Strategic Technology Plan 2016-2019

Howe Independent School District 2016 -- Page 1 of 20

Strategic Technology Plan

2016-2019


Table of Contents

Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 3

Needs Assessment ............................................................................................................................. 5

Goals, Objectives, and Action Plans ................................................................................................... 7

Evaluation ........................................................................................................................................ 17

Appendices ...................................................................................................................................... 18


Introduction

Executive Summary

The need to update the comprehensive technology plan for Howe I.S.D. was necessitated upon the expiration of our current plan. Our current

technology committee received input from staff, administration, parents, students, and business personnel and dedicated itself to the task of

improving instruction and increasing academic learning for all students. Howe ISD has witnessed extreme growth in the use of various

technologies used in teaching, communicating, and managing our district. This trend should continue to accelerate over the next three years. We

must continue to have a well-organized planning process. Our technology committee must continue to set goals and define strategies to reach

these goals. It will be the responsibility of every member of the Howe ISD team to put the plan into effect. It will require a commitment to

training and utilize funds and different instructional and management methods. This plan will assist Howe ISD in becoming an information age

learning center, and in better preparing our students to be productive citizens in an information-driven, global society. Howe ISD continues to be

committed to sustaining and upgrading technology.

Vision Statement

Helping students succeed by expanding today’s learning opportunities

Mission Statement

Howe ISD’s technology mission is to expand the instructional repertoire to reach and enable educators to engage students in

stimulating academic environments utilizing challenging curriculum that is student-centered and inquiry focused.


Technology Strategic Planning Committee Members:

Kevin Wilson – Superintendent

Darla Williams - Assistant Superintendent

Clarissia Doty - Elementary School Principal

Clay Wilson – Middle School Principal

James Teafatiller – High School Principal

Joe Gandillon – Technology Director

Melissa Atchison – District Librarian

Darby Bryant – Elementary School Teacher

Kelley Tucker – Middle School Teacher

Josh Rollins – High School Teacher

Pricilla Lankford – Parent

Cindy Denham – Parent

Rod Hawkins – Business Representative

Bobbie Scoggins – Business Representative

Kelsey Lux - Student

Bryan Brandon – Student

Terisa O’Dowd - Consultant


Needs Assessment

Based on data collected from our campus STaR Charts (School Technology and Readiness) and a comprehensive analysis of strengths,

weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT), the strategic planning committee has worked to develop a plan that addresses our district’s

needs and concerns while utilizing our strengths and opportunities to reach the goals and objectives that support our district mission “to

expand the instructional repertoire to reach and enable educators to engage students in stimulating academic environments

utilizing challenging curriculum that is student-centered and inquiry focused.”

Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

Administration support Lack of bandwidth 1:1 initiative for students Cyberbullying

Accessibility Wi-Fi issues Training available during conference periods

Funding

Resources Computer labs too busy Modeling and Communication Sexting

iPads for all teachers IPad carts are cumbersome Free iPad resources Expensive to maintain

Collaboration Manpower Cost-effectiveness of iPads Shift in program important

Strong technical support Time consuming Durability of iPads Technical issues

Communication Teachers lack comfort level Digital book availability Easy access to inappropriate material

Assigned responsibilities Lack of time to integration New and improved instructional tools

Expectations of families

Commitment Need for more devices Students can bring their own devices

Expectations of staff

Dedicated financial resources Cost of repairs Parent knowledge Social networking

Technology expertise Stolen devices 24/7 access Board limitations

Instructional technology support Material care Online course Monetary support

Community support Usage training needed Digital citizenship Malware threats

School Board support Battery issues Improving infrastructure Competition

Innovative teachers Students who fail to bring devices to class

Online webinars

Teamwork Problems with apps Ubiquity of devices

Student expectations Troubleshooting Collaborating with colleges

Parental support Need for more staff development


Creative team Teachers prefer lecturing

School locations Students do not like iPads

Staff development


Goals, Objectives, and Action Plans

District Priority Goal I: Student Achievement and Preparedness Key Work Area Teaching and Learning

Priority Goal 1 Empower teachers to use and integrate technology teaching and learning practices to actively engage students in the learning process producing young citizens prepared for success in a global and digital world.

Alignment CIP: Create an environment where technologies in integrated into all curriculum areas.

STaR: TL1, TL2, TL3, TL4, TL5, TL6, EP1, EP2, EP3, EP4, EP5, EP6, L5 SWOT surveys

Objective 1.1 Integrate the Technology Applications TEKS within the foundation curriculum at each grade level and provide specialized courses in Technology Applications.

Priority Action Who is Responsible Evidence of Success Start Date

End Date

Budget

High Strategy 1.1.1 The campus administrators will provide staff development that makes teachers aware of the Technology Applications TEKS appropriate to content areas and provide training on how to regularly include technology skills in planning and implementing instruction. Timeframe: Ongoing staff development through the school year during designated dates.

