School CIO: District News


Autism challenge met by Ontario district Over the last year, Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board (TBCDSB) in Ontario, Canada, has seen a 17 percent increase in students with autism among its more than 8,000 students, and predicts a total of 80 students to be identified in the upcoming school year.
Five day math seminar for W. Virginia teachers More than 150 middle school, ninth grade, and special education teachers from 22 schools in Kanawha County near Charleston, West Virginia will participate in five days of intensive math content training
Texas district pioneers one-to-one curriculum Like many of her fellow educators, Dr. Susan Simpson is continually striving for better ways to keep her students actively involved in their classrooms - and their education.
Data tracking and analysis supports Indiana district goals The website of Carmel Clay Schools in Carmel, Indiana, has an entire page devoted to the 2008-2009 accomplishments of the students in its 15 schools.
NY district outfits all classes with interactive whiteboards Located on the Queens and Nassau border, the Elmont Union Free School District comprises six elementary schools serving 3,900 students from varied backgrounds and international origins. EUFSD’s educational approach focuses on meeting and exceeding state learning standards. Students develop reasoning
Schools bridge language gap According to a survey released this week, communicating with limited-English speaking students, parents and communities amidst shrinking budgets is a major concern for school districts for the 2010-2011 school year.
High school students learn principles of personal finance The Idaho Department of Education stresses the importance of students having basic knowledge of economics and personal finance before entering college or the workforce. In fact, it considers a one-semester personal finance course necessary to prepare students for life and work in the 21st century.
Washington HS trains students for IT careers- without college Not every high school student goes to college. Yet that doesn't mean that those students don't have a chance to succeed in the working world
Range of Virginia students benefit from text reader software With nearly 170,000 students statewide qualifying for special education services, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has a ongoing need for technology to support literacy for students with physical and reading disabilities.
Online school runs smoothly with network monitor Originally designed to help reluctant learners gain access to the kind of alternative education they need for credit recovery or supplemental assistance, Class.com has developed into a comprehensive online education service, which helps schools individualize instruction, offer high-quality standards-aligned curriculum, and provide alternatives for students who need new ways to learn.
Tiny NJ district increases bandwidth, learning Although New Jersey-based Denville School District comprises only three schools, it has the same goals as systems 10 or 20 times larger - goals such as empowering their students to be productive global citizens.
Handheld pilot program shows early success With 99 schools and over 90,00 students, Fulton County Schools is the fourth largest in Georgia. Its leadership believes in excellence and academic achievement. Many of its leaders also believe that the current generation benefits from the integration of cutting- edge technology into the classroom – and beyond.
Georgia tech teachers leave school to learn How do you identify the leaders in your school system who are already integrating technology and media in their classrooms, yet want more?
Texas district locks up student data With more than 66,000 students in 98 campuses, El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) is the seventh largest district in Texas and the 57th largest district in the United States. So it isn't hard to imagine the amount of stored student data the district must protect every minute of every day, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
The Principal's Tale Many schools are going without necessary new technology or upgrades because of recession belt-tightening. What can one high school principal alone do about such a lack in his school?
International schools embracing educational software Although schools in Taipei, Australia, Jordan and Singapore may not share many similarities, they do share at least two: the desire to promote the best learning strategies for their students, and the belief in 21^st century technology as the means to do so.
Teachers, administrators expand use of recording platform When Jason Murray, technology coordinator for the Cornwall-Lebanon School District in Lebanon County, Pa., visited a fourth grade classroom in 2009, he was excited to see 10-year-old students using technology that had once been reserved solely for adults.
Guide to Emergency Technology For Non-Tech Executives Was your school hit by the recent record-breaking “Snowmageddon” storm? What can you do to prepare for a blizzard – or for any emergency?
Data management system saves time for teachers, staff With 37 schools distributed over 88 square miles outside of Houston, Klein Independent School District (ISD), faced challenges with the increasing time required to compile and report data from its many applications. Klein staff spent hours, days, or even weeks
It's 8 A.M. Do you know where your textbooks are? All school districts, whether serving fewer than 900 students or more than 40,000, must keep track of inventory. Textbooks are among the most challenging items to monitor
Student scores rise with teachers' use of video resource When teachers receive high quality professional instruction, does it directly affect their students’ learning and test scores? That’s the question many schools want to answer - before they invest scarce resources in professional development programs.
Which Comes First - the Interactive Technology or the Technology Backbone? Most school districts today understand the importance of providing interactive, engaging learning environments for their students. But in their drive to improve students' classroom experience, districts frequently prioritize the adoption of new technology platforms without first ensuring that they have the right IT infrastructure in place.
Educational data system boosts CA district performance The U.S. Department of Education recently released a report, “Use of Education Data at the Local Level: From Accountability to Instructional Improvement," detailing the value that educational data systems can bring to school districts, by providing teachers with timely, relevant information about student performance. Despite this finding, the report notes that only a small minority of districts and schools have made data use a regular part of teachers’ practice.
Cinncinati schools gain bandwidth, save money with WAN management system At CPS, preserving access to education-related content and applications has always been a priority. But, notes Network Administrator Paul Wright, “Our bandwidth resources were being absorbed by file-sharing requests.”
North Carolina virtual school adds streaming digital content Its online courses maximize student interaction in each class, and are taught by highly qualified teachers who use video, interactive whiteboards, wikis, active worlds, and online discussion tools to engage students.
Discounted online services available to Texas schools Established more than 30 years ago, the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) Purchasing Cooperatives extend into 24 counties throughout Texas.
Game-centered learning explored in Michigan pilot program Central to the one-to-one concept is incorporating 21st century methods of teaching and learning, including the use of virtual environments and gaming technologies.
Professional development resource adopted statwide by Hawaii Hawaii’s public schools are guided by these ideals: high expectations of students’ knowledge, ability and passion for learning and high expectations for the performance of teachers and staff at every school.
Virtual storage offers security, space As Pennsylvania schools begin to embrace new one-to-one computing initiatives, students and teachers are gaining valuable technology experience through the use of next-generation Web "lockers" that are simplifying the way they access and store electronic files.
