WELLS — A million hits on YouTube could mean a recording contract, a part in a movie or a chance at some level of fame, but for Wells High School junior Morgan Brewster, she hopes those hits mean help for other students who are in her shoes.
Morgan, according to her mother, Pauline Brewster, was diagnosed with a learning disability at a young age, and the news was overwhelming, she said. But through Morgan’s high school years, Brewster has seen her daughter flourish with the help of dedicated teachers and new technology.
New technology, like the “voice search” option created by Google, led to a film crew coming to Wells High School last fall to follow Morgan for a week to see how Google has helped her in school. The crew followed her to class and to color guard practice after school, as well as interviewing her family and teacher.
Although the popularity of the two-minute video ”“ now surpassing one million views ”“ has others around her excited, Morgan remains nonchalant about her YouTube fame.
“It’s been pretty low key,” she said this week from a computer lab at the school. “I’ve had the mindset that if it makes a difference in another student’s life, then it was worth it.”
Special education teacher Cheryl Oakes, who works with Morgan, said although the fanfare has died down, for the first couple of weeks after the video was posted in March, Morgan had daily updates on how many viewers the video garnered.
The video shows Morgan speaking into her computer to search for information on women in the Revolutionary War, which is just one of many Internet applications she has found to help her with school work.
Oakes and her technology tools have played a major part in Morgan’s success at Wells High School, according to Brewster.
“It removes roadblocks and puts her on a level learning field,” Brewster said. “Since working with Cheryl, Morgan has learned that using technology helps her succeed. She uses a laptop, an iPod, a Smart pen, various programs and applications every day. It’s second nature to her.”
Oakes said technology is a necessity for special education students.
“It’s like heaven” having computers and technology resources, she said. “It’s the only way to do this job.”
Which is why Oakes continues to build on her training. After more than 30 years in the field, she became a Google certified teacher in 2008. The video with Google came about after someone at the company read blog posts Oakes had written about her work at Wells High School. She was contacted by the company to create the video, one in a series of “SearchStories” that Google has posted on its YouTube channel.
In addition to Google, Oakes said the students in Wells have access to iPads, audiobooks, voice-control programs, and thanks to the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, Apple laptops.
“Maine is really far ahead,” Oakes said, but without continued training and funding, the state’s schools could fall behind. “We can’t stop here. We’re light years ahead of other districts outside of Maine, but we need to stay ahead.
“We can’t afford to stand still or go backwards.”
And students like Morgan can’t afford for schools and teachers to fall behind either.
“It equalizes the playing field for her and other special education students,” said Oakes.
And the results are hard to argue.
Morgan has done so well in school that she plans to take a class at York County Community College this summer through a partnership with the high school. The photography enthusiast will take digital photography at the college, and, her mother says, the 16-year-old will also have her first summer job. She is also in regular classes, said Oakes, compared to the smaller, special education classes that she used to take.
In addition to academic success, Brewster said since starting at Wells High School ”“ she spent some years being home-schooled and a few at the Aucocisco School in Cape Elizabeth ”“ her daughter has gained confidence and knows that she can do things. This year, Morgan joined the color guard team and she participates in various clubs.
“She feels like she is a part of something, which builds self-esteem,” Brewster said. “She has the confidence to try new things.”
Throughout the years, her daughter has had a difficult journey, Brewster said, but she is accomplishing many things now.
“It is exciting to see her soaring to new heights daily ”¦ it’s what every parent wants for their child.”
To see the video of Morgan, titled “Cheryl & Morgan: Learning Independence,” on YouTube, visit www.youtube.com/user/SearchStories.
— City Editor Robyn Burnham can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 329 or rburnham@journaltribune.com.
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