Technology Integration Project for Coos Teachers

The Coos Country Technology Integration Project kicked on in October of 2009 thanks to funding from the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Through the project, NCES’ Technology Integration Specialist, Paula Churchill, works with teachers in seven Coos County schools.

The professional development takes place within the participating schools. Grant funds support Churchill visiting each classrooms throughout the school year. With this model, the support is custom tailored, working from whatever level the participants are at and with the technology that is available in their classroom.

Lori Langlois, the Interim Executive Director of NCES, is coordinating the project. She stated, “The goal of the project is twofold. We want to build the confidence and skill level of each participating teacher, but ultimately our goal is to support these teachers in putting the technology into the hands of student. While there is a place for research and report type of activities that require students to take what they used to do with poster-board and markers and now make PowerPoint presentations, the goal of this project is to help teachers develop activities that require higher-order thinking skills. Technology provides a means to push students to use “digital tools” to synthesize information, solve authentic problems and think at higher levels. Most teachers feel the need to have some level of confidence and skill in using technology themselves before they can fully realize the ways to effectively enhance instruction and learning with these digital tools. Through this project, we are working to familiarize them to National Education Technology Standards for Students and Teachers (NETS-S and NETS-T) and help teachers assess their current lessons and activities to see where a little bit of tweaking to integrate technology can strengthen the learning outcomes.”

The seven schools participating in the project are Colebrook Elementary School, Errol Consolidated Elementary School, Hillside Elementary School, Milan Village Elementary School, Stark Village School, Stewartstown Community School and Stratford Public School.

Begining in the 2010-11 the project was complimented by funding through the SAHE project which serves additional schools and is focused on using technology for instruction.

Photo of the kick-off event in October 2009

Front row (left to right):
Lori Langlois, Project Director, NCES
Nathan Roberge, Hillside Elementary School
Deb Sanborn, Stratford Public School
Paula Churchill, Technology Integration Specialist, NCES

Middle row:
Nancy Renaudette, Stewartstown Community School
Jen Chauvette, Stark Village School
Brenda Gagne, Hillside Elementary School
Carol Hall, Errol Consolidated Elementary School
Teri Cote, Errol Consolidated Elementary School
Sandi Adams, Stratford Public School
Kathy Roth, Stratford Public School
Terry Andritz, Stratford Public School
Dan Shallow, Stratford Public School

Back row:
Karen Conroy, Stark Village School
Karen Parker, Milan Village Elementary School
Kelly Jewell, Stark Village School
Bridget Gagne, Stark Village School
Gina Dagesse, Colebrook Elementary School
Christina Winslow, Colebrook Elementary School
Meg Sheltry, Colebrook Elementary School
Laurie Hodgman, Colebrook Elementary School
Joelle Losier, Hillside Elementary School
Margaret Valliere, Hillside Elementary School
Tina Hamelin, Stratford Public School