District CIO

Digital content has been mispositioned as optional: as a tool for some of the students, some of the curriculum, some of the time. In this view, software serves a role of “cleaning-up” whatever gaps were left unfilled or incomplete after normal teaching.

Jordan Valley School in the Canyons School District in Sandy, Utah is using an iPad to show pictures and icons that help children on the autism spectrum to more easily manage their day so they will know what to expect. Pictures, for example, depict a toilet, handwashing in a sink, reading, and math, among other tasks.

In the months following the Sandy Hook massacre, schools nationwide have stepped up efforts to provide safe environments for teachers and students, and many have turned to high-tech solutions.

New Superintendent Rick Mills, the former chief executive officer of Minneapolis Public Schools who started in Manatee County on March 20, has recommended former Minneapolis colleague Don Hall, a chief information officer, for one of two deputy superintendent posts he created earlier this month.

After serving nearly 20 years in Mokena, Charles Vitton told the MSD159 Board of Education on April 17 that he was moving on to join outgoing Superintendent Steve Stein at Peotone Community Unit School District 207U as director of curriculum and technology.

Many of us in today’s workforce had help from parents, teachers, mentors or peers in identifying what we wanted to become and getting started in our careers. Today’s students need the same kind of assistance to become the backbone of tomorrow’s workforce and our future leaders. The robotics competition can help.

The National Center for Data Statistics' Data Explorer for Main NAEP provides national and state results in 10 subject areas, including math, reading, writing, and science. Results have been produced for the nation and participating states and other jurisdictions since 1990, and for selected urban districts since 2002.

The Next Generation Science Standards, based on the Framework for K12 Science Education developed by the National Research Council, are now available. Download a printer-friendly version here or click on the videos to learn more. An interactive version will be available soon.

McGraw-Hill Education has formed a collaboration with education media company ePals Corporation that will allow teachers and students to connect with peers in more than 200 countries to participate in global learning activities.

Moore County commissioners seem inclined to pay for part of the school system's digital learning initiative, but they want to see results before committing to future funding. At the commissioners' critical issues summit Thursday, they indicated they want the school system to pay for more of the effort.