Technology Program Evaluation

Johnson County Elementary School

Rana Winfrey

Spring 2015

Executive Summary

Johnson County Elementary School of Wrightsville, Georgia continues to strive to

provide technological access to all staff and students. Johnson County Elementary School has a

variety of technology responsibilities; however, they do not have a great deal of financial support

to be technologically up to date in those aspects. There is also limited staffing in the technology

area. Because of lack of funding and staffing, it difficult for the technology center to meet the

center’s expectations of providing a quality education with technology integration. Johnson

County Elementary has room for improvement when the word technologically savvy is

mentioned as a foundation of education.

Organizational Chart

Methods

Information for this evaluation was gathered using interviews, observations, and emails with the

Technology Coordinator at Johnson County Elementary School (JCES) and the media specialist

at JCES. Some information was also gathered from the school website.

Center Context and Goals

Mission

The technology center mission is connected to the school system mission. The system’s mission

it to prepare all Johnson County students to meet or exceed standards in order to graduate on

time and be college and career ready. The mission for technology use is to use technology to

assist in providing instructional programs for the clientele. Collaboration among participants

will provide direction, support, and leadership for the school system in securing technological

capabilities, provide professional staff development to certified personnel and paraprofessionals,

and promote constructive use of technology in multiple educational programs across the

curriculum according to state standards.

Goal

The goal of the JCES technology center is to provide the school’s diverse student population

with equal opportunities to a quality education in preparation for a knowledge-based,

technologically rich, and culturally diverse twenty-first century.

Priorities

Expand school wide access to modern technology, online resources, and the Internet

To have interactive technologies in each classroom.

Use emerging technologies to improve instruction and student learning.

Use technology to remediate, reinforce, and enhance the learning of all students by providing

for a personalized educational program.

Provide access to technology for all learners.

History

Based on discussions with the Technology Coordinator, a detailed history of the center was not

available; however, he was able to give me a district technology breakdown that included the

instructional technology available for students, staff, and equipment.

Elementary School

o 240 Desktop Computers

o 10 Laptop Computers

o 20 Printers

o 1 Scanner

System

o 5 Digital Cameras

o SmartBoards and Mounted LCDs are available in all classrooms

o IPads are available for administrators and some Special Education students

o Document Camera available in all classrooms

o 10 sets of 25 Response Key Pads

o Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel , and Microsoft PowerPoint Software available in each

classroom

o Google Mail and Google Apps

o Printer Capabilities for each classroom

Printers are hosted in Grade Chair Classrooms, Main Office, Computer Labs, and

Media Center

Personnel

Current Positions include:

Charlie Lindsey – Director of Technology, Facilities, and Transportation, and Student

Information / Technology Coordinator

o The Technology Coordinator oversees all duties described in technology center

organizational chart

Contracted Technology Support Technician

o The Contracted Technology Support Technician is shared with other surrounding

counties. The Contracted Technology Support Technician’s job involves maintenance

of school hardware, software, and responding to HelpDesk requests.

Rebecca Thomas – Superintendent of Johnson County School Sytstem

Charles Howard – Principal at Johnson County Elementary School

Beth Martin – Assistant Principal at Johnson County Elementary School

Sue Hall – Media Specialist at Johnson County Elementary School

o Mrs. Hall manages the media center as well as the media program at JCES. She

provides media resources to the staff and students. Mrs. Hall also teaches Rotation

classes ranging from Kindergarten to fifth grade

Linda Pool – Media Center Para-Professional

o Mrs. Pool assists the media center specialist and helps to provide media resources to the

staff and students as needed.

Becky Frost – Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade Instructional Coach

Nancy Meeks – Third through Fifth Grade Instructional Coach

Other Stakeholders and Personnel

o Teachers

o Office Staff

o Parents / Guardians

Budget

A detailed budget summary was not available at the time of my observation. In previous years,

lottery funding had been the major factor in technology expansion and funding; however, the

technology coordinator mentioned that the Johnson County School System relies heavily on state

and federal funds to help with technology funding at this time. Also, the local Board of

Education is willing to help to further improvements in the technology area. He did inform me

that the monies that are budgeted to the technology area in the system is to provide reliable

Internet access, to provide maintenance on school servers and equipment, and to maintain

software systems that are available for our current technology. He also said that some of our

technology funding is acquired through SPLOST.

Technology Center Activities

Johnson County Elementary School is reviewing the use of technology in the classroom and has

set goals for the district to insure that all students are Technology Literate as they enter middle

school. By third grade, the students will be familiar with the keyboard and will become at ease

with software programs used for supplemental instruction. By fifth grade, students should be

comfortable with word processing. At this point, they should be typing papers and using the

correct hand placement proficiently. They should also be introduced to presentation software

and delivery using technology equipment.

Programs and Activities Carried Out by the Center:

o Typing Pal – Third through fifth grade classes are using Typing Pal software to help the

students become familiar with the keys and strokes of the keyboard as well as to begin

learning the typing process. Students are monitored by a para-professional during their

rotation class in the computer lab once or twice a week.

o Professional Learning – Professional learning is provided to faculty and staff on a needs

basis. It is usually conducted in the media center or a computer lab.

o Infinite Campus – Faculty and staff use Infinite Campus as an online student information

system and grading system. Infinite is also used to oversee the exporting of grades and

printing of report cards. Our office staff manages the printing of report cards.

o IStation – IStation is a computer based learning system used by students ranging from

Pre-kindergarten through fifth grades. The program delivers reading and math instruction.

