The 2007-2008 Carteret County school year has been an exciting one for those of us in the media and technology arena!  The $2 million partnership with our county government became a reality and has resulted in 1475 new computers (laptops and desktops), 264 data projectors, and 96 network printers.  In addition, several schools have received new network servers and wireless canopies. 

Now that our students and teachers have access to state-of-the-art technology, it is more important than ever that our schools support 21st Century educational opportunities.  And, it is my belief, that our school media coordinators, who spend countless hours assisting students and teachers with media and technology, are some of our most outstanding 21st Century leaders!  In an effort to support these leaders with their 21st Century initiatives, the following activities have taken place during the last eight months:

• In September, 2007, laptops were purchased for 10 of the 16 media coordinators (those who did not receive a laptop will receive one for the 2008-2009 school year!)
• 21st Century Leadership staff development sessions have taken place as scheduled
  • Oct. 24:  Distribution of laptops/Overview of the staff development opportunities
  • Dec. 7:  Research Models (Super 3/Big 6)
  • Jan. 31:  Destiny Upgrade/Document Camera Demo/Introduction to Web 2.0-Wikis
  • Feb. 20:  Summer Reading-Lexiles/More Web 2.0-FireFox, Bookmarks, RSS, Themes, Clipmarks
  • March 19:  Lexiles/More Web 2.0-blogs
• In November, 2007, 15 of the 16 media coordinators attended the North Carolina School Library Media Association Seventh Annual Conference in Winstan Salem

Throughout the year, our media coordinators have submerged themselves in new and innovative technologies and concepts.  These skills and ideas have, in turn, made a difference in the way that our teachers are teaching and our students are learning.  Now…that’s 21st Century Leadership!

Way to go, Carteret County Media Coordinators!