Progress reports for kids, schools benefit Colorado districts The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and Center for Assessment believe that having a better understanding of student performance and achievement over time is invaluable in providing the best educational environment for their students. So, after a decade of work
Communications system keeps Bronx school in business Keeping families informed in an increasingly uncertain world is a top priority for administrators at Alfred E. Smith High School in the Bronx. So when unwanted news about the school's pending closure arrived, parents and community members were quickly informed.
Oregon institutes new teacher certification process All states recognize the importance of well-qualified teachers to the progress of their students. One way to ensure quality teachers is to implement a thorough, standards-based, up-to-date test - and a testing procedure that's user friendly.
Three schools, three success stories with targeted instruction In a classroom full of students with diverse needs, teachers are challenged to tailor instruction so every student learns. In a growing number of school districts, the answer to this challenge lies in sophisticated software systems that help individualize teaching
Video camera system provides smart security for NY district Nestled in a valley with rural surroundings, the Onondaga Central School District is located in picturesque upstate New York, just seven miles outside of Syracuse. In light of increasing violence at schools across the country, the school district’s administration wanted to help ensure that students and staff would be safe at all times while on school property.
Electronics, cable offer flexible TV solutions for district Students can watch TV programs on a large projection screen from their desks or anywhere in the classroom, thanks to a specially designed and integrated video and data system that uses a simplified cabling network.
Supportive professional development key to better teaching Technology-based formative assessment is a powerful tool for improving education. However, educators must have the skills to analyze and interpret the data produced. For that reason, a professional development program is essential.
Rhode Island District saves money, time and space with zero-client software “In K-12, IT staffing can be a huge issue for us because each tech is responsible for supporting around 650 PCs. This isn’t a formula for success,” said Mark Lamson, director of technology for the Westerly Public School District. Electrical distribution and space are also issues, Lamson added.
Studies indicate software effective against plagiarism With the tremendous educational technology growth of recent years comes both achievement and peril. Students may use their computers to produce creative work of the highest order -or they may use them to avoid doing any work at all.
Schools turn to online professional development, tools for mentors Successful veteran teachers are being tasked by administrators with providing leadership and coaching to their peers to help them develop effective teaching skills and strategies.
Employment software levels playing field for small districts While many large school districts use sophisticated software systems to automate human resources management, smaller districts have had to make do with cumbersome paper-based systems or spreadsheets.
Quality stadium sound achieved in under four hours When administrators of Hatboro-Horsham High School in suburban Philadelphia approached Omega Electronics about replacing their stadium P.A. system, they were looking for a substantial upgrade.
Vermont district benefits from special education program Rutland City Public Schools, a Vermont district of six schools, strives to do the best for "every student, every day," as its mission statement avers. But how does a small district with a restricted budget do its best for those students who need additional or special attention?
Cleveland schools go electronic for college applications The process of applying for college is a difficult one, even under ideal circumstances.
Top digital district expands telecommunications capabilities Recognized in 2009 as one of the nation's best digital school districts, New Jersey's Howell Township School District was quickly outgrowing its ATM network.
Computer system overhaul yields $60,000 savings in one month Based in Indianapolis, Ind., the GEO Foundation has worked statewide to improve public education since 1998. The foundation helped foster support for Indiana's current charter school law and now sponsors three charter schools in Indiana and Colorado, with a total of more than 1,300 students.
Florida teachers gain full-time access to digital resources A key goal of the Florida Department of Education’s Digital Educator Program is to is to train educators to integrate technology into their curriculum. Another goal is to facilitate professional development.
District expands use of math video games According to Texas state law, all 8th grade students must pass the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) mathematics test in order to be promoted to the 9th grade. They have three chances before the end of June.
Atlanta school overcomes sound barriers in assembly hall Established in 1926 in midtown Atlanta by forward-thinking educator Ms. Eva Edwards Lovett, the Lovett School continues a tradition of excellence today, with over 99% of its students going on to attend four-year colleges. The private school has some 1,400 students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Ohio schools add wind energy, save thousands per year Like many K-12 districts, Perkins Local Schools in Sandusky, Ohio, contended with an outdated and inefficient infrastructure. The district’s boiler plant dated back to the 1920s, for instance, and needed an overhaul. Numerous building envelope repairs were required to prevent air loss.
Washington school district standardizes high quality curriculum Bellevue School District (BSD) of Bellevue, Washington has an ambitious statement of purpose clearly displayed on its Internet homepage: Our mission is to provide every student with a top of the line college preparatory education so that they can enter and succeed in the college or university of their choice.
Wireless overhaul yields improved reliability, simplicity Maintaining adequate wireless coverage was a continual battle. Placed on a shelf, a table, or the floor in a classroom, access points were easily moved, unplugged, or even stolen. Without central management, there was no way to know a problem existed until a user complained.
Chicago HS drill uses online program to maintain learning Schools across the nation are preparing for the possibility of widespread closings due to H1N1. And although VOISE Academy High School in Chicago isn't a typical American high school, it shares the same concern of all U.S. school districts - how to keep education going despite a flu epidemic, or any emergency.
When learning is done well, the technology becomes transparent Today was our last day in Australia, and we are exhausted. Our feet and legs are tired from walking, and our brains are tired from taking in and processing so much information. We're tired but we're satisfied with how we've spent this time -- giving lots of people in lots of schools lots ideas for how to utilize the features of our site and bring 21st century concepts into the classroom.
Filling the Gap in Emergency Response When disasters occur, from tornado warnings to domestic or international terrorism, PDAs, cell phones and email are of little help to those without them or those ignoring them. To protect school campuses and the wider community, wireless PA systems compatible with existing two-way radio systems are filling the emergency response gap at some of the nation's school campuses and municipalities.
New England schools improve literacy while kids have fun In today's information-based society, strong literacy skills are critical for success. Without strong foundational reading skills, students may lack self-confidence, motivation to learn, and face significant hurdles throughout their academic career. As a result, educators are placing ever-increasing demands for higher levels of reading competency.
