NISD Tech Integration Plan | Chase Smolik

Technology Integration Plan for Needville High School

Stakeholders
Curtis Rhodes - Superintendent
Beth Briscoe - Assistant Superintendent
Richard Janacek Principal
Stakeholder Salutation
To preface my salutation and initial contact, you should assess your
relationship with the stakeholders to be involved. As I do not work for this
district, Ive created my email to recognize this.
Good Afternoon,
I'm currently enrolled in a course in which I will be developing a Strategic Technology Integration
Plan, and as an alumni of Needville HS would like the opportunity to develop it in accordance with the
District Improvement Plan of Needville ISD. As I develop a plan for tech integration in the High
School, I would greatly appreciate in suggestions or guidance you may have. The project should take
nearly 5 weeks. Thank you in advance for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks,
Chase A. Smolik

Needville ISD Vision & Mission Analysis

Mission: Needville ISD strives to create an environment where students
reach their full potential and become productive, successful citizens.
Mission analysis: Needville's mission is to create a learning environment
that prepares students for future career goals and plans by helping them
unlock their own potential. The goal seems to be based on future success for
each student.
Vision: To become an exemplary school district in which every child
achieves to his or her maximum ability through rigorous, engaging
curriculum and systems of support that cultivate the potential and promote
the well-being of every individual child.
Vision analysis: Needville's vision builds on the mission statement by
saying it wants to create a learning environment not only for
knowledge/education, but for students to develop social skills and build
foundations for future aspirations.
Relating to Technology: I believe both statements have a strong
insinuation of teaching students skills they will need for the future.
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NISD Tech Integration Plan | Chase Smolik

Contained in this is education and experience with technology. I think it may

be important for Needville to focus on supporting the professional
development of their faculty and staff, unless they feel it has been
adequately covered in "creating an environment."
_____________________________________________________________
Technology Mission Statement: Needville ISD seeks to create an
engaging learning environment, utilizing available technologies that will
enable our students to reach their full potential.
When writing my mission statement I felt it most important to consider the
effects of technology in the classroom. By creating a more engaging
classroom with the help of technology I believe this follows the original
mission statement of creating an environment meant to support the growth
of the students.
Technology Vision Statement: To become an exemplary school district in
which every student, through applied and engaging learning strategies,
develops the technology skills, experience, and knowledge needed to be
successful in their future endeavors.
In developing my vision statement, I felt it important to include components
of NISDs initial vision.
Needville ISD Strategic Challenges and Advantages
Strategic Challenges
1. If we do not address the mind-sets of both faculty and parents
regarding the integration of new technology in the classroom, we will
not be able to reach our goals of student achievement.
a. Changing mindsets of faculty who have been around for ages is

crucial for Needville to develop a standard of tech integration

campus-wide.
2. We can reduce our expense on technology integration through hiring
a qualified technology coordinator to provide regularly scheduled
professional development.
a. This is going to be my push throughout the semester, cost can

be sufficiently reduced (and more staff development can be

available) if one person is assigned to the task.

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NISD Tech Integration Plan | Chase Smolik

3. Without considering ways for greater collaboration between faculty

and staff, we will not have a solid foundation for tech integration
throughout our school.
a. This reaches into the mindset weakness again, many faculty will

be resistant to the change, and even those who are not may not
be willing to share their ideas with othersthis must change to
be successful.

Strategic Advantages
1. We can save on expenses by collaborating and modeling our district
technology integration plan on that of neighboring successful schools.
a. Why not use our connections with neighboring schools in the
Region? Needville is a smaller district (4A) but there are other
districts with several schools which are further developed when
considering STaR charts.
2. We can expand on our forward thinking technology team to develop
helpful and engaging sessions to break down barriers of faculty who
are resistant to change.
a. The technology team members should allow interested faculty to
observe their methods of integration in order to share ideas.
3. We can increase motivation by awarding faculty with new resources
through completing professional development and training.
a. Instead of giving everyone an iPad, faculty should have to attend
professional development which introduces them to methods of
applying the capabilities of one in the classroom then share their
own ideas to EARN one. This ties into the resources strength.
4. We can reach out for student and parent engagement through boards
to provide helpful insight and additional methods to integrate
technology.
a. Similar to working with other schools, it may be beneficial to
create a local board for students who are interested in
technology. They say 2 minds are greater than 1, and a different
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NISD Tech Integration Plan | Chase Smolik

