canton public schools technology plan 2015-2018 · canton public schools technology plan, 2015...

Canton Public Schools

Technology Plan

2015-2018

Canton Public Schools Technology Plan

Table of Contents

Planning Context .............................................................................................................................. 1

Canton Board of Education and Administration .............................................................................. 3

The Technology Planning Team ....................................................................................................... 4

Charting Our Course: Refined Mission, Vision and Beliefs ........................................................... 5

Goal Number 1: Engaging and Empowering Learning Experiences .............................................. 6

Goal Number 2: Assessment ........................................................................................................... 10

Goal Number 3: Connected to Teaching and Learning ................................................................... 12

Goal Number 4: Infrastructure for Teaching and Learning ............................................................ 16

Goal Number 5: Productivity and Efficiency .................................................................................. 18

Canton Public Schools Technology Plan, 2015 -2018 Page 1

Planning Context

Incorporated in 1806, Canton Connecticut is located in Hartford County astride the Farmington River Valley and has a population of 10,500. The Canton Public

Schools enroll 1,750 students from the town of Canton as well as other surrounding Open Choice communities. All of these students attend four school facilities;

an elementary, intermediate, a middle and high school. Canton Public Schools have earned a reputation for being among the highest performing school systems

in their comparison group, with students who consistently perform at or above the levels of districts with similar demographic and economic profiles.

The Canton Public Schools have achieved tremendous progress, and the outcomes speak for themselves. Student performance on standardized assessments is

trending up throughout the system and Canton High School is regarded as one of the top high schools in the state of Connecticut. From teaching and learning to

communications and leadership, the district has systematically worked to improve all facets of the educational process on behalf of the students of Canton. The

Canton Public Schools are a source of pride for the community and by any measure, this sense of accomplishment is well-deserved.

The Canton Public Schools Technology Planning Committee began meeting in December of 2014 for the specific task of reviewing and making

recommendations for the Canton Public School District’s Technology Plan 2015 – 2018. The committee initially met to analyze the accomplishments and

omissions of the 2012 – 2015 Technology Plan. The committee of 18 represents the Canton community at large. The committee met 5 times in 2015 and will

meet four times a year in the future.

In preparation for writing the Canton Public Schools 2015-2018 Technology Plan, we contracted with the data analytic company Brightbytes in the summer of

2014 to assist us with the needs assessment required in the technology planning stages. Brightbytes is a learning analytics organization that measures student

learning outcomes using data analysis and educational research. The outputs of the analysis are used to power an online platform that serves as a decision support

system for educational leaders (Brightbytes Product Overview, 2014). In the fall of 2014, the Canton Public Schools administered the Brightbytes product Clarity

to measure modern learning outcomes and the factors that shape them - identifying strength and gaps, writing detailed planning documents, and creating reports

that will shape our 2015-2018 Technology Plan. This adaptive online survey was given to all students in grades 3-12, all staff, teachers, administrators, and

families of students in grades K-12. Overall 100% of students and staff took the survey and around 70% of families completed it. The survey took each group

about 15 minutes to complete. It is our goal to administer this survey two times a year to measure our progress.

Results from this survey have given our district tremendous data to work with to develop our Canton Public Schools Technology Plan for 2015-2018. Clarity has

broken down data for us by school and district. There are four main areas that make up this data framework: Classroom, Access, Skills, and Environment. For

each one of the areas we received very detailed interactive reports that our district is using in budget preparations and our technology planning for the future.

All areas are scored on a continuum and rated as in the beginning stage, emerging stage, proficient stage, advanced stage, and exemplary stage. This scoring

system allows us to target the areas on which we need to focus.

Detailed district report focus areas:

21st Century skills

Curriculum and instruction

Infrastructure at home

Infrastructure at school

Professional learning

Supervisory

Technology support


It was agreed that when the plan was completed, the plan would articulate priority strategic goals that will serve as key areas of developmental focus over the

next five years:

Engaging and Empowering Learning Experiences

Assessment

Connected to Teaching and Learning

Infrastructure for Teaching and Learning

Productivity and Efficiency


Canton Public Schools

Canton Board of Education

Leslee Hill, Board Chair

Julie Auseré, Vice Chair

Peg Berry, Secretary

David Briggs

Ana Cavanaugh

Dana Kosior

Laurie McKenna

Jack Powell

Helen Treacy

Central Office Administration

Kevin D. Case

Superintendent of Schools

Jordan E. Grossman, Ed.D.

Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Anna Robbins

Business Manager

Perri Murdica, Ed.D.

