School CIO: Columns


San Antonio ISD creates new ILP Web-based program The San Antonio Independent School District has purchased Learning Plans on Demand™ for its secondary schools. The Web based program will be used to help teachers quickly create individual learning plans for students without complicated assessments.Betty Burks, deputy superintendent for
Glenwood Springs Elementary implements new ELL program(2) Glenwood Springs Elementary School in Colorado, where almost half of all students enter as English language learners, recently implemented an intervention program to help the ELLs keep up with their native English speaking peers. The program uses Longman Cornerstone, an
Managing textbooks to increase accountability K 12 school districts nationwide are adopting Follett Software’s Destiny Textbook Manager to help increase accountability and control over annual investments in textbooks. Destiny Textbook Manager, a centralized, browser based system, is now in over 11,000 schools. Officials at Plainfield
Florida Schools Prepare to Choose New Math Programs for State’s Students Each of Florida’s 67 school districts is now in the process of selecting new math programs for the state’s 2.5 million plus students. With one half of the fastest growing occupations in the country requiring math or science backgrounds, educators
Monroe Township School District expands teacher training Monroe Township School District’s Challenge In addition to providing differentiated instruction to its 5,500 students,Monroe Township School District (MTSD), located in Middlesex County, NJ,also believes in delivering differentiated professional development to morethan 500 teachers. However, attending to the individual needs
Philadelphia school makes cost-effective new print environment Eager to update its campus technology, the PreK 12 Episcopal Academy (Philadelphia, PA) worked with HP to plan a flexible, cost effective print environment as part of its new campus developments.For some time, the academy’s buildings were highly in need
Western Wayne SD chooses thin clients In efforts to keep up its strategic use of technology in classrooms, the Western Wayne School District (Northeast PA) has announced that it will implement Wyse Technology thin clients. Western Wayne received a “Schools of Excellence in Technology” award in
New study shows collaborative teaching more effective A new research study shows how teacher learning teams working collaboratively and following a structured protocol can lead to gains in student achievement. The study, titled Moving the Learning of Teaching Closer to Practice Teacher Education Implications of School Based
Greater Latrobe School District updates tech The Greater Latrobe School District, which manages over 2,000 workstations and laptops across six locations, recently implemented Novell ZENworks Configuration Management to help update its technology.One of the district’s challenges was its small IT staff—employees were often busy imaging machines
Hampton City School District chooses business intelligence software Hampton City School District (VA) recently started using business intelligence (BI) software from Noetix Corp. to give technical analysts and other administrators the ability to locate data required to create BI reports more easily.With 23 elementary, six middle and four
Henrico adds fiber optic network Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) in Virginia recently added a new data center onto its Richmond area fiber optic network with the help of Cavalier, a provider of telecommunications services throughout the eastern U.S. The new center enables a secure
School for the deaf collaborates with Tandberg for videoconferencing The Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD) in Danville, KY, recently decided to use TANDBERG video communications equipment to unite its students with the deaf community nationwide. KSD’s 150 elementary, middle and high school students make up a deaf population
Arts School finds safe browsing solution The Sallie B. Howard School for the Arts and Education (SBH), like many schools, is struggling to keep up with the times. To prepare students for life after school, the integration of technology is a must. However, relying on technology
SIIA survey shows schools need to improve IT visions The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) recently released the findings of an annual national education survey that measures U.S. educational institution’s progress toward meeting SIIA’s Vision for K 20. The survey was created to help teachers and administrators make
Data-driven teachers by Dr. Scott McLeod Data driven decision making (DDDM) is a system of teaching and management practices that gets better information about students into the hands of classroom teachers. The five major elements are • good baseline data • measurable instructional goals • frequent
Tennessee prep school tightens Internet policy Battle Ground Academy, a K 12 prep school in Franklin, TN, is now in its second year of issuing PCs that have been pre loaded with Microsoft Office and classroom software to its students. At first, students were able to
Rochester district updates website with Schoolwires The Rochester City School District (NY) recently licensed the Centricity solution provided by Schoolwires. The district, which serves 32,000 students, will use the solution in pursuit of its goal of creating a user friendly, “interactive and engaging website” for community
Idaho virtual school selects Starfish student tracking system On June 1, Idaho Distance Learning Academy (IDLA) adopted Starfish Retention Solutions, Inc., a provider of student success systems, to help identify at risk students and connect them with support resources to assist them. IDLA is a state virtual school,
Arizona schools graduate first seniors without textbooks Empire High School (Vail, AZ) seniors will be the first group of students to have started and completed their high school careers without the use of traditional textbooks, using personal laptops instead. When the school began its 2005 school year,
New survey shows school IT breaches increasing CDW G announced the results of the 2009 School Safety Index. Based on a nationwide survey of over 400 K 12 district IT and security directors, the index measures 10 indicators and four contraindicators to set a national benchmark to
A Virtual Good Idea: Virtualization software allows districts to stretch dollars, conserve resources School districts across the country always have had to do more with less. Funding only goes so far, leaving administrators and IT staff to find innovative ways to save money while maintaining a high level of academic quality. Creating virtual
Administrators Accessing the Effectiveness of Technology As districts continue to invest in new more advanced technologies, school building administrators are being charged with the added responsibility of overseeing and managing their local technology program and few are prepared to do so.
