Executive Leadership and Involvement
Executive Leadership and Involvement Leadership Superintendent Richard Matkin and the Board of Trustees provide overall leadership for technology in the Plano Independent School District. Jim Hirsch, Associate Superintendent for Academic and Technology Services, coordinates all activities related to planning and technology use in our classrooms and offices. He is assisted by executive directors for secondary academic services, elementary academic services, assessment and accountability, instructional technology, and technology operations.
Organization The Plano Independent School District serves a population of 326,061 living in all or parts of ten municipalities in Collin County:
Allen Dallas Lucas Parker Richardson
Carrollton Garland Murphy Plano Wylie
The district enrolls more than 55,000 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The district operates:
3 pre-kindergarten schools 44 elementary schools (K-5) 13 middle schools (6-8) 6 high schools (9-10) 3 senior high schools (11-12) 1 academy high school (9-12) 2 alternative special programs centers 11 administrative and support facilities 6 stadiums/athletic facilities
The district uses three senior high feeder systems for attendance purposes, each consisting of one senior high school and its associated high schools, middle schools, and elementary school feeder campuses. Implementing and sustaining school improvement and technology innovation depends on skilled and persistent leadership with the ability to share visions and provide consistent expectations. The effective use of technology is essential in teaching and learning, educator preparation and development, and school administration. Learning in the Digital Age - Plano Independent School District Technology Plan 2013-2016
12
Along with the technology, the classroom has changed to include elements that are not confined to the physical structure of the school. Anytime/anywhere learning is now a reality with schools engaging students in blended learning environments, flipped classrooms, and various other distance learning opportunities necessary for them to be academically ready and prepared for post-secondary education. District and campus administrators play a key role in cultivating a shared vision and serve as a catalyst for change with technology implementation. Effective school administrators conduct needs assessments to determine the strengths and challenges that will impact learning. The implications of those challenges for technology require a technology infused strategic plan. As leaders, administrators must envision faculty, administrative, and community use when creating those strategic directions. As models for digital age skills, administrators collaborate with all stakeholders to develop plans with a shared vision. In addition, the leadership must provide an environment that:
Ensures that students and educators readily have access to digital content, Internet resources, and technology tools that enhance student knowledge and performance. Assists schools in strategic planning to include digital learning and to ensure systemic change and innovation in implementing this environment. Shares processes, digital content and resources, infrastructure, and best practices to build and/or improve a school’s digital learning environment. Explores innovative instructional strategies to encourage the use of digital content in teaching and learning practices. Empowers students and educators with the opportunity to learn anytime/anywhere through access to content enabled by digital devices.
The technology plan reflects current state and federal requirements and addresses other components such as disaster recovery, communication, infrastructure, and policies that facilitate accessibility to the digital world.
Learning in the Digital Age - Plano Independent School District Technology Plan 2013-2016
13
Professional Partnerships Plano ISD has active memberships in organizations that are committed to improved student achievement through the use of technology. The Technology Leadership Network, sponsored by NSBA, consistently features Plano ISD in its publications to demonstrate examples of best practices in technology implementation and integration. Plano ISD hosted an NSBA site visit in November 2002. As a member of the Western States Benchmarking Consortium, Plano ISD works collaboratively with five other high performing districts throughout the western United States to share best practices in the use of instructional and administrative technology. The group has developed benchmark rubrics to assist in the self-assessment of a variety of identified organizational areas of each district including technology. The current work involves expanding the rubrics to include latest research and best practices in improving instructional quality. The Consortium for School Networking is a non-profit Washington D.C. based organization dedicated to providing leadership in promoting uses of networks in K-12 schools to promote student learning. The Associate Superintendent for Academic and Technology Services in Plano ISD served eight years on the Board (2 as chair) of CoSN. This organization provided critical support as the Erate survived challenges on the House and Senate floors and provides national leadership in areas such as total cost of ownership strategies, network strategies and emerging technologies. Locally, Plano ISD is a charter member of the Texas K-12 CTO Council, a group of Texas school districts committed to providing an educational climate conducive to technology support of learning. Plano ISD is also a member of the Metroplex Technology Business Council, a group headquartered in Richardson, Texas. Membership in this organization provides Plano ISD with the opportunity to share ideas with corporate and community leaders in the area of technology.