Director of Pupil Personnel Services

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_lhill.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_jausere.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_pberry.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_dbriggs.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_dbriggs.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_acavanaugh.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_acavanaugh.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_dkosior.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_lmckenna.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_jpowell.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_htreacy.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_htreacy.shtml


The Technology Planning Team

Member Title Constituency Represented

Jeff DelMastro Technology Administrator Technology Department

Jordan E. Grossman, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent Central Office

Robin Nardini Technology Integration Specialist Technology Department

Andy Buckle Technology Integration Specialist Technology Department

Erik Glidden Technology Specialist Technology Department

Benjamin Lagace Technology Specialist Technology Department

Dana Kosior BOE Member Community

Kevin Hanlon Principal Administration

Eric Verner Assistant Principal Administration

Kevin Case Superintendent Central Office

Perri Murdica, Ed.D. Director of Pupil Personnel Services Central Office

Anna Robbins Business Manager Central Office

Amber Scapin 3rd

Grade Teacher Cherry Brook Primary School

Jennifer Peterson 6th

Grade Teacher Canton Intermediate School

Sarah Foster English Teacher Canton Middle School

Tara Smith World Language Teacher Canton High School

Pam Keagan Library Media Specialist Cherry Brook Primary School

Brett Gottheimer Music Teacher Canton High School

Michael Pelletier Community Member Community/Parent


Charting our Course

Our Vision: Opening Minds ... Transforming Lives

As a leader among schools and a source of pride in our community, the Canton Public Schools enrich the present

and shape the future of its students by opening minds and transforming lives.

Our Mission

Our mission is to prepare independent, productive, respectful and responsible citizens who contribute to an ever-

changing world. We pursue continuous improvement while honoring our strong educational legacy and traditions.

We unite with families and the community to provide challenging educational experiences that promote the

intellectual, physical, social and emotional potential of our students.

We Believe:

All students will successfully master Canton’s Community Expectations for Learning

All students benefit from high-quality resources and experiences that foster intellectual, physical, social and

emotional growth

All students flourish in a safe and healthy learning environment that values differences while respecting

cultures, abilities and perspectives

All children are entitled to a childhood


Goal 1: Engaging and Empowering Learning Experiences

National Tech Plan State Tech Plan

Learning: Engage and Empower

All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in

and out of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and

ethical participants in our globally networked society.

Engaging and Empowering Learning Experiences

All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both

inside and outside of school that prepare them to be active, creative,

knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society.

Strategies for Moving Forward:

What Steps Will You Take? Who Will Be Responsible? When? How will you measure?

Canton Public Schools will continue to

revise, create, and implement standards

and learning objectives using technology

for all content areas that reflect 21st-

century expertise and the power of

technology to improve learning.

Superintendent

Assistant Superintendent

Administrators

Technology Department

Teachers

Ongoing/Continuous Verify that Atlas Rubicon aligns with

standards and include links to multiple

online resources.

Cherry Brook Primary School will

continually update and revise Power

Teacher Standards Based Report Cards

aligned with standards based on staff and

parent feedback.

Superintendent


Administrators


Teachers

Annually Surveys

Leadership Meetings/Team Meetings

Canton Intermediate School will

continually update and revise Power

Teacher Standards Based Report Cards

aligned with the standards based on staff

and parent feedback.

Superintendent


Administrators


Teachers

Annually Surveys


Cherry Brook Primary School and Canton

Intermediate School will open Grading

Portal for families.


Administrators


Teachers

Pilot spring of 2015

Full fall of 2015

Opening of Grading Portal

Family Feedback



Canton Middle School and Canton High

School will revise curriculum to align

with standards within Atlas Rubicon.

Superintendent


Administrators


Teachers

Annually


School district will educate families on

the safe use/precautions of the Internet

and social media.

Superintendent


Administrators


Forums will be held each year of the

plan.

Forums are held.

Cherry Brook Primary School and Canton

Intermediate School will develop and

teach a curriculum for students on the safe

use/precautions of the Internet and social

media (Google Academy).

Superintendent


Administrators


Curriculum developed and placed

into schedules by August 2015.

In 2016-2017 add a .25 FTE Digital

Media Specialist at Canton

Intermediate School

Curriculum developed and placed into

schedules by August 2015.

Canton Public Schools will develop and

implement learning resources that use

technology such as cloud computing that

exploit the flexibility and power of

technology to reach all learners anytime

and anywhere.

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


Ongoing/Continuous Continue to monitor learning sciences

and review emerging technologies.