California educators honored for communication excellence When four North Sacramento area school districts merged in 2007, they formed a new district of 27,000 students in 54 schools, covering 120 square miles. Many of the parents and students affected by the merger had questions and doubts about the new organization.
Districts gain reliability, save money with integrated communication system The simple days of Ma Bell are long gone. Now it’s not just telephones – it’s a variety of communication equipment and functions, all integrated and controlled through one computer system. Many schools districts struggle to achieve and maintain such a complex, integrated communications system – especially one that is reliable, flexible and cost-effective.
Special education students set own goals, see progress With over 100 special education students with learning disabilities, Alliance Middle School teacher Laura Kelleher had been trying for three years to get her students to set their own goals and to take ownership of their own reading skills.
Students learn math, have fun in virtual world Kids like animals and computers games. And teachers need to a way to engage kids in learning math concepts. The Minnetonka Public School District put one and one together and started using an online virtual world to build young students' mathematics skills.
Software offers key to reading success Children are often told that, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. But what if you still don’t succeed? This was the dilemma facing Liberty Public Schools (MO).
Georgia schools see CRCT scores rise Since the state of Georgia launched the Georgia Performance Standards, schools have been working to enhance their instruction to help students achieve the rigorous expectations for student work.
Rebuilt charter school anchors New Orleans neighborhood Broadmoor, a New Orleans neighborhood in the Uptown/Carrolton area, was among the worst affected by Katrina flooding. Since the state did not have plans to re-open the badly-damaged school, Broadmoor residents took it upon themselves.
Spokane schools increase graduation through online options Superintendent John Glenewinkel of East Valley School District (EVSD) in Spokane wanted to tackle his district's high school dropout challenges and expand educational opportunities to all students.
Western NY adds digital file-sharing for 41 districts Western New York Regional Information Center (WNYRIC) provides provides information and technology services to five regionally based Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and their component school districts, comprising a quarter of a million students.
Milwaukee schools embrace streaming digital media Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) has begun implementing Discovery Education streaming Plus in more than 140 schools. The program boosts curricula with up to 9,000 videos and 71,000 digital video clips, aligned to state standards and searchable by keyword, content area and grade level.
Reading software yields gains in three Michigan districts If there is a single skill most important to a child’s learning, it must be reading. Without the ability to read well, children will struggle to succeed in all their subjects. Even math requires a certain level of literacy to grasp and apply key concepts. But a number of factors may lead to literacy problems, including socio-economic circumstances, special education needs and ESL issues.
Interactive whiteboards promote collaboration, discipline With more than 63,000 students enrolled at more than 100 schools, Mobile County Public Schools (MCPS) is the largest district in Alabama and the 50th largest district in the United States. With that many students, it's understandable that student attentiveness and behavior might be ongoing concerns for educators.
Free Website a boon for Idaho district With under 5,000 students, Lakeland School District in tiny Rathdrum, Idaho, doesn't have a huge I.T. budget. Yet Lakeland has the same need to communicate with parents, students and community members as any larger school system would.
Study shows third-graders boost scores with literacy program Results from a recent study among third graders in a suburban public school district show substantial improvement in reading scores for those students who learned using a differentiated literacy program. The study was conducted in the East Hartford (CT) Public School District by Main Street Academix, an independent, university-based research company.
Louisiana kids gain confidence, skills with design software Students in special education programs may present unusual challenges to educators, because they need more time than other students to achieve learning goals and reach key milestones. How, then, can teachers keep students’ attention and provide immediate positive reinforcement for their efforts, thereby preventing frustration and loss of interest in school?
CA district focuses efforts on kids at risk to drop out More than 1 million students drop out of U.S. schools every year. In many districts across the country, educators are grappling with this sober statistic and seeking ways to keep kids in school.
Math challenge uses video games to spur learning Many educators agree that one of the best ways for children of all ages to enhance learning is through play and useful applications of the skills they have developed. Not surprisingly, then, many teachers are increasingly adding educational video games to their mix of classroom tools.
Five essential practices to transform failing schools Amid growing pressure on public school districts to improve performance of chronically struggling schools, two nationally known education organizations have formed a consortium to offer a research-based approach for transforming these schools into successful learning environments without requiring mass dismissals of staff, school closures or turnover to charters or outside management organizations.
Data analysis essential for decision making The typical educational institution generates terabytes of learning management system (LMS) data on an annual basis. When combined with data extracted from other sources such as network or security devices, operating systems and complimentary application systems such as SIS, ERP
Cloud, thin computing saves $200,000 yearly Beech Grove City Schools in Indiana had a problem with their IT system. It delivered the basic educational and administrative support, but at a steep cost in maintenance.
NYC HS improves online access for students, teachers NYC iSchool is a model high school program developed through a special initiative from the NYC Chancellor’s office. In a supportive environment, it offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum with a focus on interdisciplinary study of real-world problems, individualized learning, and on-line coursework. Technology is part of every content area and facilitates the individualized programming and on-line work.
RTI program supported by reading software Kanawha County Schools, the largest public school district in West Virginia and the district serving the state capital of Charleston, has selected Reading Assistant™ from Scientific Learning to help boost the performance of struggling fourth and fifth grade readers in the district’s 26 Title I elementary schools.
Boulder upgrades 1300 classrooms with integrated technology Boulder Valley School District, a 29,000-student public school system serving Boulder, Colorado, and its surrounding communities, is undertaking one of the most comprehensive district-wide technology improvements in the country – outfitting nearly 90 percent of its K-12 classrooms with state-of-the-art, instructional technology.
D3M software speeds information access in Indiana With “student achievement” headlining its 2009-10 Strategic Plan, the district stepped up the search for a data-driven decision making (D3M) product that would allow them to gain immediate access to multiple data points to demonstrate continuous improvement.
2009 Digital School District Survey Winners Winners of the sixth annual Digital School Districts Survey have been announced by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education, the National School Boards Association and Converge Online magazine. The Survey’s purpose is to recognize school districts and school boards across the nation whose use of digital technology in interfacing with students, parents and community, district governing, and bettering of operations proved exceptional.
