This long-range plan consisted of four major elements: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology. Based on what I read, there is no need for the other three elements if the infrastructure element is not sufficiently met. The plan outlined wonderful recommendations for teaching and learning and educator preparation to better do our job by these 21sth Century learners, but then it talked about how, even though much of Texas is connected, it's basic and more is needed. And we need the skilled individuals in place to maintain it and help use it properly.
Having worked in Texas school districts of various sizes and budgets, I can say that, from what I've seen, many schools are not willing to put much of their budget into the skilled individuals required to support technology use. Those folks who have the technology skills and drive to use them creatively and effectively are not working in our school districts. They are earning more elsewhere. Schools do pay less than corporate jobs do, and the smaller, rural districts don't stand a chance of drawing and keeping talent with little more to offer them than low pay and quiet nights with a great view of the stars.
1 comment:
You are exactly right about the people that are really good in setting up technology systems not working in education. I live in a small west Texas town, and we cannot keep a technology director. Our technology director two years ago now works for Angelo State University and make twice what he did for us. Our technology director last year left to work for a bank doing online security. His wife no longer has to work. Our technology changes every year because our technology director changes every year. It is hard for us to keep a technology director when we are seventy miles from a Wal Mart and pay half what the corporate world does.
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