School CIO Tips for Internet safety, the myth of "working right out of the box," and an interview with public school technology director Peter J. Young.
A Wireless World(2) by Richard Hoffman This month's School CIO addresses wireless computing and preparing your educators for one-to-one implementation.
Preparing Teachers for One-to-One(2) by Sheila Riley This month's School CIO addresses wireless computing and preparing your educators for one-to-one implementation.
My New Year's Resolutions by Philip J. Brody, Ph.D. Improving staff development, taking an IT risk, returning calls promptly...CTO Philip Brody lays down the gauntlet.
Linux's Education Push by Ed Moltzen When it comes to desktop PCs, schools could be the first, real place where Linux grabs hold.
Am I An Anachronism? by Philip J. Brody, Ph.D. With almost 40 years of experience under his belt, Clark County School District's Philip Brody contemplates an age-old question.
NCLB: Tell Me What You Really Think by School CIO Readers Readers weigh in on No Child Left Behind.
Should You Go Back to School? by Hunter Metatek Returning to school for a master's degree to advance within the IT profession isn't as easy as ABC.
Smart Backup Storage Tips by Humayun Beg Electronic vaulting promises an end to shipping backup tapes, The Advisory Council says.
IT is from Mars, Instruction is from Venus by Alan S. Brody Let's face it: there are cultural differences between educators and technologists. What can CIOs do to bridge the gap?
Get Your Web 2.0 On by Amy Poftak Learn about tools fueling the latest Internet wave and how they might serve schools.
Air Time: Wi-Fi and Commoditization by Dave Molta Commoditization's Yin and Yang
Dear Editor Raves and rants from School CIO readers.
What Intel-based Macs Mean for CIOs by Richard Hoffman Wondering how Apple's new Windows-capable computers fit into your technology planning? Here are some strategic highlights.
School CIO Kicks Off by Amy Poftak Technology & Learning launches a Web community for K-12 technology officers.
Students First by Herman Gaither The culture of technology-based data management in districts comes at the expense of instruction.
Results Matter by Peter Robertson NCLB's focus on results could save instructional technology.
Data Privacy Trouble Spots by Eric Svetcov Concerned about FERPA and HIPAA? Start by closing the gap on some commonly overlooked vulnerabilities.
Building Competitive Advantage by Todd McIntire An American technology director spending a year in the United Kingdom uncovers practical lessons on how to assemble and field the best IT team.
A is for Advocacy by Sheryl R. Abshire Like it or not, participating in the processes that affect technology funding is an essential part of our jobs. Here, seven tips on how to be a player.
Relationship Management:A CIO's Guide by Michael Greenfield In the rush to keep up with increasing demands on time and resources, it's easy to forget that our work is as much about people as it is technology.
The Art of the Technology Contract: Five Tips by Jo Campbell Assistant superintendent and seasoned technology buyer Jo Campbell shares her thoughts on coming to terms with vendors.
The Age of the School CIO Five years ago, the Harvard Business Review asked, "Are CIOs Obsolete?" Experts from both the business world and academia responded to that curious question, with almost all predicting a sweeping expansion, not the gradual obsolescence, of the role. Today, K-12 school districts are coming to this same conclusion.
Breaking the Use It or Lose It Cycle by Todd McIntire Six strategies for curbing undisciplined end-of-year technology spending