Technology Committee team will

continue to cost evaluate emerging

technology and recommend

implementation.


use advances in learning sciences and

technology to enhance STEM (science,

technology, engineering, and

mathematics) learning and develop, adopt,

and evaluate new methodologies with the

potential to inspire and enable all learners

to excel in STEM.

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


Ongoing/Continuous

Student enrollment, interest and

understanding as measured by

improvement in STEM assessment.

Canton Public Schools will use advances

in learning sciences and technology to

enhance STEM (science, technology,

engineering, and mathematics) learning

and develop, adopt, and evaluate new

methodologies with the potential to

inspire and enable all learners to excel in

STEM. Canton is currently expanding our

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


The integration between technology

and curriculum will occur

continuously over the 3-year period.

By 2015/2016:

Computer Programming

Industrial Robotics

By 2016/17:

Implementation



use of the following programs at Canton

High School.

Computer Programming

Industrial Robotics

AP Computer Science

Contemporary Media

Innovation and Engineering

Design

Aviation and Aerospace

AP Computer Science

Contemporary Media

By 2017/2018:

Innovation and Engineering

Design

Aviation and Aerospace










Middle School:

STEM Academy

Google Apps for Education

Coding and Programing

Digital/Online Gaming

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


By 2015/2016

STEM Academy


(Google Academy)


By 2016/2017


Implementation










Intermediate School:

Google Academy

STEM Academy



Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


By 2015/2016


(Google Academy)


By 2016/2017


By 2017/2018

STEM Academy

Implementation












use of the following programs at Cherry

Brook Primary School:

Google Academy




Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


By 2015/2016


(Google Academy)


By 2016/2017


By 2017-2018

STEM Academy

Implementation


Goal 2: Assessment


Assessment: Measure What Matters

Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to

measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement.

Assessment

Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to

measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement.



Create a template gallery of data

collection documents (forms/docs/sheets)

for the four goals of teacher evaluation

(Parent Feedback, Student Growth and

Development, Performance and Practice,

Student Feedback). Keywords/naming

standards should be included in all

documents in order to facilitate searching.

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


Educator Evaluation Committee

Ongoing/Continuous Each department will have data

collection documents in the template

gallery. Parent Feedback and Student

Feedback templates will be created at

the district level. Download numbers /

user counts for templates should also

be noted.

Students will continue to learn and be

assessed on basic computing skills such as

typing, copying & pasting, highlighting,

underlining, using an online calculator,

secondary clicks, etc. This will improve

students’ performance on online

assessments. If a student is not proficient

they are going to write with less depth

merely because of technology skill

limitations.

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


Ongoing/Continuous Written into curriculum documents in

the same way that writing is universal

across content areas, basic computing

skills should be reinforced.

Use of one to one technology in 90% of

K-12 classrooms

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


By the end of School Year 2017-

2018

Purchase enough technology and back

end network infrastructure to provide

one to one support for 90% of

classrooms K-12.

Students will be exposed to a variety of

online assessments and present their

knowledge in multiple ways using

technological tools.

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


Starting in 2015-2016, collaborative

time will be dedicated to assessment

based technologies.

Teachers will integrate online

assessments into their lessons.

Teachers will create multiple ways for

students to present their knowledge

using presentation tools of various



types, video and other multi-media

presentations in addition to and

sometimes in lieu of more “traditional”

assessments.

All Standardized Assessment with a

technology component will utilize

technology.

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


Ongoing/Continuous Formative, Interim and Summative

Assessments

Administrators and teachers will have

ready access to data collection with the

PBIS programs K-12

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


Ongoing/Continuous Data Team meeting minutes.


Goal 3: Connected to Teaching and Learning


Teaching: Prepare and Connect

Professional educators will be supported individually and in teams by

technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and

learning experiences that enable and inspire more effective teaching for all

learners.

Connected to Teaching and Learning

Professional educators will be supported individually and in teams by

technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and

learning experiences that can empower and inspire them to provide more

effective teaching for all learners.



Canton Public Schools will expand

opportunities for educators to have access

to technology-based content, resources,

and tools where and when they need

them.

Superintendent


Administrators


Teachers

Ongoing/Continuous Blended Learning will more prevalent

in instructional practices.

Ensure technology integration staffing

meets technology education needs at all

schools.

Superintendent


Administrators


Additional 1 by 2016-2017

Additional 1 by 2017-2018

*Total of 2

Enrollment and number of devices will

be key factors in decision making

which will be ongoing.

Monitor online curriculum maps, teacher

online presence, online grading portal and

data warehouse (e.g., Inform) to ensure

current data.