Vocational institute uses CMS to address privacy, cost concerns IT Director Michael Baker and his colleagues evaluated a handful of classroom management solutions with three specific criteria in mind.
New York State Adds Education Vendor How does a state as geographically large and populous as New York manage the information and technology needs of hundreds of diverse school districts? Through twelve Regional Information Centers (RICs), which work with all Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and school districts throughout the state to deliver technical support, resources and solutions.
Managing Internet traffic in Canadian schools Network security and student safety have emerged as top priorities for education leaders in Canada as educators rely increasingly on the Internet for instruction, educational resources, assessment, data management, and more.
Missouri district sees scores rise with diagnostic program The Park Hill School District, with 15 schools and more than 10,000 students, is a suburban district located just north of Kansas City, Missouri. Although teachers have regularly used classroom assessments to gauge student learning during the year, the district lacked the means to consistently measure student performance against the Missouri Grade-Level Expectations or to predict student performance on the MAP.
Oregon goes digital with science Across the country, teaching science from textbooks alone is going the way of the dinosaur. Most educators believe that in order to hold the attention of 21st century learners and to prepare them for the technology of tomorrow, digital resources must become primary teaching tools.
Strengthening the home-school connection in St. Louis Saint Louis Public Schools Executive Director of Communications Patrick Wallace believes it's essential to the home-school connection for teachers to be able to create and maintain interactive, up- to-date websites. Additionally, tools for creating websites should be easy for teachers with any level of computer sophistication to master.
Vacant TV channels yield broadband solution For the first time in the U.S., unused TV broadcast channels freed by the transition to digital TV are being used to deliver wireless high-speed Internet connectivity to education, business and community users.
Activity-Based Reading Software Improves Skills With a student population made up of 96 percent Hispanics and 60 percent English Language Learners, administrators at Mountain View School District in California needed a literacy program which would identify skill gaps and provide differentiated instruction and practice in key skill areas. The district began using Lexia Reading in 2007. Last year, it moved to a full implementation in all elementary schools.
Preschoolers Benefit from 1,000 Computer Centers According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. population is also the most likely to drop out of high school. What's more, they are also highly underrepresented in technical and engineering professions, according to the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. That's why IBM is spearheading an effort to promote education within the Hispanic community.
ROI in Less than One Year with Systems Software Academy School District 20 of Colorado Springs serves 22,000 students and is one of the largest and oldest school districts in Colorado.Because of the district's location, fast-growing city and large physical layout, ASD20's IT staff, in charge of managing 30 servers and more than 8,000 computers, found that its imaging, license tracking and help desk processes were unable to properly manage the district's evolving systems.
DC Schools Launch Improved Website The new District of Columbia Public School’s (DCPS) Web site gives teachers, students and parents superior access and easier navigation to all offerings of the public education system.
Grant for Noisy Classrooms Holly Grove Elementary School of Holly Springs, N.C., was experiencing many challenges related to student engagement, including overcrowding and noise from both inside and outside the classroom.
Policy Brief Cites Effective Data Program A recent policy brief, published by the Alliance for Excellent Education, identifies “Using Data” from TERC as a professional development program that is helping schools use data to improve teaching and learning.
Literacy Program Uses Gaming to Boost Reading The results of research conducted by George Mason University Professor Jack A. Naglieri indicate that oral reading fluency scores improved considerably for students who used the Skatekids™ literacy program, and that the more students use the program, the more they
San Francisco Unified Launches Communication Solution San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is implementing a new school-to-home communication solution that aims to solve the district’s problems in communicating with a population that speaks more than twenty languages.
Interactive Whiteboards Factor in Improved AYP Cumberland County Schools (CCS) in Fayetteville, North Carolina, has witnessed a significant increase in its Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) score.
Iowa recognizes importance of assistive technology Not every student with a disability needs to be placed in a special education environment. In fact, many don’t. Often, just having a few simple and relatively inexpensive technological aids available in the classroom erases learning disadvantages and simplifies teaching.
Minnesota District Quadruples Computers On a Budget The combination of thin clients and virtualization has maximized the school's technology budget, allowing the district to put in four times as many thin clients as PCs.
The Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia designs new print environment Sometimes, it’s just great to get a fresh start. At The Episcopal Academy in suburban Philadelphia, aging facilities were threatening to hold the schoolback. Buildings were in need of renovation. A hodgepodge of unreliable printers left students andteachers frustrated. In
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
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Turns to E-rate Manager for Applicants for Assistance with E-rate Program In 2008, through the E rate program, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools received more than $1 million in funding for vital telecommunications services such as phone and Internet connections. E rate Manager for Applicants, an online suite of tools developed by Funds
New Jersey Students Master Technologies, School District Saves Money Like most educators facing tight fiscal times, Dr. Thomas Gant is always looking to maximize his budget dollars while still providing students with the latest technology to enhance their learning.As the supervisor of education technology for the Tabernacle (N.J.) School
YES Prep Public Schools adopts faster PCs NCP engineering GmbH announced that its 64 bit Windows VPN client has helped the YES Prep Public Schools of Houston, TX to adopt faster PCs for its staff. The school system selected the NCP Secure Entry Client because it supported
Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School deploys 4,000 ThinkPad R500 laptops On September 23, Lenovo announced that the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PAVCS), a K 12 public cyber charter school in Norristown, PA, deployed nearly 4,000 ThinkPad R500 laptops to give its students the technology they needed to complete a high
South Carolina’s Battery Creek High School adopts Pearson PD South Carolina’s Battery Creek High School has adopted a teacher professional development program from Pearson, aimed at improving student achievement through teacher learning communities. Pearson is underwriting the cost of the program for one year to showcase its potential at
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
West Potomac Academy revamps TV program The West Potomac Academy provides students with opportunities to take advanced, specialized classes in communications and the arts. The Academy is one of five high school academies in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). The Academy’s mission is to provide opportunities
Testing goes wireless in Arizona Marie is in the seventh grade at Pine Junior High School. She starts every morning by text messaging her friends on her cell phone. She continues through breakfast, one hand spooning cereal, the other texting. During the day, she spends
Albemarle County Public Schools makes AYP Albemarle County Public Schools achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for 2008 09 under the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Albemarle met all 29 benchmarks and indicators of student achievement included in NCLB. To help achieve these results, the
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
Ohio elementary schools uses Pearson to identify student performance and needs Western and central Ohio elementary schools are using Pearson’s AIMSweb solution, an assessment and web based data management system, to identify student performance levels and address individualized learning needs. Many of Ohio’s principals, teachers, guidance counselors and other school staff
Indiana schools choose parent notification system To build support for school to home communication, 16 public school districts in Indiana have joined others in the state in choosing the SchoolReach parent notification system to provide schools with emergency alert and parental notification messaging.SchoolReach has entered a
Mansfield ISD improves reading performance To help struggling readers and boost student performance, the Mansfield Independent School District (MISD) in Mansfield, Texas has invested $1.7 million in Scientific Learning’s Fast ForWord products, to be used by the district’s 37 elementary, intermediate, middle and high schools.
