Dr. Annette Griffin Superintendent of Schools December 2006 en Español

Technology Permeates Every Aspect of Our District

We in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District use technology in classrooms, in offices, in communications, in every aspect of our district — especially when we believe that the technology will help us meet our district's vision:

"All students will meet the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) at the proficient or commended level and graduate college-ready without remediation."

For this school year, C-FB ISD has five goals to help us meet our district's vision, and one of those goals focuses on technology. Our district is committed to providing "flexible learning opportunities for students and staff."

The use of technology permeates the entire district from the pre-kindergarten classroom to the Virtual Campus where students and staff can take web-based courses. We even use technology in our cafeteria through our point of sale (POS) systems. At home, our students and families learn about nutrition from Cathy, our online cafeteria manager in our Virtual Cafeteria, as they plan school meals together.

Did you know that as a C-FB ISD community member, you have access to Atomic Learning, a powerful web-based software training system? Atomic Learning is a software tutorial program accessible on www.cfbisd.edu. It provides tutorials for frequently used software programs. Simply visit our website to learn more.

Much of the district's technology is thanks in part to two major bond referendums in 1998 and 2003. We are so fortunate that our citizenry believes in public education and technology. Through these two referendums, the district designated more than $81 million to expand and enhance technology used by students and staff. From these funds, the district has a state-of-the-art infrastructure including district-owned fiber optic cable connections to all facilities.

C-FB ISD takes a hybrid approach to student computer access by providing both desktop and laptop computers. Special-purpose computer labs offer computer access for large group instruction, content remediation and extension, language acquisition support, as well as online testing mandated by the state.

Mobile laptop computer carts afford opportunities for just-in-time classroom access to computers. Campuses have wireless connectivity so students can utilize the laptops anywhere, anytime. We believe that the hybrid approach to providing student computer access allows the district to maximize access with a manageable and sustainable number of student machines. Right now student computers are on a four-year or as-needed replacement cycle and teacher workstations are replaced on a three-year cycle.

For our teachers, we have an outstanding online curriculum called the Community of Learners (COL). COL is a system designed to be user friendly, to offer great flexibility and to provide quick access to curriculum and tools that assist teachers. It is a dynamic and fluid work in progress that we improve as our teachers give us input and feedback.

Research conducted by Robert Marzano lists a "guaranteed and viable curriculum" as the number one school-level factor impacting student achievement; for C-FB ISD, COL is the answer. In fact, when teachers leave C-FB ISD for another district, they frequently tell us that their new district does not have a comparable online curriculum.

We have so many other technological systems for teachers including presentation carts. Independent researchers have found statistically significant gains on the TAKS tests of students who are in the classrooms of teachers who have these carts and who have had the Beyond Hardware training as opposed to the teachers without the carts and the training.

C-FB ISD is privileged to have an Educational Foundation that provides tremendous financial support to teachers and students. The Foundation has funded numerous technology projects, including a kindergarten iPod project which garnered the district local, national and even international media attention.

In 2005, the C-FB ISD was one of 18 public school districts that received the President's Technology Award from the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) for integrating technology into all district operations. Our reputation for being advanced in the use of educational technology continues. Recently, four campuses were selected as site visits for a technology conference sponsored by the National School Boards Association (NSBA). Over 100 educators spent the day in C-FB ISD, and they were amazed by what our students and teachers were accomplishing in our classrooms through technology.

C-FB ISD also uses advanced technology to communicate with its community. The district is one of the first public school systems to stream its cable channel 24/7 on its website. The district was the first to Podcast information in text, audio and video. www.cfbisd.edu is recognized by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) as tops in the country. NSPRA also ranks our district's e-communications network as one of the best in the country and has asked our Public Information Team to present nationally on technology topics from Podcasting to e-communications.

Last spring, C-FB ISD became the first Texas district to implement ConnectEd, a mass notification system to help us quickly contact all parents via telephone and or email. We use this system to communicate with parents about back-to-school registration information, attendance, PTA meetings, school activities, and more. This year, we will even use ConnectEd to contact families if C-FB ISD closes or delays school because of bad weather.

Technology permeates every classroom, every office, and every aspect of C-FB ISD. As the 38th largest school district in Texas, C-FB ISD is widely known for effective utilization of technology, but more importantly, we are impacting student achievement. C-FB ISD is a 2005-06 TEA Recognized School District because our teachers, principals and staff worked together to help every child, and they use every tool possible to improve student learning.

I thank the C-FB ISD community for its continued commitment to our children and public schools. Your support of technology and other educational operations allows us to provide the very best learning environment for students.

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