Cherokee County School District Top 10 in Nation for Technology

The Cherokee County School District for the 11th time has been named one of the top 10 large school systems nationwide for its effective use of technology in education.

The honor is a result of the annual Digital School Districts Survey conducted by the Center for Digital Education and the National School Boards Association (NSBA). The survey compares public school districts from across the Nation and awards Top 10 rankings to those that fully integrate technology into the classroom, and throughout their system as a whole. With this year’s recognition, CCSD has made its 11th appearance in the Top 10 since 2004.

“To be successful in the world of today and tomorrow, each one of our students needs to understand technology and how to use it to succeed,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “This importance is why we’ve made technology a major system priority, and we use technology not only to improve teaching and learning, but to make every facet of our operations more efficient and to continuously improve communications with our community.”

The survey evaluates areas of digital and emerging technologies, including: integration of mobile devices and technology into curriculum; technology leadership and transparency in school board policies and meetings; strategic planning, data management and safety; and education delivery models and professional development opportunities, including instruction in and the use of technology tools by teachers and students.

School systems also were judged on: digital content and curriculum strategies; infrastructure and networks; and participation in bring your own device programs, which is happening system-wide in CCSD through the Bring Your Learning Device (BYLD) to school initiative.

The Top 10 list also highlights outstanding use of technology to govern school systems, improve operations and communicate with students, parents and the community at large.

“School districts, with the support of their school boards, are increasingly focused on learning through innovative technologies,” said Dr. Kecia Ray, executive director for the Center for Digital Education. “As a result, students are using all kinds of cutting-edge tools that assist learning, inspire creativity and help prepare them for the future. It’s my privilege to congratulate these school districts that are making exceptional gains to transform education systems with effective uses of technology.”

The Center for Digital Education is a national research and advisory institute specializing in K-12 and higher education technology trends, policy and funding. The Center provides education and industry leaders with decision support and actionable insights to help effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century.

“The results of the Digital School Districts Survey exemplify how visionary leadership in the board room supports the innovative use of technology in the classroom and in the delivery of district services,” said National School Boards Association Executive Director Thomas J. Gentzel. “The annual survey questions incorporate the latest technology trends and allow district leaders to utilize the survey instrument as a quick self-assessment tool to compare their own districts’ use of technology against national trends.”

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