Michigan awards Pearson with 5-year teacher training contract Pleased with the company’s performance, Michigan has awarded a five year contract to Pearson’s Evaluation Systems group to continue managing teacher certification testing. The Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) program will build on Pearson’s nearly two decade relationship with
New report links achievement and video streaming A new report completed by the independent research firm Cometrika shows a link between usage of Discovery Education streaming and higher achievement scores—specifically, in grades 3 8 in math and reading. The report, based on data from the 2006 07
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
California gets results with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Schools across California are finding success with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s suite of standards based curriculum data analysis. The company collaborated with California educators to create assessment platforms that quickly collect and analyze student performance data, evaluate student progress, set achievement
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
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
David H. Ponitz Career Technology Center revamps video production lab Based on an interview with Jennifer Bryant The Donitz Career Center High School (DCC) is part of the Dayton Public School District in Ohio. It is an urban school, and of the nearly 400 students enrolled in
Idaho schools saves money, reduces energy with Faronics' PowerSave Coeur D'Alene School District (ID) was looking for ways to save money on its energy bill. With over 10,000 students and 1,300 staff members, the district had about 4,000 workstations operating on Microsoft Windows XP. Bryan Martin, the district's Director
Moses Lake SD chooses Hitachi Software StarBoards Moses Lake School District (WA) has selected Hitachi Software StarBoards for all grade level and subject curricula. The district, with the help of Troxell Communications, allocated over 100 Hitachi FXDUO 77 StarBoards along with the Hitachi CP A100 3LCD ultra
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
Texas and MD schools hit one million video mark through Discovery's streaming Northside Independent School District (San Antonio, TX) and Prince George’s County Public Schools (MD) are among the first American school districts to view one million videos through Discovery Education streaming.Streaming, a digital video based learning resource, offers a library of
IBM helps Alabama schools mine student data more efficiently IBM announced its partnership with Mobile County Public Schools (AL) to help teachers, administrators, principals and guidance counselors mine student data more efficiently. MCPSS is Alabama’s largest school district, with over 63,000 students in 95 schools. MCPSS previously struggled with
Alabama partners with STI for statewide enrollment and scheduling STI announced its partnership with the Alabama Department of Education to provide a Web based statewide enrollment and scheduling system for the state led online learning program. STI’s InformationLIVE will help Alabama manage scheduling and staffing for ACCESS (Alabama Connecting
Reading Assistant improves more than scores in MA The Parlin School in Everett, MA introduced Scientific Learning’s Reading Assistant program in December 2008, and has praised the program’s impact on the second graders who participated. Second grade teachers at the school explain that through the program’s three 20 minute
T&L Grant Guru appointed Chief Technology Officer of Pasadena Unified School District Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Edwin Diaz announcedtoday the appointment of Gary Carnow, Ed.D., as Chief Technology Officer, filling a seniormanagement post critical to the execution of academic improvement strategies to raise studentachievement. “Gary brings an outstanding background as
Duval County assesses reading program The Schultz Center for Teaching & Leadership has published a research brief on the longitudinal impact of helping strugging readers in Duval County with Fast ForWord, a technology based intervention intended to help students’ cognitive processing skills. The study assessed
Rutherford County picks Lenovo for new pilot program Rutherford LEAP announced its selection of the Lenovo IdeaPad S10e netbook as the computer for its pilot program at Kittrell School in Rutherford County (TN) for the upcoming school year.The county’s technical administration team and Rutherford LEAP found the netbook
Tennessee school launches netbook program On June 20, Rutherford LEAP announced its selection of the Lenovo IdeaPad S10e netbook as the computer for its pilot program at Kittrell School in Rutherford County (TN) for the upcoming school year.The county’s technical administration team and Rutherford LEAP
Tuscaloosa City Schools go green Tuscaloosa City Schools (AL) recently overcame a major conflict—the district wanted to go green, but its goal of teachers and staff working together in groups usually required travel and use of building resources. With the help of Novell Teaming, the
Laredo Independent School District chooses Scientific Learning to improve reading Laredo Independent School District’s twenty elementary and four middle schools have incorporated Scientific Learning's Reading Assistant software into their resource classrooms, with the goal of improving students’ reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.Alma Rodriguez, Assistive Technology Coordinator, explains that since over
Alabama schools overcome data corruption issues Mobile County Public Schools (AL) recently turned to Information Transport Solutions to overcome data corruption issues and update the technology for its K 12 schools. System users were complaining about the slow performance of school based applications, and the IT
Buffalo schools using gaming to teach math Buffalo Public Schools (NY) recently selected DimensionM™ education video games to supplement their math curriculum for 12,000 students in 45 schools. The district will begin using the games during the upcoming summer school session and continue in the fall. Tabula
Illinois districts first to implement Miller & Levine Biology program High school districts in the Illinois counties of Lake, Will, Kendall and Kane will be some of the first to implement Pearson’s new “Miller & Levine Biology” program. Many other Illinois middle and high school students will also use Pearson’s