outlook or experience with technology from either students or

parents may provide helpful hints for the technology team on
campus.
Needville ISD Priority Goals and Objectives
Priority Goals
1. Provide a reward-based system for professional development and
training for faculty.
2. Create a board for student and parent participation for better insight
to strategies for improvement of technology integration.
3. Assess fees and allocate more budget to the purchase of new
hardware/software and a tech coordinator position to provide
professional development.
Key technology work areas:
1.

Professional Development

2.

Outreach and Understanding of Tech Integration

3.

Budget

Work areas with priority goals and objectives:

1. Work Area- Professional Development
Priority Goal - Realign professional development strategies to
motivate faculty to improve levels of understanding and
overall tech integration in classrooms.
By altering the training to be reward based (learn the
technology, earn the technology) a mindset may change on
ways the technology can be integrated in the classroom.
a. Objective - Develop reward-based training to motivate
faculty and introduce new methods of tech integration.
2. Work Area- Outreach and Understanding of Tech Integration
Priority Goal- Allow students and parents to openly share
opinions and suggestions towards use of technology in the
classroom.
This priority would allow more ideas and opinions to be
shared from experienced and inexperienced users. It would
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NISD Tech Integration Plan | Chase Smolik

also cover any misconceptions on the purpose of using

technology in the classroom.
a.

Objective- Change perspective of parents concerned

with technology, garner valuable opinions from students
to possibly identify new methods of integrating
additional forms of technology in the classroom.

3. Work Area- Budget

Priority Goal- Evaluate use of funding to support a healthier
educational technology program by hiring a program
coordinator with the ability to provide professional
development and support faculty full-time.
This priority goal aligns with Needvilles goal to provide more
support and continue to have the most prepared faculty in the
area.
a. Objective - Hire a program coordinator to provide
support and professional development year-round.
(Avoid outsourcing and occasional support)
Needville ISD Measures and Actions Plan
1. Reward-based Tech Training
Objective: Develop reward-based training to motivate faculty and
introduce new methods of tech integration.
Action Plan: Write curriculum for iPad training and three methods of
integration for classroom, distribute iPads upon successful completion.
Responsible: Tech Coordinator (Technology Team, members who
plan training will receive stipend from Technology Grant)
Timing: Training should be created throughout Fall Semester, and
ready for Spring Convocation (First two weeks before classes begin)
Measuring: Half-way point and final training review before training
made available to faculty.
2. Technology Outreach Board
Objective: Create a board for student and parent participation for
better insight to strategies for improvement of technology integration.

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NISD Tech Integration Plan | Chase Smolik

Action Plan: Eight students selected from the top 10% of each grade
level, and PTA officers will ask for four parent volunteers to participate,
guidelines should be established and initial introduction meeting held.
Responsible: Tech Coordinator or Assistant Superintendent
Timing: Members of the committee should be identified by end of
September and first meeting held in October.
Measuring: Account for members and begin setting goals for the
committee as a whole.
3. Budget Adjustment
Objective: Hire a program coordinator to provide support and
professional development year-round. (Avoid outsourcing and
occasional support)
Action Plan: Assess the funds through the districts technology
improvement plan and tech grant, reallocate funding for outsourced
professional development and build a salary foundation for a tech
coordinator position.
Responsible: Superintendent and Principal
Timing: Upon completion of the fiscal year to reallocate funding for
the up and coming year.
Measuring: Review and outline of funding for technology from
previous fiscal year should be reviewed and reallocated for a salary
memo and position for the upcoming year. Hiring process should take
place immediately in the fall.

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