The school year began in August with a message to our Durango Administrators on 18 Ways to Change the World LINK HERE and ideas for implementing 21st Century Learning in their individual schools. Since my time is short and I will finish my 14 years with the Durango School District in December…I feel an urgent rush to share the message to implement what I preach in my own district. There are several changes going on over the next 6 months and it will make change difficult. After my announcement of retirement our Superintendent, Mary Barter announced that she will also retire. She has been an excellent supporter of implementing Technology in our district over the past 9 years.
Diane Doney, the Finance Business Manager has left to be the new Business Manager for the Douglas County School District. Diane was my greatest supporter and any crazy idea I had for changing the classroom for the 21st Century skills, she would listen to the project information, ask questions, challenge me back, find a way to do it financially and assist in the implementation of the program. Durango lost a fantastic asset when she left. Over the past 14 years we have made huge improvements in Educational Technology, Information Literacy and 21st Century skill implementation.
Over the past 14 years we have observed many significant changes in our district because of our Staff Development coordinators JoAnne Hibbard and Bonna Steinle. Bonna and I worked for the first 8 years and really broke ground in the area of Technology Staff development. This was back in 1996 – 2003… beginning with the Internet using Pine and all text based products on Apple II’s and the first IBM PC and the World Wide Web was developing.
We found early adopters and supporters of technology and offered FREE classes for the staff. We would provide a little food and a free class and it was amazing to look back on the results. Those early adopters would start using the new technology and then other teachers started asking what it was about and the group would grow. Bonna and I were on the cutting edge for several years teaching the new technology skills. She is now retired and living in, Mesa Arizona. I had no idea how important those early days would shape my future and the future of the Durango School District.
JoAnne Hibbard stepped in to fill Bonna’s shoes as we were writing our ET/IL (Educational Technology and Information Literacy) plan. http://web9r.durango.k12.co.us/grants/powered/kinder/Science_Healthy_heart_K.pdf The goal of the plan was to specify standards and ends to provide training and development to all staff and assist them in becoming proficient in Technology competencies and implementation. Our Durango plan was selected as a model for the state of Colorado and is the reason we have 100 percent proficiency for all of out 389 Teachers. JoAnne and I have continued to provide Technology Staff Development to our staff over the past 5 years and we have observed significant change in the classroom using Visual Literacy, Podcasting and Blogs. Our Technology Web Page has many samples for you observe and listen to.
http://web9r.durango.k12.co.us/conf/
Another significant success marker is our Media Specialists at our 10 Schools. They have been the connection for me to each school. They NEVER say no…..Our Technicians provide the training to assist them the basics of trouble shooting the technology equipment. Their dedication is such that I have arrived at their schools to find a lady in proper school attire – (i.e. dress and blouse) on the floor under a desk tracing the wire to find out why a computer would not start correctly. Every one of them go above an beyond the call… Thanks you to:
Janet Oliver, Sue Mooney, Ann Ruetschle, Mary Kay Oneil, Cindy Tucson, Marilyn Zion, Trish Kilpatric, Danna Neilson, Suzanne Wickman, – Michelle Brown – and Steve Powell.
Over the past 14 years there is so much history, including many Superintendents, including Walt Jackson who originally hired me, Harvey Guest, Gene Young (can I tell you stories about this piece of history), Joel Jones – (Interim) and Mary Barter. There have been many other Directors and Principals including many that were “run out of town” to those who should have been run out of town. As they say, the cream rises to the top as I remember; Walt Jackson, Dennis Simpson, Dan Patterson, Rich Yeager, John Welcher, Bonna Steinle, Judy Michalski, Kathy Deaderick, Pete Harter, Marci Dennahm, Judy Wilke, Nyla Gruver, Gene Giddings, Norm Higgans, Jean Thweat, Amy Kindorski, Brian Hester, Marc Cooper, John Cordalis, Kristy Rodri, Darlene Wylie and so many others that names do not all come to mind. I am sorry but it would take 10 pages to list everyone; that names above flash back to times remembered for things that had an impact on me.
The are only 2 incidents that are negative in the 14 years—you will have to ask me personally to re-visit the 2 individuals….one involved a situation with a former HR director and another with a former Superintendent…do any of you remember the vote of no confidence back in 97 for 2 administrators…that is another story to visit someday….
If I have one regret, it is not bringing about systemic change to the district for 21st Century Learning and 21st Century Skills for the District. My hope is that when I come back to visit in the next few years, I would see a shift in priorities and the emphasis on 21st Century Skills…..If you want to read an excellent article :
http://www.wvexecutive.com/featured/summer07/21st-century-education/
If you want to know what 21st Century Learning is all about:
and what are the skills…..?
http://www.ncrel.org/engauge/skills/skills.htm
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