Virginia schools conduct student performance study In order to meet President Obama’s mandate for education reform, schools in Virginia are implementing learning programs that have shown to improve student performance. The school districts are now using Scott Foresman My Sidewalks, a research based reading solution for
Minnesota middle school chooses StarBoards Hidden Oaks Middle School, located in Prior Lake, MN, has selected Hitachi Software StarBoard interactive whiteboards. The school uses the FXDUO 77 model in math, social studies and English classes.Brent Stufft, English teacher at the middle school, finds the StarBoard
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,
Indiana district chooses Calypso to manage AV Michigan City Area Schools (IN) has chosen Calypso Systems products as key components of their total classroom technology solution. Calypso products are already being used in 41 Michigan City classrooms and another 40 are expected to be converted by next
Florida rethinks RTI Florida educators have announced a statewide plan for “response to intervention” and will be targeting individual instruction for students with the help of Pearson, an education and technology company. Pearson has developed a comprehensive suite of K 12 math instruction
Texas district takes new approach to testing The Richardson Independent School District (RISD) in Dallas, TX has used a new approach on testing for several years now with the program TI MathForward. It incorporates real time assessment using technology, and allows teachers to see who exactly understands
TN school finds new tool to better organize data Finding it difficult to evaluate school performance for the No Child Left Behind Act, the Hamilton County Department of Education (HCDE) turned to PASW Modeler data mining software from SPSS Inc. to find a better way to organize information and
Dublin City Schools starts employee safety program The Dublin City Schools (DCS) have decided to implement EmployeeSafe Suite from PublicSchoolWORKS (PSW) to help employees complete required safety training during times that were convenient for them, and in a manner that saves the schools time and resources.DCS introduced
Protecting your IT investment Winston Salem Forsyth is the fifth largest school system in North Carolina with about 51,000 combined students in its 40 elementary, 15 middle and 11 high schools. The Computrace® software will be used on over 25,000 computers.The Computrace solutions address
Formative assessment gets results in Arizona schools Mesa Public Schools is the largest school district in Arizona, serving 70,000 students in a diverse population east of Phoenix. The district includes two Native American communities, and approximately half the student body is composed of minorities. Mesa Public Schools
NComputing saves district a over half million in hardware Steve Young, Chief Technology Officer of the Judson school district in Texas, recently performed his own energy cost analysis a year after beginning a major computer upgrade and expansion program in his school district of 21,000 students outside of San
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,
Texas SD installs new multimedia distribution centers The Franklin Independent School District (Franklin, TX) recently implemented a new control system solution for multimedia distribution centers, using the CampusSV system from SchoolView Technologies, LLC. (Plano, TX) in conjunction with other devices. The system interfaces nearly all audio and
Houston district chooses Xiotech’s Emprise 7000 for data storage The Galena Park Independent School District in Houston recently selected Xiotech’s Emprise 7000 storage system for its data center and has had it in production since February. The district chose the Emprise 7000 system primarily for its self healing capabilities
Florida school tests success of ultra-mobile PCs Lake Gem Elementary is part of the Orange County Public School System, and has over 840 students in grades K 5 with a large percentage of African American and Hispanic students. The school will conduct a two week test to
Evergreen Public Schools improves website, school communication Schoolwires, a provider of website and community management solutions for K 12 districts, has expanded its partnership with Education Service Center (ESC) Region XI in Texas, in order to provide certified hosting of the company’s solutions to more districts. This
Florida will launch new math standards in 2010, may choose Pearson Florida will launch its new math standards in the fall of 2010, and Pearson hopes to take part in designing a new learning environment for the state’s students. Pearson submitted a comprehensive suite of K 12 math programs to the
Minnesota Online High School delivers virtual PCs The Minnesota Online High School (MNOHS) has selected SIMtone to deliver virtual PC environments to students and faculty of the as part of its Education Thunder Program. The program aims to provide access to full PCs in the cloud to
11 crisis management tips for administrators CDW G offers the following checklist of topics and questions for non technology executives and administrators to review with their management teams and IT departments to prepare for significant facility shutdowns – regardless of the cause 1. What functions and
When Business, Personal Time Intersect The recent suspension of an Okaloosa County (FL) School District employee for conducting personal business on district time raises questions over district policies. Lisa Nall, a technology trainer, was suspended for five days without pay for using district time and
N.Y. District Picks DeepNines Plattsburgh (NY) City Schools has chosen the iTrust solution from DeepNines Technologies to control and manage its network traffic, content, and applications. The district was looking for a solution that would provide granular control of the content and applications on
Follett and Red Rock Reports help schools find AARA funds Follett Software Company recently announced a partnership with RedRock Reports to help states and K 12 school districts identify available ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funds, and to help find products and communication tools that will address their needs.
