population of approximately 527 students. She teaches various computer science (CS) and technology classes to sixth through eighth grade students including Unified STEAM, seventh and eighth grade STEAM, sixth grade Computers, and sixth grade Lego Design.
Accessibility is central to Connors’ classroom work with learning experiences designed for students with diverse learning needs regardless of their background or prior experience. Connors states, “I promote high-tech education in my school and district by embedding authentic technology experiences into daily instruction and creating visible pathways for students to explore future careers. In my STEAM and CS courses, students engage in coding, robotics, engineering design, 3D Design and multimedia production. Projects are structured around student interests and often require students to be the designers. This approach helps students see technology not just as a tool for consumption, but as a platform for creation and innovation.”
The STEAM and technology classroom units are based on the engineering design process: ask, imagine, plan, create, test, and improve. Students work in collaborative teams to solve real-world challenges, such as designing energy-efficient model homes, building robotic solutions, or developing original board games with clearly written rules and functional prototypes.
Connors is actively involved with national, state, and local professional high-tech and STEM education organizations including the FIRST® youth robotics community. She has coached and mentored multiple FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams, hosted two FLL teams at her school and organized a regional FLL Qualifying Tournament with 14 teams in attendance.
She also collaborates with district and regional STEM educators through professional learning communities focused on technology integration, inclusive STEAM instruction, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). These collaborations allow Connors to continuously refine hands-on engineering projects, incorporate accessible technology tools, and design equitable learning experiences for diverse learners.
Future Goals
Connors wants to strengthen her schools’ FLL program. “Long term, I am intentionally working toward becoming a school administrator. I see administration as an opportunity to scale the kind of high-tech, inclusive, project-based learning I have built in my classroom,” states Connors”
Click here to see a complete list of the TechStart technology teachers and students who won TechStart 2026 awards.