Technology Position

July 27, 2005

Two named to fill USD 489 technology position

DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

Hays Daily News

Technology is a fast-moving area in the Hays School District. That's why it didn't take long for USD 489 to fill the position of technology director, left vacant after Craig Ludwick took a similar position in Goddard earlier this month. Administration didn't have far to look. Loren VonLintel and Mary Woods, leaders in technology at Hays High School for the past several years, will assume a combined role in replacing Ludwick. VonLintel, a former computer networking teacher who spent the past year as instructional technology coordinator at Hays High, has assumed those duties for the district. Woods, systems coordinator at HHS the past few years, now is operations technology coordinator for the district. Both VonLintel and Woods were instrumental in the success of a one-to-one laptop initiative for students at Hays High last year, when every student had the use of an Apple iBook computer 24/7 during the school year. "Knowing that we had people here who were competent and we trusted" was key to the decision for the dual role, said Will Roth, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the district. "Being able to do it this way instead of having to add staff was a big plus," he added. In addition to the HHS laptop program, the school board voted in May to approve a lease that will include enough laptopcomputers for a student-to-laptop ratio of 5-to-1 in the middle and elementary schools. It also included enough laptops for every teacher in third through fifth grade. Also this year, VonLintel will be introducing this year, "Moodle," a course management system where teachers can put their courses on-line. Moodle is similar to the "Blackboard" system used by Fort Hays State University. So, it's been an especially busy summer for VonLintel and Woods, who have been splitting time between Hays High and the district office. "Shutting down one job and making sure the transition is smooth is a full-time job," Woods said with a laugh. Nonetheless, she said feels confident that the Hays High technology department is being left in good hands. Jeff Bitikofer, who worked with Woods with the laptop program last year, is back for another year, while Todd Bryant, who worked part time last year, has gone to full time at the high school. "They will be be in charge of the day-to-day operations at the high school now," Woods said, "and they are both very capable." As Hays High gears up for year two in the laptop initiative, the school continues to receive attention from school districts across the country on its success. In fact, last week, Woods and HHS Principal Mike Hester spoke about their one-to-one experiences the past year at a conference in Indianapolis. HHS also has been featured in several articles in magazines and most recently, there was a story about the school on the Apple education Web site. "What made the Apple article so special is that we're successful with it," Woods said. "There's a difference between doing it and being successful with it." Woods said that she thinks one of the main reasons for HHS' success is educating the teachers. "The difference is training our teachers, training our staff," she said. "It just doesn't work if you give the teachers the computers and say, 'Here you go,' " VonLintel said. "You have to teach them there are ways to use technology in their classroom to better students' education. And also when it's not appropriate to use it in the classroom." "I'm so excited about everything," Woods said. "Technology is so dynamic. You just feel like you get ahold of it, and then it changes on you."

Reporter Diane Gasper-O'Brien can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 126, or by e-mail at dobrien@dailynews.net.