Colorado Spring School District aims to improve achievement with Discovery School administrators of the Colorado Spring School District #11 have committed to improving student achievement by integrating Discovery Education digital services and hardware. The services purchased by the district for its 48 schools include Discovery Education streaming Plus, a digital
New Hampshire Department of Education makes plan to better manage data The New Hampshire Department of Education has selected a team of companies, led by Center for Educational Leadership and Technology, to help them use their data more effectively.One of these companies is ESP Solutions Group, a PK 12 data consulting
Huntington County Community School Corporation adopts Pearson Inform The data analysis and decision support tool is designed for K 12 districts, and will benefit the 6,000+ students of the district’s 11 schools. In the past, teachers and administrators of the district collected student data but had difficulty searching
IT Director, Son Accused of Stealing Computers Robert “Bob” Legacy, director of information technology at Cumberland (RI) Public Schools, and his son, Kevin Legacy, were arrested in connection with missing computers at Cumberland High School.The elder Legacy has been suspended without pay from the school department. Police
Colorado district chooses Hitachi StarBoards The Lewis Palmer School District in Monument, CO has selected Hitachi Software StarBoard interactive whiteboards to help develop educational programs, purchased through Troxell Communications. The district uses twenty four of the FXDUO 77 model StarBoards at the elementary and high
Texas Districts Sign with Tyler Technologies Tyler Technologies Inc. has signed contracts to provide the Katy (TX) Independent School District and the Canyon (TX) Independent School District with Tyler’s Financial Management by MUNIS solution. The agreements, which total about $3.1 million, include software licenses, related professional
Pilot Chosen for One-to-One Laptop Project North Vista Elementary, Florence, SC, has been selected to participate as a pilot site in the state's One Laptop per Child initiative. The One Laptop per Child push is a partnership between the South Carolina Department of Education and the
New England schools turn to open source Many New England schools are looking for ways to address growing IT needs and shrinking IT budgets, and are unable to afford new equipment. Some have turned to open source software solutions provided by companies like Rosara, which converts PCs
Georgia creates e-rate support team Schools across Georgia are competing for a portion of E Rate funding, the $2.5 billion in federal technology funding awarded each year by the School and Libraries Program of the Universal Services Fund, and Richardson Technology Systems Inc. (TSI) has
Louisiana District Focuses on Extended Learning The Louisiana Recovery School District has purchased $300,000 of Carnegie Learning Adaptive Math Solutions for middle and high school students as part of an ongoing focus on intervention and extended learning. Purchased with Title I and supplemental funding, Cognitive Tutor
PA District Lags in Technology Hempfield (PA) Area School District administrators are disputing a study from its own consultant that found the district was behind in technology spending. The report from Pepperweed Consulting concluded that lack of spending was negatively impacting curriculum because aging equipment
Greg Utecht wins Withrow CTO Award Greg Utecht, coordinator for technology, information and media services at the Lakeville Area (MN) Public School District, has won the 2009 Withrow CTO Award from the Consortium for School Networking. Utecht has been with the district since 1997.
Missouri District Starts Twittering Lee's Summit R 7 (MO) School District is atwitter over Twitter. A trial period had been proposed through the summer, but after more than a dozen people found the district on the social networking site, officials decided to launch the
Grand Forks Public Schools Develops, Distributes, and Archives Institutional Knowledge with Hosted Collaboration The Grand Forks and Grand Forks Air Force Base School Districts work together as Grand Forks Public Schools to serve 7,200 students who attend schools across the two communities. The district includes 12 elementary schools, four middle schools, two high
IT Director Job Split The board of the Marple Newtown (PA) School District voted to split the director of technology position in two.Heidi Collazo was appointed the new director of instructional technology at an annual salary of $85,000. Collazo is new to the district.
District Native Picked as Network Admin Jeff Webb has been named network administrator for the Raleigh (WV) County Schools, based in Beckley. Webb, a lifetime county resident who attended district schools and graduated from Liberty High School, will be in charge of the district’s network infrastructure,
SAM Learning U.K. Makes U.S. Debut Used by nearly 50% of U.K. high schools, SAM Learning U.K. has translated its math and science content to U.S. standards.Content has been aligned to standards from National Science Teachers Association, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the
Missouri District Expands Tech Staff Chillicothe (MO) R 2 School Board has approved the creation of a district technology instructor position for the next school year. The board also approved the creation of two hourly computer maintenance technicians to analyze, troubleshoot, and repair technology equipment
Illinois District Wins Computing Grant Spring Valley (IL) Community Consolidated School District 99 has won a Computing Science Exploration Grant from Fourier Systems. The district will be implementing a classroom set of Nova5000s, the student mobile learning devices from Fourier Systems. In addition, it will
IL District Names Tech Leader Thomas C. Russell has been named director of technology at Cook County (IL) School District 130, which has schools in Crestwood, Alsip, and Blue Island. Russell, who joins the district following two years as IT director at Chicago based Civitas
IT Position Added to District Budget Westbrook (CT) Public Schools Superintendent Patricia Charles has proposed a full time information technology technician in next year’s budget request The district suffered a significant data loss in August and currently uses contractors to support computers and networks used in
Portable Classroom Sells for a Buck After a technology staffer failed to put a minimum bid on a portable classroom, the unit sold for $1 on eBay. The East Stroudsburg (PA) Area School District purchased seven portables for $62,000 apiece during a high school renovation. One
Technology Aids Successful E-rate Application The Okaloosa County (OK) School District this year received more than $500,000 in E rate funding for telecommunications services with the help of E Rate Manager for Applicants. Developed by Funds for Learning LLC, the online suite of tools is
Bringing Plug and Play Wireless to the Classroom By Richard Raymond, SAU 41 District IT Coordinator Schools nationwide are increasingly shifting from fixed computer labs to mobile laptop carts, giving students improved access to technology. Deploying laptops into the classroom can be challenging, a fact that our New Hampshire school district, SAU 41, has learned from
Principal Takes Curriculum Technology Role Elementary school Principal Joe Albin has announced his resignation from the Hanover (PA) Public School District to become director of curricular technology integration at another Pennsylvania district. Albin is joining theWest Shore (PA) School District in New Cumberland upon his
San Jose Solar Project Complete The San Jose Unified School District has embraced solar power in a big way, completing what's believed to be the largest K 12 solar and energy efficiency project in the United States. Built in conjunction with Chevron Energy Solutions and
NJ initiative focuses on middle school math A new public private partnership in New Jersey called MATHNext will provide professional development to educators from 20 school districts. The effort will include in person training and the innovative use of new technologies using Webcam enabled laptop computers donated
