Technology Levels the Playing Field

Two very different brothers succeed, thanks to the efforts of a prescient school district.

• PRINT
• EMAIL

HOW THEY DO IT

SCHOOL SNAPSHOT

The Mitnick brothers both graduated from Fox Chapel (PA) Area School District. Michael, a 21-year-old junior at Harvard, has already enjoyed the off-Broadway debut of his original music, recognition for his short film, and selection by USA Today for the 2002 All USA Academic First Teammade up of just 20 young people across the nation. In addition, Michael has raised thousands of dollars for Down syndrome in support of his big brother, Jeff, who has the condition. But Jeff, too, can celebrate his own accomplishments, due in no small part to Fox Chapel's efforts to impart technology skills to all its students.

One in 10 students are learning disabled in Fox Chapel Area School District, located in a suburb of Pittsburgh 11 miles from downtown. About the same number of students are economically disadvantaged, contributing to the district's great economic diversity. It's our biggest challenge, says Alan Fager, superintendent for the past eight years. We have some of the wealthiest families in the entire country hereTeresa Heinz Kerry's home is in our district. We have a large middle class, but we also cover former mining towns, poor urban areas with federal housing, and rural communities.

So how do the 4,600 students in the district each get a customized academic experienceone that encourages him or her to thrive, as the Mitnick brothers did? The district's vision statement promises a learning environment in which students maximize their potential and achieve success. We're trying to look at the idea behind Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and use technology to offer new opportunities that meet the needs of all students, says Norton Gusky, coordinator of educational technology at Fox Chapel.

Ed tech as the key to the future certainly worked for Michael Mitnick, who says he first fell in love with the idea of storytelling in elementary school by using Kid Pix multimedia tools. In middle and high school, he fostered that interest by taking on an integral role in the school's daily newscasts. Mitnick's extensive video-editing experience soon led to his instructing staff members how to use iMovie, Apple's video software. When offered a chance to produce a series of his own musicals as a fund-raising tool for Down syndrome, he created a commercial for the project that aired on the school's TV station.

Jeff Mitnick also developed his technology skills at Fox Chapel, through the computer class given as part of the Life Skills program. Life Skills teaches special needs students lessons, from boarding a bus to counting change to using a keyboard. But business teacher Nancy Rofey realized she was teaching the same low-level technology skills to the same special needs kids over and over. We had reached a point where these kids simply kept taking keyboarding year after year after year, and some were staying in school until they were 21! she says. We believed they were capable of learning the more complex skills needed to succeed later in life. They simply needed extra time, differentiated delivery, and one-on-one attention.

Now Life Skills students learn basic keyboarding in year one and move on to Internet, PowerPoint, multimedia, and desktop publishing instruction. As part of their graduation requirements, as with all Fox Chapel seniors, Life Skills students complete a senior-year project. They create PowerPoint presentations for a panel of teachers and community members, says Kerrie Barnett, a special needs specialist who co-teaches the Technology for Life Skills class with Rofey. It makes them feel so good about themselves.

Life Skills has helped maintain the Mitnick brothers' communication today. Says Michael, Jeff was exposed to so many opportunities at Fox Chapel. He learned to use e-mail, and now that's how we stay in touch while I'm at school.

When it comes to teacher training and development, Fox Chapel's administrators believe that educators should follow their passions, build on their strengths, and receive the support they need to succeed. Teachers see themselves as professionals, but often don't get treated that way, says Fager. The first thing we do is get teacher buy-in by offering them choices for what they want to accomplish. Then we give them the time they need to accomplish these goals.

During the 20002001 school year, the administration received a two-year grant from the Grable Foundation to support the planning and development of a new Professional Education Program (PEP). Through block scheduling, teachers get dedicated time each day to enhance their knowledge and skills in three key areas: technology integration, content area enhancement, and professional practices. Small teacher groups meet to work on district, departmental, and individual objectives.

Teachers also have access to plenty of hands-on technology. The district runs both platforms for added flexibility. Every teacher has a laptop, and schools in the district are equipped with wireless networks. The message, says Fager, is to try new things and to become lifelong learners.

We're able to be risk-takers at Fox Chapel, says Rofey. It's one of the nicest gifts. Just ask the Mitnick brothers.

At Fox Chapel, there's no cutting back on the arts program. Students take courses ranging from photography to jewelry to glass design. Sure, the district wants to produce well-rounded individuals, but it also views arts education as a tool to reach all students' learning styles and to push the district's technology agenda.

All students have opportunities to develop their own creative talents using technology. In TV production classes, business education, music, and technology courses, students work with a variety of multimedia skills, says Norton Gusky, coordinator of educational technology. We developed a digital media computer lab with grants from the Rockwell Foundation and the Grable Foundation. Since technology proficiency is a requirement for graduation, kids explore technology through art.

Arts education also connects kids with different aptitudes. Sally Meyers teaches theater arts at the high school. She explains, We focus on teaching through drama. It's an excellent method that kids remember, and it validates all different kinds of learners.

Students who explore their artistic interests may be rewarded with exciting opportunitiesin high school and beyond. For example, Michael Mitnick and Josh Gorin, now in college, gained hands-on experience writing and editing for the school's daily news programs, inspiring them to pursue stage and film work.

Collaborating with classmates Tyler Mossman and Anisha Nagarajan, who starred in Broadway's Bombay Dreams, these Fox Chapel alumni created an award-winning film that was presented this summer at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. Their success is a testament to the value Fox Chapel places on attaining skills and developing interests in art and technology throughout the learning process.

Pamela Wheaton Shorr is a contributing writer at Scholastic Administr@tor

Tech Strategies
Offers answers to six questions about literacy and assessment software commonly asked by administrators.

Differentiated Instruction: Using What Makes Each Student Special
How you can differentiate instruction for special education students in your READ 180 classroom? Mary Keever shares the story of her student Jesse and the ways she has adapted her instruction to help him succeed.

Seven Common Pitfalls
Based on his extensive experience troubleshooting problems with assistive technology, a school psychologist warns about common pitfalls of using high-tech equipment to help learning disabled students.

LESSON PLAN	Let's Learn About Firefighters! Presents a lesson plan focusing on fire safety and prevention through reading, writing, and brain storming sessions.
UNIT PLAN	Time Travel Writing Assignment using A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury Use this unit plan to take advantage of students' fascination with technology, by having them prepare and execute a PowerPoint presentation.