NEWS RELEASES 2009-10
NEWS RELEASES 2009-10INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS FOCUS OF NEW CERTIFICATION COURSES; LOCAL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS/TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORS FIRST TO PARTICIPATE
Nearly 70 school superintendents and technology directors from across the state will soon learn how to use technology more effectively thanks to a new a certification program offered through a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), MCNC and the UNC School of Government's Center for Public Technology. (See list of participants at end of release.)
"The Center for Public Technology at the UNC School of Government is thrilled to offer the nation's first technology-centered certification programs for North Carolina K-12 superintendents and technology directors," said UNC School of Government Center for Public Technology Director Shannon Tufts. "These programs will provide invaluable education and training to help superintendents and technology officers make strategic investments in technologies to enhance students' learning and engagement in their education."
NCDPI Chief Information Officer Peter Asmar said that he is excited to be a partner in this inaugural professional development opportunity. "Technology is an integral component of a 21st century education. District leaders need specific knowledge and skills to ensure that they are using technology in the most effective and productive ways possible," Asmar said.
The certification programs' goals are to help school leaders manage the expanding role of information technology, protect the district from security threats, and keep pace with new technology trends.
Superintendents will participate in the "Leaders for the 21st Century" Certification Program - a 20-hour instructional program. They initially will meet for a day-long session with their technology directors to discuss the role of transformational leadership in K-12 education. This will be followed by two additional 3-hour sessions over the course of the program and conclude with a joint meeting with technology directors to review best practices created by the technology directors during their course of study.
Technology directors will participate in the "Certified Educational Chief Technology Officers" Certification Program - a 240-hour instructional program. This 10-month course establishes the foundation for assessing and addressing some of the most critical issues facing information technology leaders in school systems. The purpose of the program is to equip school leaders with the tools to help them manage and improve organizational technology.
Instruction begins Feb. 9 and concludes with a graduation ceremony on Nov. 17. The courses are based on the Certified Government Chief Information Officers Program. For more information, please contact the NCDPI's Communications division at 919.807.3450 or Shannon Tufts, director of the UNC School of Government Center for Public Technology, at 919.962.5438.
Certification program participants:
| SCHOOL DISTRICT | SUPERINTENDENT | TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR |
|---|---|---|
| Alleghany County Schools | Jeff Cox | Leslie Clark |
| Avery County Schools | Keith Eades | Dennis Brown |
| Caldwell County Schools | Steve Stone | Raymond Norman |
| Caswell County Schools | Douglas | Barker David Useche |
| Catawba County Schools | Tim Markley | Judith Ray |
| Cherokee County Schools | Stephen Lane | Jeana Hardin |
| Currituck County Schools | Meghan Doyle | Paul O'Briant |
| Edenton-Chowan Schools | Allan Smith | Nelle Hyatt |
| Franklin County Schools | Edward Ingram | Christopher Shearer |
| Halifax County Schools | Elease Frederick | Stacy Lee |
| Harnett County Schools | Phillip Ferrell | Thomas Frye |
| Haywood County Schools | Anne Garrett | Nathan Trantham |
| Hoke County Schools | Freddie Williamson | Jason Atkinson |
| Hyde County Schools | Gregory Todd | Shelby Gibbs |
| Johnston County Schools | Ed Croom | Diana Freeman |
| Lee County Schools | Jeff Moss | Cindy Johnson |
| Lenior County Schools | Terry Cline | Philip Decker |
| Lincoln County Schools | David Martin | Lee O'Neal |
| Macon County Schools | Dan Brigman | Tim Burrell |
| Mitchell County Schools | Brock Womble | Janie Duncan |
| Moore County Schools | Susan Purser | Anthony Tuso |
| Mt. Airy City Schools | Darrin Hartness | Judy Walker |
| Orange County Schools | Patrick Rhodes | Angela Veitch |
| Person County Schools | Larry Cartner | Deborah Burleson-Smith |
| Polk County Schools | William Miller | David Scherping |
| Rockingham Co. Schools | Rodney Shotwell | Dennis Frye/Lee Cummings |
| Stanly County Schools | Samuel DePaul | Brandon DeLeeuw |
| Surry County Schools | Ashley Hinson | Jill Reinhardt |
| Transylvania Co. Schools | Jeffrey McDaris | Donys Merrill |
| Vance County Schools | Norman Shearin | Marsha Abbott |
| Warren County Schools | Ray Spain | Christopher Withrow |
| Whiteville City Schools | Tom Hager | Anthony Martin |
| Yancey County Schools | Tom Little | Walter Peterson |
About the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction:
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction provides leadership to 115 local public school districts and 107 charter schools serving over 1.4 million students in kindergarten through high school graduation. The agency is responsible for all aspects of the state's public school system and works under the direction of the North Carolina State Board of Education.
For more information:
NCDPI Communications and Information, 919.807.3450.