Partnerships with Parents The Plano Independent School District considers parents as important partners in many areas, including technology. Parents as partners in technology in the interest of student learning Parents are important partners with the school district in providing technology learning opportunities. Every day, throughout the district, parents assist students in classrooms and labs, helping students improve their technological skills and basic skills of reading, math, and writing through the use of various technology resources. Parents provide valuable input into district and building level technology processes, as members of technology, bond and school based improvement committee teams. Local parent groups have been indispensable partners in acquiring software and hardware for schools. Parents often have expertise and experience in the workplace that help them understand how crucial technological competence is to students’ future work. Learning in the Digital Age - Plano Independent School District Technology Plan 2013-2016
14
Parents as partners in the interest of adult learning Some schools have made special efforts to open up their facilities to parents to encourage computer skills development and to demonstrate how computers are useful learning tools for students. Parents as partners in the interest of a wellinformed public The district and individual schools have created (sometimes with the help of parents) and continue to create Internet pages that provide information to parents and the community at large. Various parent groups throughout the district are exploring the communication power of the Internet to share leadership strategies and experiences with one another. Parents communicate with staff over email. Technology creates many possibilities for enhancement of parents’ one-to-one and group communication. Tactical and strategic technology planning is provided for Plano ISD by a technology steering committee created by the superintendent and chaired by the Executive Director for Instructional Technology. Committee members represent all facets of district operations as noted below: Mark Allen Dan Armstrong Harriet Bell Richard Butler Tricia Cannon Jayne Cantwell Steve Ewing Tamira Griffin Misty Hernandez Mary Hewett Jim Hirsch Linda Madon Arron Moeller Lynn Ojeda Jennifer Walker Jim Wussow
Executive Director for Student and Family Services Executive Director for Technology Operations Assistant Director for Instructional Technology Executive Director of Auxiliary Services Plano Senior High School Teacher Executive Director for Elementary Academic Services Armstrong Middle School Principal Executive Director for Human Resources Centennial Elementary School Teacher Executive Director for Instructional Technology Associate Supt. for Academic and Technology Services Executive Director for Financial Services Weatherford Elementary School Principal Williams High School Principal Rice Middle School Teacher Executive Director for Secondary Academic Services
How do we help students think deeply, efficiently, creatively, and adapt prior learning to new tasks?
Learning in the Digital Age - Plano Independent School District Technology Plan 2013-2016
15
Organization The Plano Independent School District serves a population of 326,061 living in all or parts of ten municipalities in Collin County:
Allen Dallas Lucas Parker Richardson
Carrollton Garland Murphy Plano Wylie
The district enrolls more than 55,000 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The district operates:
3 pre-kindergarten schools 44 elementary schools (K-5) 13 middle schools (6-8) 6 high schools (9-10) 3 senior high schools (11-12) 1 academy high school (9-12) 2 alternative special programs centers 11 administrative and support facilities 6 stadiums/athletic facilities
The district uses three senior high feeder systems for attendance purposes, each consisting of one senior high school and its associated high schools, middle schools, and elementary school feeder campuses. Implementing and sustaining school improvement and technology innovation depends on skilled and persistent leadership with the ability to share visions and provide consistent expectations. The effective use of technology is essential in teaching and learning, educator preparation and development, and school administration. Learning in the Digital Age - Plano Independent School District Technology Plan 2013-2016
12
Along with the technology, the classroom has changed to include elements that are not confined to the physical structure of the school. Anytime/anywhere learning is now a reality with schools engaging students in blended learning environments, flipped classrooms, and various other distance learning opportunities necessary for them to be academically ready and prepared for post-secondary education. District and campus administrators play a key role in cultivating a shared vision and serve as a catalyst for change with technology implementation. Effective school administrators conduct needs assessments to determine the strengths and challenges that will impact learning. The implications of those challenges for technology require a technology infused strategic plan. As leaders, administrators must envision faculty, administrative, and community use when creating those strategic directions. As models for digital age skills, administrators collaborate with all stakeholders to develop plans with a shared vision. In addition, the leadership must provide an environment that:
Ensures that students and educators readily have access to digital content, Internet resources, and technology tools that enhance student knowledge and performance. Assists schools in strategic planning to include digital learning and to ensure systemic change and innovation in implementing this environment. Shares processes, digital content and resources, infrastructure, and best practices to build and/or improve a school’s digital learning environment. Explores innovative instructional strategies to encourage the use of digital content in teaching and learning practices. Empowers students and educators with the opportunity to learn anytime/anywhere through access to content enabled by digital devices.