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


Ongoing/Continuous Up-to-date curriculum maps will be

present in Atlas Rubicon.

Expand virtual education resources for

grades 6 through 12.


Administrators

Ongoing/Continuous Maintain and increase enrollment

Canton Public Schools will leverage

social networking technologies and

platforms to participate in professional

learning communities.

Superintendent


Administrators

Teachers


Ongoing/Continuous Staff will meet monthly in teams to

discuss how to infuse technology into

instruction.



Provide yearly professional development

focusing on technology.



Administrators

Ongoing/Continuous Professional Learning communities

will focus on Blended Learning.

Increase staff access to technology

including software, social networks, e-

mail, and Internet.



Administrators

Ongoing/Continuous Enhancements to curriculum and lesson

plans.

Continue in-House Technology Academy. Assistant Superintendent


Ongoing/Continuous Attendance of staff.

Development of new academy ideas by

teachers and Technology Specialist.

The new teacher and administrator

“technology boot camp” will provide one-

day training to familiarize participants

with district technology usage,

procedures, and accessing guidance.



August each year before regular

“first day”

“Boot Camp” will be held

Technology follow-up with new teachers

2 times a year that will have beginner and

advanced sessions.



1/5/2016 and 6/1/2016

1/5/2017 and 6/1/2017

1/5/2018 and 6/1/2018

Training Sessions will be held

Canton Public Schools will use

technology to provide all learners with

online access for effective teaching and

better learning opportunities and options

especially in places where they are not

otherwise available.



Ongoing/Continuous Enhancements to curriculum and lesson

plans.

Revise security policies to promote

collaboration and learning through online

communication. For example, YouTube

and Google Hangouts.

Board of Education

Superintendent



TBD Creation of effective policies.

Provide further training to allow teachers

to enhance their ability to utilize

technology for instructional purposes both

in classroom and online.



Ongoing/Continuous Increase in professional development

opportunities for teachers. Work with

teachers to integrate technology into

existing Curriculum Maps and then

update the maps.

Continuous review of district online

databases and resources to support growth



Ongoing/Continuous Annual needs assessment.



in Library Media Centers.

Library Staff

Continue implementation of a “Digital

Curriculum” option, where all teachers

will be given the opportunity to instruct,

hand out, grade, and evaluate student

performance through a learning

management system



Administrators

Teachers

Ongoing/Continuous Annual Brightbytes survey

By

2015/2016 – 60%

2016/2017 – 80%

2017/2018 – 100%

Canton Public Schools will provide

training in technology to increase their

digital literacy and enable them to create

compelling assignments for students that

improve learning, assessment, and

instructional practices.



Ongoing/Continuous Warehouse of lessons for sharing.

Review current Professional Development

action plan focusing on increasing digital

literacy.



Administrators

Teachers

Annually

Plan in place that reflects focusing on

improving digital literacy.

Continue to conduct instructional rounds

to monitor integration of technology into

learning.

Superintendent


Ongoing/Continuous Problem of Practice which is developed

in Instructional Rounds. Outcomes of

classroom visits during rounds guide

changes in professional development.

Embed technology growth into the

Canton Public Schools Strategic Plan

Board of Education

Superintendent



By July 1st 2015

2015-2020 CPS Strategic Coherence

Plan focus on area goal.

Monitor and evaluate yearly growth in

digital literacy of the teaching force.

Superintendent


Administrators

Ongoing/Continuous

Brightbytes Data.

Offer third-party certification

opportunities, such as Google Certified

Teacher, to staff.



Ongoing/Continuous Certification will be achieved.

Establish a cohort of mentor teachers who Assistant Superintendent 2015 Plan in place.



would be available to lead PD, coach

teachers, on an individual or small-group

basis, and be willing to have other

teachers observe their practice.


Ongoing/Continuous

Create a learning community to provide

shared resources and a discussion forum

for staff.

Technology Committee



2015

Ongoing/Continuous

Online learning community

established.


Goal 4: Infrastructure for Teaching and Learning


4.0 Infrastructure: Access and Enable

All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure

for learning when and where they need it.

Goal 4: Infrastructure for Teaching and Learning

All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure

for learning when and where they need it.



Engage an independent company for a

Network Audit to assist in the process of

data collection and interpretation, to

increase capacity and efficiency.

Director of Technology

Business Manager

2015 Develop a statement of work and

contract with a company.

Routinely evaluate changing needs in

network capacity.

Technology Department Ongoing/Continuous Logically segment the district into

teaching environments.

