District technology planning is a significant undertaking, having a direct impact on student achievement and classroom instructional strategies. Fundamentally, a district technology plan should be embedded in the comprehensive school improvement plan and focus heavily on integrating technology into the teaching and learning process to transform the way teachers teach and students learn. Dr. Aaron Turpin, Assistant Superintendent of Technology for Hall County Schools, GA and one of the Center for Digital Education’s ‘Top 40 Innovators In Education,’ outlines a recipe for success in building a district technology vision and plan for the future including networks and services, information technology, instructional technology, web development, and technology funding. View the webinar in its entirety: https://bit.ly/2DZYKsM

1. simply get more done
Building a Technology Vision
and Plan for the Future
Monday, January 29, 2018
Dr. Aaron Turpin, Assistant Superintendent of Technology - Hall County Schools, GA
Jay Smith, Innovation Architect - Hall County Schools, GA
Greg Odell, eLearning Specialist - Hall County Schools, GA

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● All attendees muted during
the webinar - verbal
questions taken at end of
session
● Questions may be asked
via the control panel
during the session
● Use the ‘Questions’ panel,
not ‘Chat’
● Webinar recording and
presentation delivered via
follow-up email
Webinar
Information
Session Protocol

3. Dr. Aaron Turpin
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● Assistant Superintendent of
Technology – Hall County Schools,
GA
● Center for Digital Education’s ‘Top 40
Innovators In Education
● Former middle and elementary
school principal
● Former high school classroom
teacher

4. Jay Smith
www.simbli.com
● Innovation Architect – Hall County
Schools, GA
● Oversees design, implementation, and
maintenance of networks, storage,
servers, messaging, and user
management
● Manages district technology support
operations
● Establishes creative ways to improve
technology experiences across the district

5. Greg Odell
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● eLearning Specialist – Hall County
Schools, GA
● Facilitates instructional technology,
including LMS (Canvas)
management and training
● Former 4th and 5th grade teacher
● Former elementary school media
specialist

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School District Technology
Operations – Functional Areas
● Networks and services
● Information technology
● Instructional technology
● Web development
● Technology funding
Agenda

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What Do You Think Are
the Most Pressing Issues
in K-12 Technology?
● Security
● Instructional application
● Capacity
● Staffing / staff retention
● Funding
● Training for teachers
Quick Poll

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Technology Plan – Core Values

9. Core Values and Foundational Cornerstones
Across All Functional Areas
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Performance Goal
Exemplary customer service and technology
ambassadors for the district
• Serve each customer with integrity,
respect, and kindness
• 90% of all stakeholder emails and phone
calls responded to within 24 hours
• 100% of all stakeholder emails and
phone calls responded to within 48 hours
Personnel
Personnel will be wise
stewards of all allocated
funds

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Networks and Services

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School District Requirements
● Strong dependency on stable,
secure network
● Critical core systems include
messaging, web services, user
authentication, internet firewalls,
VOIP telephony, core switching
and routing
● Goal of 95% availability for all
technology systems, with critical core
systems above 99%
Understanding
the Needs

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Why the Need for Concern?

13. Instructional Tools
Chromebooks – A Closer Look
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Device of Choice for Many Schools
• Designed to connect to the internet wirelessly
• Unlike a Windows or Apple device, a Chromebook will
not be useful without an internet connection
• Consider the total cost of ownership, including
services, licensing, and reliability when you choose a
Wi-Fi partner

14. Contingency Planning
● Establish a central data center
● Build in redundancy
● Facilitate system and network
monitoring
● Coordinate independent, 3rd party,
comprehensive networks and systems
security audits
● Recognize and embrace there is no
such thing as an ‘unhackable’ system

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Which of these passwords
is the strongest?
● N!k3S#03
● Nike
● N!keShoe
● I love Shoes
Quick Poll

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Technology Services
Build or Buy?
Hall County handles technology services in-house. Other districts may find it more prudent to
outsource these services.
In-House Services
Certified in various various technologies – reimbursed by manufacturer for devices under
warranty.
Building Capacity
Train and invest in local, district-based technicians, building capacity, knowledge, and skills over
time.