Campus administrators

Administrators will use adopted TA materials and rely upon instructional technology staff to provide these training during designated staff development dates each year.

This will be accomplished through professional development, modeling,

and walk through feedback.

August July Title 1 and Campus material allotment budgets

High Strategy 1.1.2 Teachers will document in their lesson plans how they are integrating the TA TEKS as appropriate for the content area and grade level.

Teachers, campus administrators

Teachers will use the approved campus lesson planning for weekly documentation. Modeling and appraisal feedback will be used as evidence this strategy is

being implemented correctly.

August May No direct cost will be incurred in the implementation of this strategy.


Objective 1.2: Offer and provide the Technology Applications high school courses or equivalent CTE courses to meet the curriculum and graduation requirements specified in 19 TAC Chapter 74.


End Date

Budget

High Strategy 1.2.1: At least 4 high school TA or CTE courses will be offered and at least 4 will teach or included as new courses developed as independent study or innovative courses.

High school principal

Student course offerings and schedules

Objective 1.3: Use the Technology Applications adopted instructional materials at all grade levels.


End Date

Budget

High Strategy 1.3.1: Provide training information to teachers on adopted TA materials Campus administrators will provide the instructional technology team time at the beginning of each school year to provide training to teachers on where TA materials can be accessed and how they relate to core curriculum areas

Campus administrators, instructional technology team, teachers

The teacher will provide evidence of the use of TA materials in their lesson plans. Campus Administrators will use walkthroughs and appraisals to document teachers use. Instructional technology specialists will document teacher attendance to training.



District Priority Goal II: Hire, retain and develop exemplary employees

Key Work Area Educator Preparation and Development

Priority Goal 2 Prepare educators to effectively facilitate and used teaching techniques that include technologies to improve learning and engage students in critical thinking.

Alignment CIP: Offer at least 12 hours or curriculum area technology integration staff development each year. STaR: EP2- EP6

SWOT: Specific curriculum area training on technology integration tools

Objective 2.1: Provide professional development for teaching and integrating Technology Applications into the foundation and enrichment TEKS through multiple delivery methods.


End Date

Budget

High Strategy 2.1.1 Campus administrators and the instructional technology team will provide professional development for teaching and integrate Technology Applications into the foundation and enrichment TEKS through multiple delivery methods. Timeframe: Ongoing staff development through the school year during designated dates.

Campus administrators, instructional technology team

Face-to-face, online, and blended staff development opportunities using staff led and online subscriptions to Atomic Learning's on-line professional development modules will be used. This strategy will be accomplished through profession development tracking by administrators and appraisal feedback.

August July Campus material allotment budgets

High Strategy 2.1.3 Campus administrators and instructional technology staff will encourage teachers to attend technology staff development opportunities offered locally and at Region 10 ESC. Timeframe: Ongoing information flow through email, Tweets, Facebook and Eduphoria to communicate profession


Administrators and technology staff will disseminate information to teachers about staff development opportunities being offered locally, countywide and at Region 10 ESC. Teachers will be asked to submit certificates of attendance of any profession development attended to their campus administrator for

August July No direct cost will be incurred in the implementation of this strategy.


development opportunities year-round.

documentation.

Objective 2.2: Provide professional development for Technology Applications courses as identified in Technology Applications Educator Standards VI - XI.


End Date

Budget

High Strategy 2.2.1: Provide local, offsite, and online professional development opportunities for technology application courses.


Administrators and technology staff will communicate information to teachers with training opportunities for TA courses than can be completed locally, offsite and online. Teachers will be asked to submit certificates of attendance of any profession development attended to their campus administrator for documentation.


High Strategy 2.2.2: Encourage high school CTE course teachers to attend at least 3 hours of training in their assigned course(s) each year.

Campus administrator

The high school principal will keep documentation and communicate that all CTE teachers are required to attend at least 3 hours of training in their assigned course each year. Teachers will be asked to submit certificates of attendance of any profession development attended to their campus administrator for documentation



District Priority Goal III: Promote and sustain school reform

Key Work Area Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support

Priority Goal 3 Develop administrator and instructional support leadership that is committed to leading and nurturing instructional technology practices and programs that will improve teaching and learning in schools.

Alignment STaR: L1, L3, L4, L6

SWOT: Training for Administrators on Technology Leadership

Objective 3.1 Incorporate ongoing technology planning in the classroom, library, campus, and district improvement plans.


End Date

Budget

High Strategy 3.1.1 Technology strategic goals and objectives will be incorporated into the library, campus, and district improvement plans.

Timeframe: Ongoing during all planning committee meetings throughout the school year.

