serves the craigmont, reubens, and winchester communities one building ~ k-12 students ~...

Leading Through Changing Times: Breaking Down Barriers to Get Results

Cindy Orr, Ed. S.

Superintendent

Highland Joint School District

#305

Highland Joint School District #305

• Serves the Craigmont, Reubens, and Winchester communities

• One Building ~ K-12• Students ~ Approximately 180• Staff Members

– Administrators ~ 2– Certified ~ 16– Classified ~ 7

Previous Technology

• As of August, 2011– Two teachers had SmartBoards– Wireless in the High School section only– Some working computers in classrooms– 1 good computer lab in the Business Tech.

classroom– 1 average computer lab– Regular use of IDLA and Plato– Technology use in classroom depended on the

comfort of the teacher ~ from lots of technology to no technology

Preparing for Students Come First

• Presented technology information from last Superintendents’ Meeting last August to the staff.

• Presented technology information as the state released it to the staff.

• Staff had a “I’ll believe it when I see it” and “technology never works” attitude.

iPad Idea

• What was needed:– Technology that worked in the staff’s

hands now.– Lots of time to play with technology

before it was expected to be used with students.

– A positive experience with technology.

December

• Purchased iPads for the following staff members– Superintendent/Elementary Principal– Secondary Principal– Business Manager– District/School Office Manager

• Goal: For the leaders to learn how to use the technology first.

April

• Purchased an iPad for:– Every certified staff member– Every paraprofessional– Tech. coordinator– Athletic Director

• Goal: For staff members to spend the next 5 months playing with the iPad and getting comfortable with technology.

The iPads Arrive

• Staff members made appointments with Business Manager– Signed a district release– An overview of the iPad– Signed up for an iTunes account– Signed up for an iCloud account

• Paraprofessionals were first in line!• We put in inexpensive wireless routers

throughout the elementary wing of the building (this is a band-aid until state provides wireless for our school.)

iPad Expectations

• All staff members were to take their iPads to every staff meeting and inservice.

• They were to take them home and play with them.• They were to take personal pictures and videos to play

with the iPad.• They were to download apps to see what was available.• They were to have their children and spouses play with it.• They were to read 2 iBooks on it that I assigned.• They are expected to come back in August and share all

they have learned about the iPad.• On August 17, we will have a full day inservice using our

Technology grant funds to learn how to use them as a one-to-one device in the classroom.

Results

• Improved staff morale• Improved collaboration among all staff

members• Immediate use with students• Increasing requests for staff meetings for

discussion on the iPad• Decrease in excuses of why this will not work• Decrease in negative attitude towards

technology• Excitement for the future!

Further Information

Cindy Orr

corr@sd305.k12.id.us

208-924-5211