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Information Technology

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What is the largest factor
in determining state and
federal funding?
● Free and reduced lunch percentage
● Scheduling
● Number of students
● Number of years of teacher
experience and degree level
Quick Poll

19. Scheduling Best Practice
● Always put student need first
● Utilizing teacher specialty areas (gifted,
advanced content, EIP, ESOL)
● Plan your Master Schedule early
● Schedule your “got to be’s” first. (SPED,
ESOL, EIP, Gifted, etc.)
● Schedule to maximum funding when
possible and know the rules

20. Training is Key
Best practice is to have a scheduling team
at local schools composed of:
● School-based administrator - most
cases this is an assistant principal
● Data entry staff
● SPED lead
● EL lead
● Gifted lead
FERPA compliance is crucial!

21. Backup, Backup, Backup
Backup all of your systems, including your Student Information System (SIS)
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Work these practices
into your disaster
recovery plan
Implement a backup
for your backup
Consider both cloud-
based or on-premise
hosted solutions

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Instructional Technology

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● Learning Management Systems
● Video conferencing
● Simulations / Virtual Reality /
Augmented Reality
● Blended Learning / Flipped
Classroom
● Redesigned Learning Spaces
(including Learning Commons)
Which three educational
technology trends do
you feel can have the
most positive impact on
student achievement
and improving
instruction?
Quick Poll

24. e-Learning Team
Collaborate with district stakeholders in curriculum design by curating and evaluating new and existing
technologies in classroom instruction
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Shift to digital,
eliminating textbooks
and ensuring
interoperability
Simplify accessibility
and use, creating a
seamless technology
experience
Assemble and curate
the best possible
resources for teachers
and students
Eliminate organizational
silos, collaborate, and
communicate
effectively

25. Supporting Our Teachers
● Blended LeArning Support Teams
(BLaST) – led by active, school-based
blended learning experts
● Conduit for training and information
● Instructional goals aligned to school
improvement plans
● e-Learning monitors frequency and
recency of school BLaST participation
● e-Learning provides multiple
opportunities for BLaST training in a
variety of formats

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Web Development

27. Changing Landscape
● A website provides districts and schools
an opportunity to tell their story
● Access anytime, anywhere, on any
device
● Developed in-house or outsourced
● High School CTE classes sometimes
used to develop and maintain websites

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Web Development
● Optimize for desktop and
mobile
● Review open source options
● Keep information relevant and
up to date
● Build up a social media
presence in parallel
● Invest in security and backup
your site regularly
Key
Considerations

29. What Does it
Look Like
When You’re
Hacked?

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Technology Funding

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Technology Funding
● Opportunities made to staff,
students and community
are not cheap
● Typical business invests 5-
7% of total operating
budget on technology
● Instructional software a
primary focus – 45%
decrease in textbook orders
● Free is never free
Technology
impacts every
facet of
operation in a
school district

33. Multiple Funding Sources
Districts and schools have a variety of funding sources
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eRate-a Funding Grants SPLOST General Funds

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Maximizing Your Spend
● Outsourcing data center
(NOC).
● Outsourcing technical
support
● Leveraging your regional
support agencies for
instructional technology
support and training
Turning small
into large

35. Additional Ideas
● Video conferencing
● Reduce printing costs by maximizing
digital resources and access
● Invest in training
o Certifications - a $2,000 Microsoft
certification training saves $10,000 in
consultant fees
o Conferences - A $1,500 investment in
sending staff to professional conferences
brings immeasurable returns

36. Questions /
Comments?

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What’s Next
Thank You for
Attending!
● Be on the lookout for the
session recording
● Share with a colleague
● Look for additional
webinar offerings in
coming weeks
● Reach out for a
personalized
demonstration of any
additional Simbli modules

39. simply get more done
Building a Technology Vision
and Plan for the Future
Monday, January 29, 2018
Dr. Aaron Turpin, Assistant Superintendent of Technology - Hall County Schools, GA
Jay Smith, Innovation Architect - Hall County Schools, GA
Greg Odell, eLearning Specialist - Hall County Schools, GA