Leading+Systemic+Change-+By+Design,+Not+Chance

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=Description= Located in a small, low-wealth, rural county in eastern North Carolina, Greene County Schools took a bold, innovative step in 2003 by placing a laptop in the hands of every middle and high school student. The school system recognized the enormity and expense of this technology undertaking but believed the investment of time and money was necessary in order to fulfill its mission: to offer its students a challenging curriculum that prepares them for the 21st century. Six years later, the system is keenly aware that implementation and sustainability of this initiative is dependent upon the balance of three critical components: infrastructure, content, and professional development. The technology infrastructure was firmly in place when mobile laptop carts became available to grades K-5 and a true one-to-one program was begun in grades 6-12. However, technology is much more than equipment; it is the means to deliver a rigorous, relevant curriculum to all students. This acknowledged, the school system established a personnel infrastructure with well-trained individuals strategically placed throughout. Simultaneously, a wide array of resources was explored, to ascertain those that would serve our students best, and staff development became an integral part of teaching in Greene County. The maintenance and updating of technology, the assessment and acquisition of available resources, and staff development are continuous processes. Correctly balanced, they complement each other, with the students as well as the community reaping the benefits.. Systemic change is a steady, purposeful multi-year process and keeps you engaged in continuous inquiry for improvement. Since its inception, the 1:1 initiative has been a challenging and worthwhile journey, one we are proud to share.

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=Resources= Diagram on Leadership Roles: Shared Leadership Activity: STNA and LoFTI Information []

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