It is monitored weekly by teachers in the computer labs and classrooms.

o OAS (Online Assessment System) – OAS is used as a tool to assess student learning. It

completed in the computer labs during benchmark testing.

o HelpDesk – HelpDesk is used by teachers as a way of communicating technology

requests and issues to the Technology Coordinator.

Evaluation

The technology center at Johnson County Elementary School has a wide range of tasks that

occur on a daily basis. Most of the technology center responsibilities were to be managed by an

assigned team of people. Those people included the Technology Director, the Contracted

Technology Support Technician, the Media Specialist, and the Media Clerk. Most of the

responsibilities seemed realistic. Even though there is room for improvement among technology

usage at JCES, it seems that technology practice is a growing obligation of teachers and students

in the school system.

The goals of the technology center is to use technologies to improve instruction and student

learning and provide technological access for all learners. The school seems to continue to

progress in the area of obtaining technology to enhance instruction; however, funding and

staffing seems to continue to be an issue. With funding and staffing being an issue, teachers and

students must put available resources to work to improve instruction and student learning.

Overall, the JCES technology center are fortunate to have the resources that they have, but it

seems as if they are not being utilized appropriately. Based on observations, I feel with more

support from the Technology Coordinator and more professional learning on technology that the

resources would be used more regularly and there would be a positive change in instruction and

learning.

Appendix A

Technology / Media Coordinator Job Description

TITLE: Technology / Media Coordinator

QUALIFICATIONS: 1 – Minimum – Associates Degree in Computer Science or equivalent

2 – Preferred – BS in Computer Sciences, or equivalent

3 – Ability to troubleshoot skills on both MacIntosh, Windows, and DOS based computers.

4 – Previous experience with a variety of common software, diagnostic programs, antivirus programs, back-up programs, web browsers, Outlook

5 – Demonstrated aptitude for creating and using technology

6 – Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

REPORTS TO: Superintendent

JOB GOAL: To coordinate and direct services and programs for district technology; to use leadership, supervisory, and administrative skills so as to promote the efficient use of district technology to assist staff in meeting district educational goals; to help each student obtain maximum benefit from the educational program by diversifying as fully as possible the kinds of educational materials and equipment used.

EVALUATION: Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board’s Policy on evaluation.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provides professional assistance to teachers in the planning, development, and use of technology in the classroom.

2. Provides guidance to teachers, students, and administrators in their own creation and preparation of multi-media.

3. Develops and administers professional development program for personnel.4. Previews and evaluates innovative materials and methods of instruction.5. Assists department groups, research committees, and curriculum workshops in developing

new approaches for instruction.6. Assumes responsibility for budgeting, ordering, and inventorying acquired materials.7. Keeps administration informed of the needs and services relating to technology.8. Trains staff and students in the care and operation of equipment.9. Coordinates with Media Specialists the automation of the libraries and multi-media

equipment.10. Arranges for the maintenance and repair of equipment.11. Conducts continuous evaluations of the effectiveness of multi-media software and hardware

in order that purchases may be made in a timely manner.12. Interprets to the administration, the staff, and the public the objectives of the technology

program in the schools.13. Any other duties as assigned by the Superintendent.14. Responsible for planning and coordinating system technology initiative which includes

administrative and instructional uses.a. Responsible for maintaining computer network and planning for network improvements

and upgrades.b. Responsible for approving all hardware and software purchases.c. Meets with system administrators to address technology issues.

15. Responsible for developing and submitting system technology plan to GADOE.16. Responsible for collecting and submitting system technology inventory to GADOE.

a. Works with school media specialist in categorizing and collecting inventory data.17. Serves as Media Director.

a. Works with media specialists to ensure that the media centers are functioning properly and efficiently.

b. Serves on media advisory committees.c. Approves all orders for the media centers.

18. Responsible for submitting Federal E-Rate grant application for possible reimbursement of system telecommunications, internet access, and internal connection costs. a. Upon grant approval, submits quarterly reports to Alltel, Bellsouth Telecommunications,

and AT&T Corporation for interpretation.b. Upon grant approval, submits reports to Bellsouth Communication for reimbursement of

NEC Key Phone System equipment maintenance.c. Upon grant approval, submits reports to select vendors providing internal connections

that include routers, switches, servers, and wireless connectivity for reimbursement.19. Responsible for all maintenance on computer equipment to include classrooms, labs, and

administrative officesa. Install, Maintain, and Support

i. Macintoshii. Windows98, XP, NT Server, Win2000, Win2000 Server, Win2003 Server

b. Total PC Repairc. Install, Maintain, and Support all Software

i. Microsoft Office 97, 2000, XPii. All networked programs

1. Orchard2. Cornerstone3. Destination Reading4. Renaissance Place5. Spectrum

d. Install, Maintain, and Support all Software on Web Serverse. Install, Maintain, and Support

i. Cisco Pix Firewallii. SLMail (Email System)

iii. Smartfilter (Internet content filtering software)iv. ISA 2004 (Proxy Server)

f. Install, Maintain, and Supporti. Laser and Inkjet Printers

ii. Scannersiii. Digital Camerasiv. LCD Projectorsv. Copiers

20. Responsible for maintaining adequate inventory in the Technology Department21. Serves as Title IID Competitive Grant Administrator and Manager

a. Responsible for the EdTech grants for the school systemb. Ensure that EdTech programs are implemented in the middle and elementary schools

according to GADOE guidelines.c. Ensure that all required data is uploaded to GADOEd. Arranges required professional learning/contracts for servicese. Attends all required EdTech training and conferencesf. Approves all EdTech requistitions.g. Manages grant initiatives h. Ensures grant compliancei. Attends meetings relating to this grant

22. Serves as Title IID Non-Competitive Manager.