Alexandria, Va. - September 25, 2009 - The National School Boards Association (NSBA) has named the Newport News City Schools in Newport News, Va. as a 2009 Salute District for its commitment to improving student achievement through the use of innovative instructional practices that are supported by technology.
Newport News Public Schools is one of three districts in the nation receiving the award, including Jeffco Public Schools in Golden, Colorado and the Cullman City Schools in Alabama. The Salute District honor is a recognition program of NSBA’s Technology Leadership Network that showcases school districts that have effectively executed technology resources to make a positive impact on learning. The three Salute Districts will be honored during NSBA’s 2009 T+L Conference in Denver, October 28-30.
Newport News Public Schools reflect the rich diversity of its community with more than 30,400 students. Themission statement in the district’s strategic technology plan notes the district’s goal is to “promote andfacilitate the effective and innovative integration of technology into the schools and workplaces.” While many mission statements remain just words on a page, this district created the position of Director of Innovation to oversee professional development, instructional technology, and the student career pathways to implement its vision.
Ann Flynn, director of education technology for NSBA, said, "I applaud the district’s recognition that those three areas are intricately intertwined, and with the rapid technological advances, constantly evolving. The establishment of this position should ensure that projecting the future needs of the staff and students remains a top priority and does not become buried under the day-to-day operations that so often consumes school leaders."
Since 1987, NSBA's Technology Leadership Network (TLN) has served local district leadership teams that establish policy and implement technology decisions to enhance teaching and learning, administrative operations, and community outreach.
Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association (www.nsba.org) is a not-for-profit federation of state associations of school boards representing 95,000 local school board members throughout the United States. Its mission is to foster excellence and equity in public elementary and secondary education through local school board leadership. NSBA represents the school board perspective in working with federal government agencies and national organizations that impact education, and provides vital information and services to state associations of school boards throughout the nation.
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