Campus administrators, district, campus, library and technology planning committee members

The technology director or a surrogate staff member will be appointed to each of these committees and representatives from these committees will have representation on the technology strategic planning committee to help accomplish this strategy. Members of all planning committees will work to align district, campus, library, and technology plans to achieve the overarching district priorities for teaching and learning.

August July No cost will be incurred in the implementation of this strategy..

Moderate Strategy 3.1.2: All improvement plans set annual technology benchmarks based on SBEC Technology Applications standards.

Campus administrators, district, campus, library, and technology planning committee members

The district, campus, library, and technology planning committee members will set and include technology benchmarks for teachers and students and document these in their plans to communicate the areas of the SBEC Technology Applications standards teachers need to address and improve upon each year.

August July No cost will be incurred in the implementation of this strategy.


Objective 3.3: Include professional development on the integration of technology in all classroom, library, campus, and district improvement plans and measure their effectiveness using the Texas STaR Chart.


End Date

Budget

High Strategy 3.3.1: Each campus provides time for professional development on the integration of technology.

Campus Administrator

Campus principals will designate time for technology integration training during annual professional development times. Teachers will be asked to submit certificates of attendance of any profession development attended to their campus administrator for documentation


High Strategy 3.3.2: Campus leaders facilitate and support the use of technologies to enhance instructional methods that develop higher-level thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

Superintendent and campus administrators

The superintendent will ask campus principals to submit documentation annually to illustrate what the principal is doing to support the use of technology in instruction on his campus. The superintendent will use this documentation when appraising campus administrators’ performance.



District Priority Goal IV: Provide the infrastructure to support technology integration in schools

Key Work Area Infrastructure for Technology

Priority Goal 4 Design, install, and maintain a technology and telecommunications infrastructure for communications and service to ensure equitable access to all campuses and the community to support teaching and learning.

Alignment STaR: Inf1, Inf2, Inf5, Inf6

SWOT: Challenges mention on the SWOT survey indication connectivity issues and bandwidth issues in the classroom are

inhibiting student access to education resources for classroom and homework.

Objective 4.1 Design, install and maintain a technology and telecommunications infrastructure for communications and services that ensure equitable access.


End Date

Budget

High Strategy 4.1.1: The superintendent and technology director will add additional Internet bandwidth to support up to one-gigabit speeds to online resources across the district. Timeframe: Begin during January budget meetings each year; End in June budget meeting each year.

Superintendent, technology director

The superintendent and technology director will be proactive in purchasing Internet bandwidth to support staff and student use of Internet resources to accomplish this objective. This will be accomplished by working with Region 10 ESC and area Internet providers to obtain the most bandwidth for the district at the best price.

January June The cost of these actions will be supported through our district and campus telecommunications budgets and E-rate discounts through the Universal Service Corporation. budgets.

High Strategy 4.1.2: Maintain fiber connection between buildings.

Superintendent, technology director

The superintendent and technology director will continue to fund and maintain the fiber connection between all district buildings and campuses to support connectivity. This will be accomplished by working with venders and funding

January June The cost of these actions will be supported through our district and campus telecommunications budgets and E-rate discounts through


sources to obtain the most cost effective way to provide the fastest connectivity between buildings

the Universal Service Corporation. budgets.

Objective 4.2: Develop innovative funding and collaboration strategies with both public and private sectors to ensure all students have equitable and anytime, anywhere access to broadband communications.


End Date

Budget

Moderate Strategy 4.2.1: Collaborate with other school districts through the North Texas STAR Consortium to leverage lower broadband pricing for schools, libraries, educators, and students.

Technology Director

The technology director will continue to work with area school administrators to leverage consortium pricing and funding opportunities.


High Strategy 4.2.2: Continue to apply for E-rate funds for technology expenditures.

Technology Director

The technology director will continue to staff informed and apply for E-rate funds for all qualifying technology related expenditures. To accomplish this strategy, the technology director will complete training and applications regularly to the Universal Service Fund Corporation.



District Priority Goal V: Provide policies and safeguards to ensure student and staff safety

Key Work Area School Safety

Priority Goal 5 Provide a secure learning environment that allows active student participation and opportunities to collaborate on relevant content and instruction.

Alignment SWOT: Surveys of administrators, teachers and parent representatives present challenges related to safety concerns of

students using Internet resources and student safety.

Objective 5.1. Facilitate the implementation of high-quality Internet safety programs in schools.


End Date

Budget

High Strategy 5.1.1: The campus administrators and the technology staff will Integrate Internet and technology safety into all areas of the curriculum.

Timeframe: Ongoing staff development through the school year during designated dates; walk through feedback beginning September ending April.

Campus administrators and technology staff

The campus administrators will provide technology staff with designated professional development days each year, to ensure teachers are properly trained in the best practices and resources for integrating Internet and technology safety Staff development tools will include using Internet Safety curriculum provided by NetSmartz.org and other resources developed by the instructional technology staff. This will be accomplished through professional development, modeling,

and walk through feedback.

