Media Tech Assistants in Moore County

As I sat on a small fishing pier at a local farm pond, I noticed a couple of ducks land and begin to swim across from one side to another.  They looked so majestic as they glided across the calm water making it look effortless to the passer-by.  What you don't see from the duck is the hard working legs kicking underwater to keep it afloat.  This image is a perfect representation of our Digital Learning Initiatives here in Moore County.  From the community on-looker, the Digital Learning Showcase a couple weeks back looked amazing.  It was an exhibition of all of the hard work and creativity students had put into digital projects that allowed them to master the content while being engaged at the same time.  The teachers of those students worked with Digital Integration Facilitators (DIF's) to plan the lessons. These types of awesome lessons and many more are what is at stake with our budget crisis.  If the cuts proposed are made, the domino effect will subsequently take its toll on the level of learning and engagement that is taking place in our schools.

One of the positions the district is in danger of losing is the Media Tech Assistant.  Without a doubt, this position has been most valuable in the roll-out, collection and day-to-day maintenance of our Digital Learning Initiative.  I have seen the impact the Media Tech Assistants have on a daily basis for the last 4 years at North Moore High School.  Jenean Garner, Media Tech Assistant at North Moore High School and 28-year veteran of the Moore County School System, works tirelessly everyday so I am able to meet with teachers more and spend less time fixing mouse pads and wireless issues with the Chromebooks.  Because of Jenean Garner, our Media Specialist can work with students taking Sandhills Community College courses and teach them how to cite their sources for research papers.  Because of Jenean Garner, teachers can continue to teach with minimal disruption when there are technology issues.  Because of Jenean Garner, students have a go-to person when their Chromebook is not working.  Because of Jenean Garner, our turn-around time for Chromebook repairs has been drastically reduced.  Because of the Media Tech Assistants, our Digital Learning Initiative has been a success.

So while the public sees the duck gliding across the water, don't lose sight of the work being done that you can't see.

Tyler Callahan
Digital Integration Facilitator
@STEM_TC