New Tech Staff Attends National Conference and Training

Download PDF »

With the opening of the 2010-11 academic year on the horizon, the staff of New Tech @ Ruston continues its involvement in high-profile national training and networking.
The nine member staff joined more than 400 participants from across the country as part of the 2010 Class of the New Tech Network. The intense week of New Schools training provided the Ruston team further opportunity to prepare for opening NT@R as a student-centered learning environment that empowers young people to engage with their learning in new ways.
“The leaders and teachers of the newest and largest class of New Tech schools were here this week to learn how to offer students experiential and collaborative learning opportunities that integrate technology into instruction and create a culture of high expectations, trust, respect, and responsibility,” states Monica Martinez, President of the New Tech Network.
NT@R Director Cathi Cox was joined by Catherine Letendre (Coordinator), Lindsay Beggs (English), Kim Goree (World Geography), Kay Peters (Animation and Visual Effects), Daryl Savage (Math), Sarah Wages (science), Tara Turner (Special Education) and Missy Wooley (STEM) for five days of powerful sessions that included the following: project-based learning and tools training, the essential benchmarks for a high fidelity implementation of the New Tech model, creating consistent instructional practices, addressing classroom management strategies, developing strong collaborative learning communities, Google Apps, extensive integrated technology, and rigorous content workshops.
In addition, the NT@R team held daily school meetings and worked with their School Development Coach and other New Tech Network Trainers to develop key tools and benchmarks for school success.
“This was an incredible experience for us as a staff to add further best practices to the toolkit we’d already begun as we prepared for the new year,” Cox shares. “To have a full week to work collaboratively as we add additional best practices to our New Tech toolkit was tremendous. Plus, it was invaluable to have the opportunity to network with so many other outstanding professionals.”
Ruston’s team was able to effective interact with and work along side teachers and leaders from Washington, Hawaii, Indiana, Georgia, Ohio, Minnesota, New Mexico, South Dakota, California, and North Carolina, as well as schools from Australia.
“This week provides all participants the opportunity to embrace the future of learning,” Martinez continues. “By launching a New Tech school in their communities, they are creating tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and creators so we expect them to be critical, ask questions, and enjoy the experience of becoming a part of one of the most progressive education communities in the nation.”
Martinez adds that the progressive nature of New Tech must permeate American education even further.
“We are living in a time of rapid change, with the economic upheaval that the U. S. and other countries are facing and the pace of global integration that has dramatically increased as a result of unprecedented changes in communications, transportation, and technology. Today’s youth must be able to be productive collectively and collaboratively in order to thrive in this rapidly changing world. The resilient network of New Tech teachers and leaders are the force that will help us create a vibrant economic and social future for America.”
NT@R continues its commitment to this challenge and preparation for the upcoming year through a series of local staff retreats, as well as planning for future community events.
For more information, contact Cathi Cox, ccox@lincolnschools.org or 318-255-1430