How to Build Technology Leaders in Your SchoolsDistrict

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How to Build Technology Leaders in Your
Schools/District

• Presented By
• Gaston County Schools
• Gaston County, NC

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Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Grant (TLCF)

• Initial Grant Funded in 1997-98
• Renewed through 2001-02
• Approximately 365 teachers received training

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Comprehensive Technology Staff Development A
Layered Approach
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Pinnacle I Training

• Cooperative effort between Gaston County Schools
  and Belmont Abbey College, summer 2001
• 15 Leaders trained
• Laptops distributed at END of training (surprise)
• 8 Pinnacle groups (101 total Pinnacle Leaders)
  have been trained to date

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Pinnacle Leaders Recruiting

• Schools without Pinnacle leaders targeted
• Involvement of school principals is encouraged
  and essential
• Applications filed by specified date
• Applications scored by outside readers using
  published rubric
• Accepted applicants notified

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Pinnacle Leaders Training

• Laptop presented to participants during first
  meeting
• Initial staff development occurs during a two day
  weekend retreat
• Additional work sessions and training completed
  at Rader Staff Development Center in Gaston
  County
• 60 contact hours total

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Training Model

• Project Based Learning focused
• Technology integration required
• Participants receive computer applications
  training on a just-in-time basis
• Participants grouped randomly
• Small groups conduct Internet research and
  construct knowledge for larger group
• Instructional focus models
• Cooperative groups, Inquiry, Taba, Simulations

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Outcomes

• Technology infused classrooms modeling best
  practices
• Computer savvy instructors
• Laptops provide additional student workstations
  in schools
• Pinnacle Leaders act as advocates for county
  technology policies
• Uniformly trained instructor pool is available
  for county-wide projects

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Funding

• Initially by TLCF Grant in cooperation with
  Belmont Abbey College
• Gaston County Schools now finances all Pinnacle
  activities
• Outside consultant conducts Pinnacle workshop

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Current projects

• County-wide technology staff development
• In-school technology staff development
• Just-in-time mentoring at school sites
• Creation of on-line reading courses
• NC WISE able training

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Pinnacle V Sample Lessons

• Wright Brothers
• Micki Gurganus
• Melissa Balesky
• Gerri Logan
• Chocolate
• Lori Dodson
• Sandi Maners
• Susie Tippett

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Questions?
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Gaston County Schools web address

• www.gaston.k12.nc.us
• Conference Presentations Link
• http//www.gaston.k12.nc.us/resources/teachers/con
  ferences/NCaect05/index.htm