August July The cost of these actions will be supported through our district and campus telecommunications budgets and E-rate discounts through the Universal Service Corporation. budgets.

Objective 5.2: Provide curriculum to ensure personal safety for students in a digital world and Acceptable Use Policies that specify expectations and rules for students, parents, and teachers.



End Date

Budget

High Strategy 5.2.1: The librarians will teach Internet Safety lessons to all students in grades K - 8 using the Common-Sense Internet safety curriculum that is age appropriate for each grade level to be taught during library time to each grade level at least 6 lessons per school year.

Librarians and instructional technology specialists

To accomplish this short, engaging lessons will be developed by the librarians and ITS that can be taught to K-8 students 6 times per year when student are brought to the library by their homeroom teachers.


High Strategy 5.2.2: Administrators will require all HISD staff, students, and parents to sign and abide by the Howe ISD's Acceptable Use Policies for technology.

District and campus administrators

District and campus administrators will include the Howe ISD's Acceptable Use Policies for technology in the employee handbook, student handbook, and enrollment packets. Administrators will require a signed copy of the agreement is received from staff and students/parents each year.



Evaluation

Section 1 of 2: Evaluation Process

Evaluation of the Technology Plan will be a systematic, ongoing process. All aspects of the plan will be evaluated formally two times each year:

October ……….. 2017, 2018, and 2019

April ………………2017, 2018, and 2019

A subcommittee of the technology committee will be responsible for the ongoing evaluation and will utilize whatever resources deemed

necessary in the process. The type of evaluation and the detail will depend on the part of the plan being evaluated. The intention of the

evaluation will be to make decisions on the impact that technology has on the learning process for all students. A report will be given to the

Superintendent and the Board of Trustees after each formal evaluation occurs.

Section 2 of 2: Evaluation Methods

The Texas STaR Chart, patterned after the CEO Forum’s STaR Chart, has been developed around the four key areas of the Texas Long-Range Plan

for Technology: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Administration and Support Services, and Infrastructure for

Technology.

Howe ISD’s STaR Chart results will be used to help Howe ISD assess its progress toward meeting the goals of the Long-Range Plan for Technology.

The STaR chart will also be used to compare Howe ISD’s results with other Texas districts. By using the STaR chart as a monitoring tool, Howe ISD

will be able to assess technical growth on an annual basis accurately.


Appendices

Appendix item A

Url: http://www.howeisd.net/network

Description:

Network Diagram

Howe ISD has included general network diagrams to help our users better understand the way the district's network operates. More detailed

diagrams of our LANs, Network Topologies, Network Cabling, and IP Addresses are used by our department. These diagrams are not available for

public view for security reasons.

Appendix item B

URL: http://www.howeisd.net//site/Default.aspx?PageID=1739

Description:

The HISD District Technology committee has adopted Proficiency Standards for all HISD educators. Educators are expected to master these

proficiencies.

Mini-grant will be awarded during the 2010-2013 school years to all HISD educators that master Level 2 or above Proficiency Standards.

Appendix item C

URL: http://www.howeisd.net/Page/3319

Description:

HISD hardware and network specifications

Appendix item D

http://www.howeisd.net/network

http://www.howeisd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1739

http://www.howeisd.net/Page/3319


URL http://howeisd.net/Page/32

Description:

General Technology Standards

Appendix item E

URL: http://www.howeisd.net//site/Default.aspx?PageID=3324

Description:

Information for staff about the Howe ISD phone system.

Appendix item F

URL: http://www.howeisd.net/Page/3254

Description:

The Contact page contains information, such as our phone number, fax number, district address, and email address. There is also a link to a map

to our office location.

Phone: 903-532-3228

Fax: 903-532-3215

Address: Howe ISD Technology Department

105 W. Tutt Street

Howe Texas 75459

Appendix item G

URL: http://howeisd.net/Page/3285

Descriptions:

Troubleshooting FAQ's

This page is designed to help the average user solve the most common problems quickly. However, remember that there are many problems

that cannot be remedied without the intervention of the helpdesk. Do not hesitate to call x125 or send an email to [email protected]

Appendix item H

http://howeisd.net/Page/32

http://www.howeisd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=3324

http://www.howeisd.net/Page/3254

http://howeisd.net/Page/3285

mailto:[email protected]


URL: https://eduphoria.howeisd.net/AuthDistrict/Login?ReturnUrl=/eduphoria_webcontrols/Applications.aspx

Description:

The online support page provides district employees with 24/7 access to technical and building maintenance support. Our technology and

maintenance help desks are available through our district's Eduphoria Web Portal and require a staff login and password to access.

https://eduphoria.howeisd.net/AuthDistrict/Login?ReturnUrl=/eduphoria_webcontrols/Applications.aspx

Documents

Strategic Technology Plan 2016-2019