Doing New Things in New Ways

Marc Prensky, noted educational technology expert, outlined the typical process of technology adoption in schools: “…dabbling, doing old things in old ways, doing old things in new ways, and doing new things in new ways.” We in Irving ISD like to think of our district as anything but typical, and as such are making our best effort to skip straight to doing new things in new ways in all areas of ISD.

In August we began to form two new advisory committees: Superintendent’s Business Advisory Council and Superintendent’s Diversity Council. The purpose of these new councils is to provide opportunities for two-way discussions and give the superintendent and community a greater understanding of each other’s needs. At the first meeting of the Business Advisory Council in September, we presented the “Progress Toward our Goals” report outlining IISD accountability ratings and testing results. The productive and well-attended meeting generated much interest among our business partners. This group is currently moving forward in sharing the positive message of our accomplishments and also bringing to our attention the needs and expectations of Irving’s business community.

IISD Advanced Placement results continue to improve. District-wide results for AP Scholars increased to the highest number yet – 110 scholars for 2009. We also have increased the number of graduating minority students participating in AP courses.  I am pleased to report three IISD students have been named National Merit Semifinalists and five named Commended students. These bright young people are in the top 1 percent and 5 percent, respectively, among national high school students. We also have one National Achievement Semifinalist in the College Board program for African-American students and 13 National Hispanic Scholars. All of these students are featured in the Fall 2009 Inside IISD, available online from the IISD home page www.irvingisd.net.

We continue to do new things in technology, which is a major goal of the Board of Trustees. Our Board of Trustees has posted their agenda online, a process that not only relieves the use of reams of paper for each meeting, but also makes Board meeting information more accessible to the community. Meeting agendas can be accessed on the IISD website at www.irvingisd.net/board_agenda.htm.

I can also never say enough about our one-to one high school laptop program. All high school students have laptop computers for use at home and school during the school year, and we are increasing the number of cutting edge  netbooks at middle and elementary schools. IISD has also begun offering online courses to eighth graders in order for them to gain high school credit in some of their studies. Our increasing use of technology hardware coupled with the use of software and Internet resources prepares our students for success in college and work. This focus consistently sets Irving ISD as the example for other school districts to follow in the area of technology.

We look forward to finding new ways to do new things for students in the next 100 Years of Learning.

 
Dr. Neil Dugger
Interim Superintendent of Schools