CCSD middle school students demonstrate their Minecraft skills for an ISTE (International Society
for Technology) team.
2021-2022 | CLASS ACT 37
The Cherokee County
School District’s transformation
into an online
learning provider when
schools closed during the
pandemic wasn’t an overnight
process.
For more than two
decades, CCSD has forged
its reputation as a leader in
both instructional technology
training and investment
in technology infrastructure.
The Office of
Technology & Information
Services, guided by its
annually updated longrange
technology plan and
fueled by community
support through Education
Special Purpose Local
Optional Sales Tax renewals,
has stayed ahead of
trends to provide the best
blended learning opportunities
possible for students
– before, during and after
the pandemic.
The School District in
2020 was named the
Districts of Distinction
award winner in the Educational
Technology category
by the District Administration
educational leadership
organization. CCSD won
the honor for its Minecraft:
Education Edition initiative,
which began during
the 2017-18 school year
when the District was
selected by Microsoft to
pilot the school-version of
the popular video game.
“We know the program
has been a game-changer
for our classrooms, so it’s
very rewarding to see it
earn national recognition,”
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Brian V. Hightower
said. “Kudos to our incredibly
dedicated technology
staff, led by Chief Information
Officer Bobby Blount,
for continuing to keep
CCSD at the forefront.
Bobby and his team stay
ahead of trends, and
thoughtfully implement
those that will best benefit
our students and help our
teachers and staff.”
Through Minecraft:
Education Edition, students
master academic
lessons while building in
the virtual world of farms
and castles that they
already know and love.
Teachers had the opportunity
to volunteer for the
CCSD pilot, through which
they received one-on-one
training with Microsoft
staff. Word quickly spread
among teachers about the
quality of the program and
training and the ease of use
in the classroom, which
helped grow the initiative
districtwide.
“We went to great
lengths to make sure our
stakeholders knew that
Microsoft had turned up
the volume on the product
by offering a standards
based education
resource,” Mr. Blount said.
“Even though it isn’t
On
TOP
of
TECH
playtime, we want learning
to be fun.”
CCSD is one of only 20
school districts worldwide
selected for Microsoft’s
Minecraft Adoption Program
to implement the
educational version of the
game, through which
students create, innovate
and collaborate in the
Minecraft world while
learning and developing
problem-solving skills.
CCSD teachers use the
program as part of lesson
plans that focus on student
mastery of standards-based
content, while also reinforcing
soft skills that
amplify digital citizenship,
effective and appropriate
communication and team
collaboration.
The use of Minecraft:
Education Edition is in
alignment with CCSD’s
Continued on Page 38