It never gets old.

There are many people that dread going to work everyday.  Apparently they do not like what they do, they do not like the people they work with, they do not like their bosses, and generally are miserable throughout their day.  I am NOT one of those people.  I tell the faculty and staff at Drew Central that I truly love the first day of school.  If you go all the way back to my kindergarten year, through elementary, middle school, high school, college, first job as a teacher/coach, and administration this will be my 44th first day of school and I still look forward to going to work. 

Last year I rode a school bus to greet the students as they got on the bus and greet the parents as they bid farewell to their children.  I plan to do the same this year.  It is a great sight to see students with their new clothes, backpacks, haircuts, and eager faces waiting to get to school.  Let me be naive and believe it is to learn many new things.  Understandably, they want to see their friends, catch up on the latest gossip, and see classmates.  Our charge as teachers, administrators, and staff is make sure each of us do the best job possible to put students in the best situation to succeed.  I can't wait!

RWF

Tell me what you are going to do this year?

I want to know what the teachers at DCSD are going to do to infuse technology into their curriculum.

School administrators model expected behavior

Many people believe that summer is a time off for school personnel. While teachers and other personnel may not come to school everyday many attend workshops, take classes, and gather materials for the coming school year. Principals and superintendents are no exception. Today, all Drew Central administrators attended a session that helps validate our direction into the technological future. Steve Dembo, a former kindergarten teacher and school Director of Technology, who currently serves as Director of Social Media for Discovery Education, a division of The Discovery Channel, spoke to Arkansas school administrators about the possibilities of technology in 21st century schools. Throughout the session I was texting with the principals and Director of Instruction about new ideas we were hearing, how we can use the information, and what teachers we needed to share with. The session validated our direction.
The Drew Central School District has made the commitment to phase out most textbooks over the next five years. Textbook funds will be used to purchase technology: laptops, IPads, Netbooks, Nooks, and Kindles, with the ultimate goal of expanding opportunities for students and teachers. Modeling expected behavior is a basic tenet of teaching. This is why all administrators will now be expected to have their own blog, much like this one. Blogging will provide more opportunities for communicating with students, teachers, staff, parents and
patrons. Obviously with any technology comes inherent issues. My blog allows for anonymous posts. Certainly there will be frivolous posts. However, I believe that the useful dialog will far outpace the negative.
Most people can relate stories of small children who are adept at navigating an IPhone, IPad, computer, etc. Schools must keep pace with the skills of their students. I look forward to exploring the possibilities and to communicating with those persons interested in the education of students in the Drew Central School District.

Welcome to 21st century education

This blog spot is the first step in creating a learning environment within the Drew Central School District that will maximize technology within the school district.  I welcome your comments, suggestions, etc. as we move forward into the 21st century.