Tech Ed Brings Out the Kid in Alumnus Tavell Johnson
Tavell Johnson ’20 began teaching technology education in 2020 at Belmont Ridge Middle School in Loudoun County, Virginia.
“As a teacher, every day I feel like a kid in a sandbox because I get to play with different machines and teach others about those machines,” he says. “I present the content in an active way, which I’ve found is a great outlet for my students’ energy.”
Johnson remembers how rigorous RIC’s tech ed program is and how he worked with cutting edge tools and processes, including computer numerical control milling, woodworking, 3-D printing, laser cutting and etching, robotics and software design.
He particularly excelled at computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), which is a subfield of engineering that deals with the design and drafting of objects and materials with specialized software.
The 27-year-old credits Jennifer Robinson, an adjunct faculty member at RIC, for being a mentor who helped shape the trajectory of his academic and professional success.
“Jennifer is a CADD wizard,” he says. “I took a CADD class and went through my teaching practicum with her. In many ways, she prepared me for my transition to the workforce.”
Robinson, who has been teaching in RIC’s tech ed program for 20 years, recalled how Johnson had a knack for architectural CADD (interior house design).
“He came up with innovative ways of creating interior spaces and utilizing space efficiently,” she says.
Robinson also recalls how dedicated Johnson was to his studies. “He looked to improve his skills in both content and methods of teaching, and he’s open to suggestions and critiques, which helps a teacher improve their craft.”
“I emerged from the program with a foundation that will serve me well for the rest of my teaching career,” he says.
As an educator, Johnson strives to provide his students with a well-rounded menu of tech skills.
“What I was taught at RIC is that it’s beneficial to learn a little of everything in tech education – from woodworking to CADD to robotics – because that gives you the most longevity and you can figure out what you like and don’t like,” he says.
A typical day in his classroom includes reminding youngsters to pay attention to demonstrations before they start on projects like 3-D print models or robotic simulations.
“When demonstrations are going on, I ask the students to be completely silent,” he says. “If they can’t be quiet, that tells me they won’t conduct themselves in a safe way while working on projects with their tools. Toward the end of our class, I ask them to clean up their tools and after themselves.”
Professionally speaking, Johnson says he doesn’t foresee moving anywhere beyond his classroom.
“I plan to teach until I can’t anymore,” he says.
For information on this degree program, visit Technology Education B.S.