adoption of International
Society for Technology
(ISTE) Standards for
Students, which provide a
framework school districts
can use to educate students
on technology use in
learning. Students in CCSD
begin as early as kindergarten
to develop and build on
basic computing skills
aligned with the standards.
In addition to daily
technology usage for
teaching and learning
across all curriculum,
students received focused
technology instruction
beginning with elementary
school Specials classes
focused on computer
enrichment, continuing in
middle school Connections
technology classes, and
culminating with numerous
high school courses, both
Career Pathways and AP
offerings, designed to
prepare students for careers
focused on technology
and information services
knowledge and skills.
Impressed by CCSD’s
reputation for instructional
technology integration,
CCSD in 2020 welcomed a
visit by ISTE directors to
see teachers and students
working together in the
classroom. The visit
included a stop at
Creekland Middle School,
where five teachers became
the first in CCSD to earn
ISTE educator certification.
The competency based
process is based on the
ISTE Standards for Educators,
which also have been
adopted by CCSD, and best
38 CLASS ACT | 2021-2022
practices for effectively
teaching with education
technology.
ISTE’s Standards for
Educators call for every
teacher to be a: Learner,
Leader, Citizen, Collaborator,
Designer, Facilitator
and Analyst, and for teachers
to guide each student to
become an: Empowered
Learner, Digital Citizen,
Knowledge Constructor,
Innovative Designer,
Computational Thinker,
Creative Communicator
and Global Collaborator.
As part of the certification
process, teachers participate
in professional development
based on the
Standards and best practices,
and then create a
portfolio that demonstrates
their competency, which is
closely evaluated by educational
technology leaders.
“We want our teachers
to not only know how to
use educational technology,
but also to successfully
leverage it with purpose
-- and ISTE Standards are
the gold standard in how to
best accomplish this mission,”
Dr. Hightower said.
Thousands of CCSD
teachers and support staff
have been trained through
CCSD’s Office of Technology
& Information Services
on the latest in instructional
technology and instruction
including courses to
achieve Microsoft Innovative
Educator (MIE), MIE
Expert, and Apple Teachers
designations. These courses
develop participants’
abilities to best use technology
devices and software
in their roles, whether
in the classroom or an
office.
Two CCSD schools
– Clark Creek Elementary
School STEM Academy and
Holly Springs Elementary
School STEM Academy –
have earned elite Microsoft
Showcase School honors
recognizing their successful
integration of educational
technology in the classroom
to benefit students
and teachers.
Microsoft Education
named 42 CCSD teachers
and staff to its 2020-2021
class of Microsoft Innovative
Educator (MIE) Experts.
The technology
company selects educators,
support staff and school
leaders who show exceptional
understanding of
how technology can improve
learning for this
recognition, which includes
access to new tools and an
exclusive online network
for sharing best practices.
“Thousands of educators
from across the U.S.
applied this year and these
educators and schools
leaders from CCSD were
selected because they are
self-driven, passionate
about their work, have a
true collaborative spirit,
and strive to inspire students
with creative thinking
and implement technology
thoughtfully in the
classroom,” said Robyn
Hrivnatz, Microsoft Education
Industry Executive.
“These educators are
empowering the students of
today to create the world of
tomorrow.”
Dr. Hightower praised
Mr. Blount, who also was
named to the list, and his
team for diligently working
to provide all CCSD employees
with not only
access to the latest instructional
technology, but also
outstanding training and
support to successfully use
this investment.
“Our students, whether
they are learning at school
or online at home, all
benefit from instructional
technology and experts
who know how to leverage
these powerful tools,” he
said.
Continued from Page 37
Second-grade students work on a writing assignment using classroom
laptops.