Illinois district creates new tech post The board of the Murphysboro (IL) Community Unit School District 186 has approved creation of a chief information officer position while eliminating the curriculum director’s post. Those duties are being given to school principals and improvement teams upon the retirement
PA districts begin technology audits The Hempfield (PA) Area School District and the Lyon County (NV) School District have awarded contracts to assess district technology. Pepperweed Consulting of Sewickley in Allegheny County was awarded a $15,000 contract for the work at the Hempfield district following
Surplus, Obsolete Items Sold on eBay The Rome (NY) City School District has begun selling its surplus and obsolete items on eBay through a sales arrangement with Oneida County. District Director of Information and Technology Pamela Mazzaferro said the district has been testing the usefulness of
Illinois District Picks Tech Director Canton (IL) Union School District 66 hired Jason Parsons as director of technology for the district, effective last month. Parsons has been a teacher and golf coach at Canton High School for a number of years and has resigned those
Virtualized desktops in Brazil On February 4th, Userful, ThinNetworks and Positivo announced their plan to provide 324,000 virtualized desktops to schools in all of Brazil's 5,560 municipalities—the World's largest desktop virtualization deployment. The Linux equipped desktops will be offered at a record setting low
MA District Tackles Cyberbullying The Bridgewater Raynham (MA) Regional School District is the first in the nation to adopt the computer game “Braincells,” designed to educate children about cyberbullying and cell phone hackers. Canadian software company LiveWires, through a partnership with the district attorneys
McAllen Names Interim Superintendent The McAllen (TX) Independent School District governing board has named Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Mike Barrera to lead the district while the search continues for a new superintendent.Barrera has been with the district for 14 years and currently
Illinois District Still Without Tech Director Members of the Big Hollow (IL) School District 38 seemed destined to name a resigning board member as the district’s first technology director in five years. But at the last minute, board members reopened the hiring process. Todd Wright had
Ex-Tech Official Gets Jail in School Theft The former technology chief of the Los Gatos (CA) Union School District received a four month jail sentence and ordered to pay $55,000 in restitution for stealing district computer equipment. Darcy Jacques "D.J." LaForge also was ordered to perform 300
Technology Leader Promoted in Illinois Julie Ann Fuchs will be the will be the new assistant superintendent for business at Kaneland (IL) School District 302, effective July 1. She will succeed Tom Runty, who is retiring but will stay on through June. Fuchs began
Miami-Dade School Board Dumps Deloitte The specified URL cannot be found
Texas Middle School Fire Scrambles Servers A suspicious fire last week (Jan. 13) at Ringgold Middle School in Texas destroyed nearly one half the building. The only people allowed inside the building besides investigators the morning after the fire were Rio Grande City (TX) Consolidated
Technology Officials Charged with Child Pornography Technology officials in Pennsylvania and New York have been accused of possessing child pornography. In the Pennsylvania case, former Marple Newtown School District Technology Director Joseph Violanti was indicted on federal child pornography charges. Violanti, who started with the district
Support Tech Sues School District An employee of the Bethlehem (PA) Area School District has sued the district, claiming it has violated the state’s whistle blower law and is seeking more than $50,000 in compensation. Linda Majer Davis, a support technician, filed the suit in
Audit Uncovers Missing Equipment in Illinois District An audit has uncovered more than $100,000 of missing computer equipment in the Bellwood (IL) School District 88. The audit by Virchow Krause and Co. covers the district’s 2006 through 2008 fiscal years and shows discrepancies in the district’s bidding
10 Essential Strategies For Leading A Technology Department by Terry Freedman Terry Freedman boils good leadership down to a handful of key principles.
Portrait of a Leader by Amy Poftak Though hard work and a knack for relating to teachers, Cindy Wilson-Hyde has changed her school's relationship with technology.
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.
Online Professional Development: Get the Facts(2) by Ana Bishop Is Web-based training for improving instruction the right fit for your district?
A CIO Story by Amy Poftak Boston Public Schools' Kim Rice is changing the role of technology in her community, one customer at a time.
Working to Expectations: The Toughest CIO Challenge by Mike Cuddy Achieving clear goals and deliverables is the easy part of the job. It's the intangible expectations that throw off even good technology managers.
How to Manage the Super Smart Techie by Judy Mottl Get the most out of your district's technological wizards.
Leaving the Private Sector for K-12 by Lindsay Oishi CIOs from the business world offer unique expertise--and often a fresh perspective--when they go to work in school environments.
Survey: Everything You Hate about IT by Andrew Conry-Murray In Network Computing's annual poll, technology leaders vent about the challenges they face everyday and how they wish vendors would address their problems.
Online Professional Development: Get the Facts by Ana Bishop With the rise of Web-based training, districts have more options than ever for helping subject-area teachers gain new skills. But is online professional development the right path for your district?
Cisco Revamps Certifications by Judy Mottl Retooled courses reflect new skill demands, says company.
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.
Alpha Male Syndrome: Curb the Belligerence, Channel the Brilliance by Kate Ludeman and Eddie Erlandson Are you or your boss an alpha? A new book from the Harvard Business School Press explores what makes alphas tick and how to better manage their behavior.
Not Your Father's Computer Degree by Marianne Kolbasuk McGee Georgia Tech's new computer science curriculum reflects students' interests and career aspirations.
What Keeps CIOs Awake at Night? by Marianne Kolbasuk McGee Aligning IT and business and attracting and retaining tech talent are among the top CIO concerns, according to the Society for Information Management.
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.
Tech Worker Survey: Happy Days Are Here Again by Marianne Kolbasuk McGee Salaries are rising, jobs are secure, personal finances are solid, and skills in Web services, ERP, .Net, and Java are as hot as the weather outside.
The Innovative CIO by Miguel Guhlin Abilene's top technology officer Mark Gabehart shares his ideas on change and innovation.
Biz Skills Top Tech Expertise In Today's Job Hunt by Judy Mottl Hiring managers are in search of 'Dale Carnegie' skills.
Is Centralized IT Killing Tech Innovation? by Thomas Claburn As IT departments must deal with security and cost concerns, many employees see them as keeping them from embracing the best of Web-based tools.
CIO 2.0: The Next Dimension by Jeff Wacker From innovation to inoculation, the newest version of the CIO is a chief everything officer
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?
Lead, Follow, Or Get Pushed Out of the Way by Howard Baldwin An interview with Gartner analyst Michael Bell about CIO leadership.
Whatever You Say, Boss by Matt Villano Sometimes, a CIO's biggest challenge is meeting the superintendent's expectations.
Q&A: Ed Zaiontz Chief technology officers in Texas present an organized front.
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 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.