Gary Spence, Director of Technology: Wolf Creek Public Schools
Presentation: 2009-07013

In today’s class we had the opportunity to speak to Mr. Gary Spence, Director of Technology in the Wolf Creek Public Schools who presented on the technology vision of the school District. Mr. Spence began with an overview of the tech support system. In talking about these people, Gary’s communicative abilities and positive personal connections was evident. He was adamant about the importance of his technicians. (Technicians who – no matter where they fall in the chain of command – are paid equally.) He clearly supported these “people on the ground” and valued their skills in maintaining the status of the District technology. In his word, these were “the people who run the show”.

As his presentation continued, Gary connected his own area of expertise (Technology) to the overall goals of the Wolf Creek School District. This tied very clearly to the presentation by Superintendent Larry Jacobs, who had also drawn heavily on the District’s vision for his presentation. Gary Spence’s attention to the “Seven ‘Cs’” that make up the subgoals of the District’s vision statement provided an overall focus on achieving educational outcomes through technology, rather than simply focusing on what’s “new” and innovative in technology. All proposals from the District must have links to the main outcomes of the Wolf Creek School District in order to be considered.

Though he mentioned numerous technology projects going on in the schools, there were several which struck me as particularly relevant to teachers in general. One innovation that Gary highlighted, and had been adopted full scale by the Wolf Creek Public Schools was VoIP. He made it clear that the overall purpose of the project was to increase the success of students and teachers. Mr. Spence included data to demonstrate this was the case. A second innovation Gary described was a Rapid Web Designer Collaboration. Gary was quick to admit that this project had not been as successful in implementation of consistent websites in the District, but still maintained the value of RWD.

Personally, one of the items I found most innovative was the implementation of the ABE Alliance, which created a video conferencing opportunity for grade 12 students by combining three schools’ schedules and timetables to offer expanded course offerings and specialized instruction. This program created significant opportunities for the 70 grade 12 students involved. The collaboration connects to the EXfiles project which provides a server space and file sharing opportunities for teachers. I think these two innovations will have particular implications for educational practices in the web 2.0 world of tomorrow.

Mr. Spence’s leadership in the field of technology clearly draws on an overall vision for the Wolf Creek School District as he guides the technology in the schools. At all times he demonstrated a true understanding of creating reliable technical systems for District use, while still giving teachers the one-on-one technical support that they need in the classroom. Beyond teaching practices, Gary also showed he still has a clear sense of what is clearly going on with students and what challenges web 2.0 has for students in the District and the implications of those. The District’s policy of tracking online movement, selective access to the net and automated response for inappropriate usage all point to a caring, connected and safe environment for students. It is clear that his Network 2.0 protocol is not only working, but is keeping up with the ever changing tech landscape.

As he finished presenting, Gary focused on a few key points. First, that technology is only an accelerant of change. It is not a means to an end. Secondly, that technology integration in schools really comes down to literacy, and helping students achieve this. We wouldn’t send a student into the world without teaching them the “literacy” of reading and writing; so why would we even consider sending them out into the world unable to deal with the “digital literacy” that has become the new world of today?

It is a question that all of us, as educators today, have to answer.