Dist. 214 earns Technology Trailblazer Award
The National School Boards Association has awarded Northwest Suburban High School District 214 its 2010 Salute Trailblazer Award, honoring the use of technology to promote student achievement.
Created by NSBA's Technology Leadership Network with a review panel of educators, the Trailblazer Award recognizes extraordinary new accomplishments of districts previously honored through the association's Salute Recognition Program. District 214 was honored with a TLN Salute in 2000 for its robust technology program.
Reviewers felt the district's more recent laserlike focus to target technology solutions to address the learning challenges experienced by student groups identified by No Child Left Behind warranted the additional recognition as a Trailblazer.
District 214 uses a Digital Learning Lab to accelerate the progress of students who are not fluent in English. The technology department tracks students who earn struggling grades each week, and sends automated phone calls and letters to notify the parents.
The 12,400-student district boasts a 2:1 computer-to-student ratio, and an ongoing replacement program ensures that the technology stays current. Students contribute to wikis, write blogs, create YouTube videos, and engage in a wide variety of other interactive online activities.
In addition, the district is preparing students for technology-based careers. Two high schools host state-of-the-art robotics programs, and students have the option of taking Java, A+ Certification and Cisco Networking courses.
"Although computers in classrooms are common today, District 214 was far ahead of the curve in making technology a priority," said Ann Flynn, NSBA's director of education technology.
"Township High School District 214 is a trailblazer in every sense of the word - the district has been able to stay up-to-date with the fast-moving world of instructional technology for more than a decade. The district integrates technology into all facets of operations, including professional development, community involvement, and instructional assessments."
District 214 and three other districts in Georgia, Kentucky and Arizona will be honored at NSBA's 2010 Technology + Learning conference, Oct. 19-21 Phoenix.