At Southwest Preparatory School, we believe in growing great teachers — because great teachers grow great students. This month, we’re proud to spotlight Mr. William Eason, who teaches 8th–12th grade English Language Arts and Reading at our Northeast Campus and recently earned his Master of Education in Educational Technology and Instructional Design from Western Governors University.
Mr. Eason’s commitment to lifelong learning and innovation reflects our district theme, “Every Student. Every Step. Every Day.” His pursuit of advanced study in instructional design demonstrates how Southwest Prep educators continually take new steps to enhance student engagement and classroom excellence.
What inspired you to pursue this program?
“The primary inspiration was witnessing the accelerating pace of technology adoption in the classroom, particularly during the shift to blended and remote learning,” Mr. Eason shared. “I realized it’s not enough to simply use new tools; we need an intentional, design-focused strategy. I chose this program to move beyond being just a user of technology to becoming an architect of effective digital learning experiences—using principles like backward design and learning science to truly leverage tech for deeper student engagement and measurable outcomes at Southwest Prep.”
How do you plan to apply what you learned to enhance teaching and learning at Southwest Prep?
Mr. Eason’s new degree is already influencing his vision for classroom innovation:
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Designing Agentic Learning Workflows: Partnering with departments to build learning pathways that promote autonomy, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving.
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Curriculum Optimization: Using data and instructional design models (like ADDIE and SAM) to align digital tools with specific learning objectives.
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Teacher Professional Development: Leading hands-on training that helps teachers effectively integrate technology, design creative rubrics, develop multimedia content, and enhance feedback using LMS tools.
Timeline of Achievement
Mr. Eason began his master’s program on November 1, 2024, and successfully completed it in just one year, graduating on September 15, 2025. “It was an intensive but rewarding one-year sprint,” he said.
Personal Reflection
“Completing this degree is the culmination of a deep personal belief: that education is the most powerful tool for change, and technology is the most powerful tool for scaling that change,” said Mr. Eason. “This wasn’t just about earning a credential—it was about equipping myself with the framework and skills to make a lasting, positive impact on every student and teacher at Southwest Prep. It means I’m ready to build the future of learning, not just teach in it.”
What’s Next?
Mr. Eason isn’t stopping there. He’s already preparing to begin his second Master of Education, this time in English and Advanced English, on November 1, 2025. His goal is to merge his instructional design expertise with deeper content mastery in the humanities to create advanced English curricula that are rigorous, engaging, and technologically innovative for Southwest Prep students.
🎓 Congratulations, Mr. Eason, on this remarkable achievement and your continued dedication to our students’ success — every student, every step, every day.