The technology plan reflects current state and federal requirements and addresses other components such as disaster recovery, communication, infrastructure, and policies that facilitate accessibility to the digital world.
Learning in the Digital Age - Plano Independent School District Technology Plan 2013-2016
13
Professional Partnerships Plano ISD has active memberships in organizations that are committed to improved student achievement through the use of technology. The Technology Leadership Network, sponsored by NSBA, consistently features Plano ISD in its publications to demonstrate examples of best practices in technology implementation and integration. Plano ISD hosted an NSBA site visit in November 2002. As a member of the Western States Benchmarking Consortium, Plano ISD works collaboratively with five other high performing districts throughout the western United States to share best practices in the use of instructional and administrative technology. The group has developed benchmark rubrics to assist in the self-assessment of a variety of identified organizational areas of each district including technology. The current work involves expanding the rubrics to include latest research and best practices in improving instructional quality. The Consortium for School Networking is a non-profit Washington D.C. based organization dedicated to providing leadership in promoting uses of networks in K-12 schools to promote student learning. The Associate Superintendent for Academic and Technology Services in Plano ISD served eight years on the Board (2 as chair) of CoSN. This organization provided critical support as the Erate survived challenges on the House and Senate floors and provides national leadership in areas such as total cost of ownership strategies, network strategies and emerging technologies. Locally, Plano ISD is a charter member of the Texas K-12 CTO Council, a group of Texas school districts committed to providing an educational climate conducive to technology support of learning. Plano ISD is also a member of the Metroplex Technology Business Council, a group headquartered in Richardson, Texas. Membership in this organization provides Plano ISD with the opportunity to share ideas with corporate and community leaders in the area of technology.
Partnerships with Parents The Plano Independent School District considers parents as important partners in many areas, including technology. Parents as partners in technology in the interest of student learning Parents are important partners with the school district in providing technology learning opportunities. Every day, throughout the district, parents assist students in classrooms and labs, helping students improve their technological skills and basic skills of reading, math, and writing through the use of various technology resources. Parents provide valuable input into district and building level technology processes, as members of technology, bond and school based improvement committee teams. Local parent groups have been indispensable partners in acquiring software and hardware for schools. Parents often have expertise and experience in the workplace that help them understand how crucial technological competence is to students’ future work. Learning in the Digital Age - Plano Independent School District Technology Plan 2013-2016
14
Parents as partners in the interest of adult learning Some schools have made special efforts to open up their facilities to parents to encourage computer skills development and to demonstrate how computers are useful learning tools for students. Parents as partners in the interest of a wellinformed public The district and individual schools have created (sometimes with the help of parents) and continue to create Internet pages that provide information to parents and the community at large. Various parent groups throughout the district are exploring the communication power of the Internet to share leadership strategies and experiences with one another. Parents communicate with staff over email. Technology creates many possibilities for enhancement of parents’ one-to-one and group communication. Tactical and strategic technology planning is provided for Plano ISD by a technology steering committee created by the superintendent and chaired by the Executive Director for Instructional Technology. Committee members represent all facets of district operations as noted below: Mark Allen Dan Armstrong Harriet Bell Richard Butler Tricia Cannon Jayne Cantwell Steve Ewing Tamira Griffin Misty Hernandez Mary Hewett Jim Hirsch Linda Madon Arron Moeller Lynn Ojeda Jennifer Walker Jim Wussow
Executive Director for Student and Family Services Executive Director for Technology Operations Assistant Director for Instructional Technology Executive Director of Auxiliary Services Plano Senior High School Teacher Executive Director for Elementary Academic Services Armstrong Middle School Principal Executive Director for Human Resources Centennial Elementary School Teacher Executive Director for Instructional Technology Associate Supt. for Academic and Technology Services Executive Director for Financial Services Weatherford Elementary School Principal Williams High School Principal Rice Middle School Teacher Executive Director for Secondary Academic Services
How do we help students think deeply, efficiently, creatively, and adapt prior learning to new tasks?
Learning in the Digital Age - Plano Independent School District Technology Plan 2013-2016
15
