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

First day of national educational technology conference brings recognition to Baltimore County Public Schools

TOWSON, MD. (June 29, 2009) - Helen Padgett, president of the International Society for Technology in Education, highlighted Baltimore County Public Schools, led by Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston, as an example of excellence during her 2009 Presidential Address, presented at the National Educational Computing Conference. Also on the conference's first day, Sunday, June 28, Ryan Imbriale, principal of Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts and an ISTE Board member, received a 2009 Making IT Happen award.

Presented by ISTE and in cooperation with the Maryland Instructional Computer Coordinators Association and the Virginia Society for Technology in Education, NECC 2009, which runs through Wednesday, July 1, has drawn more than 18,000 participants, including teachers, teacher educators, technology coordinators, library media specialists, administrators, policy makers, and industry representatives to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

In her opening session address before a live audience of 5,000, Padgett stressed the need "to make going to school a step into the future for our students." As the first of her four "examples of excellence," instances where this is already happening, she described BCPS plans to launch a virtual learning environment at Chesapeake High School in Essex. She said that the "high-tech pilot program brings together universities, [defense contractors], and a video game developer to give a real world aspect to textbook lessons and challenges students with the kind of problem-solving that employers expect."

She gave specific recognition to the leadership of Dr. Hairston, noting that he won ISTE's 2005 Outstanding Leader of the Year award and that he "has a history of success."

"This pilot," Padgett said, "is just the latest in a long string of innovations he's led that have improved outcomes for students...."

Scheduled to open in August, the virtual learning environment at Chesapeake High School is the result of BCPS collaborations with Johns Hopkins University, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and prominent area software developers.

Aside from Padgett's acclaim for the school system, BCPS was also honored when 2009 Making IT Happen awards were presented to Imbriale and four others. Created in 1995, Making IT Happen identifies and rewards educational technology leaders around the United States for their commitment and innovation. According to program leaders, recipients are identified for awards based on several criteria, including applying available technology, teaching through relationships, and recognizing that teacher empowerment is the key to effective technology integration.

Prior to becoming a school administrator, Imbriale was a specialist in the BCPS Office of Instructional Technology and worked on projects to expand online learning throughout Maryland. Last year, the National School Boards Association named Imbriale as one of its "20 to Watch" educators for 2008.

In addition, Dr. Hairston served on a panel at the conference today and will take part in another on Wednesday. Thirty BCPS principals are attending conference workshops to learn more about effectively integrating technology into classroom instruction. These principals are:

Joyce Albert, Franklin Elementary School
Kathy Arnold , Pinewood Elementary School
Sherrilyn Backof, Rosedale Center
Thomas Bowser, Sussex Elementary School
Anissa Brown Dennis, Deep Creek Middle School
Jill Carter, Halstead Academy
Karen Donoho, Martin Boulevard Elementary School
Kathy East, Victory Villa Elementary School
Susan Eisenhart, Warren Elementary School
Susan Felts, Kingsville Elementary School
Debbie Glinowiecki , Jacksonville Elementary School
Sue Hershfeld, Fort Garrison Elementary School
Jane Lichter, Lansdowne Elementary School
Tiffany Livingstone, Featherbed Lane Elementary School
Maria Lowry, Chesapeake High School
Barbara McLennan, Dundalk Elementary School
Maureen Partilla, Pleasant Plains Elementary School
Deborah Phelps, Windsor Mill Middle School
Mary Ann Rigopoulos, Oliver Beach Elementary School
Tricia Rueter, Wellwood Elementary School
Donna Scaccio, Timonium Elementary School
Christine Smith, Gunpowder Elementary School
Mia Talarigo, Pikesville Middle School
Patricia Vogel, Westowne Elementary School
Harry Walker , Sandy Plains Elementary School
John Ward, Stemmers Run Middle School
Sharon Whitlock, Chase Elementary School
Sandra Wilkins, Hebbville Elementary School
Carol Wingard, Seven Oaks Elementary School

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