Release Date: 6/29/2009 Contact: Kara E. B. Calder
410-887-5908

BCPS best practices well-represented at national educational technology conference

Superintendent presents during two panels

TOWSON, MD. (June 29, 2009) - Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston served on a panel at the National Educational Computing Conference today exploring "Data Driven Decision Making." He will appear at another on Wednesday to discuss "Maryland: Building Capacity for Technology Proficiency."

NECC 2009, taking place Sunday, June 28, through Wednesday, July 1, has drawn more than 18,000 participants to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. It is presented by the International Society for Technology in Education and in cooperation with the Maryland Instructional Computer Coordinators Association and the Virginia Society for Technology in Education.

During today's panel, Dr. Hairston discussed: the school system's vision, as articulated in its Blueprint for Progress; its investment in instructional technology and related professional development; its use of commissioned studies and various management information systems; and how access to real-time data allows teachers and school administrators to fine-tune instruction.

Wednesday's panel discussion is designed to explore what educational leaders have learned from Maryland's technology literacy measurements and what their school systems plan to do to address technology literacy proficiency for students, teachers, and administrators. Dr. Hairston's presentation is likely to include: a description of the new virtual learning environment to be launched at Chesapeake High School in August; a description of the technology tools used in BCPS classrooms and schools to support instruction; work to continue the integration of technology into the written and assessed curriculum; and professional development to support technology usage.

Yesterday, Helen Padgett, president of the International Society for Technology in Education, highlighted Baltimore County Public Schools led by Dr. Hairston as an example of excellence during her 2009 Presidential Address. Also, on the conference's first day, Ryan Imbriale, principal of Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts and an ISTE Board member, received a 2009 Making IT Happen award.

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