Develop a baseline throughput test of

each of those environments.

Establish a biweekly data analysis

process to trend client capacity and

data loads throughout the year.

Develop ‘standard’ teaching scenarios

to determine required throughput.

Develop Response Plans Director of Technology


2016 Consider networking outages at hub

sites and how to quickly resolve them.

Consider networking outages at

perimeter AP sites and how to resolve

them.

Consider dependency services and

failover options.



Training for Information Technology

Staff Members

Director of Technology


2015 Develop a training schedule on key IT

support topics.

Cross train weekly for each topic.

Monthly hands-on training in IT Lab to

reinforce training.

Schedule drills for Response Plans;

Continue to refine Information

Technologies Procedures Handbook.



2015

2016

2017

Create checklists for each evaluation.

Continue to update IT Procedures

Handbook.

Develop one-page concise “Response

Plans” for handbook.

Document dependencies and failover

documentation.

Track documentation responsibilities in

Annual Review Rubrics.

More effective and timely notifications of

outages and updates.



2016 Develop an update schedule for system

updates.

Post to a common location all of the

update times so staff can plan lessons.

Implement a real-time monitor for

system outages so teachers can see

what areas of the building are

experiencing outages.

Develop an alternate location for when

outages do occur.

Train teachers on procedures to report

problems and check on network status.


Goal 5: Productivity and Efficiency


5.0 Productivity: Redesign and Transform

Our education system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to

take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while

making more efficient use of time, money, and staff.

Goal 5: Productivity and Efficiency

Our education system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to

take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while

making more efficient use of time, money, and staff.



Continue a standing, representative

technology committee that will meet on a

regular basis to review implementation of

technology plan and identify means for

continued educational technology

innovations.



Administrators

Teachers

District Technology Committee will

meet a minimum of three times per

year beginning Fall of 2015.

The technology department staff

will meet weekly.

Sub-committee of technology

integration specialists and teachers

will meet monthly.

Meetings will be held.

Develop/promote a regular method and

schedule for teachers and technology staff

to become aware of new technology,

evaluate its usefulness for school, and

provide appropriate professional

development.



Administrators

Teachers

Utilize one per meeting per month

dedicated to technology use and

integration. (Fall 2015)

Utilize online and related methods to

deliver professional development for

teachers. (Ongoing beginning in Fall

of 2015)

Meetings will be held.

Develop expertise in district for growth:

Technology Staff



Administrators

Teachers

One day per month spent on

technology exploration (off-site).

Send technology staff appropriate

professional development training

on a regular basis (ongoing).

Completion of training.




Teachers



Administrators

Teachers

Send teachers to training sessions

such as Google (Beginning 2015)

Maintain appropriate membership

on the technology integration

specialist/teacher technology sub-

committee (ongoing)

Completion of training.


Students



Administrators

Teachers

Explore student-led technology

support teams at secondary level

(2015-16 school year for possible

implementation. ( 2016-17)

Creation of student-led team.

Continue use of learning management

systems.



Administrators

Teachers

Ongoing 90% of classrooms/courses

across district using online platform by

2018.

Ensure technology integration staffing

meets technology education needs at all

schools.



Administrators

Teachers

Add tech integration specialist at

(2016-2017)

Add tech integration specialist

(2017-2018)

Add additional Tier I or II

technician (2016)

Enrollment and number of devices will

be key factors in decision making

which will be ongoing.

Investigate Board of Education policy and

revise policy if needed.



Administrators

Teachers

2015-2016

Board policy on unblocking

websites

Ongoing/

Continuous

Creation and revision of effective

policies.

Continue to offer community forums

regarding the use of technology

Superintendent


Business Manager

Technology Administrator

Administration

Technology Committee

Board of Education

2015-2018

At least two events a year will be

held on technology.

Events are held.



Provide students opportunities to gain

technology skills and prepare for online

testing.



Administrators

Teachers

Formative/Interim/Summative

Assessments

Implementation.


develop useful metrics for the educational

use of technology in our schools.



Administrators

Teachers

2015-2018 Continue to develop

rubrics/checklists to assess student

proficiency in technology.

Rubrics developed and implemented.

Use online calendars to schedule all

meetings (Consistent use of calendars).



Administrators

Teachers

2015 Implementation of system.

Develop or set up electronically a means

to house all memos, schedules, staff

resources, etc.



Administrators

Teachers


Create common online payment system

for extracurricular activities, field trips,

and related costs.



Administrators


canton public schools technology plan 2015-2018 · canton public schools technology plan, 2015...

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