Kyle Menchhofer is the Technology Coordinator of the St. Marys City School District located in Auglaize County in western Ohio. St. Marys is the largest rural school in the country using smartphones in the classroom. Visit the St. Marys Technology Department.
The district's technology plan outlines the following:
Technology is having an impact on every aspect of modern life. If we are to prepare our students for life-long learning in an ever-changing world of technological advances, computers and related instructional technologies must be an integral part of the teaching and learning process.
The mission of the St. Marys City Schools is to help teachers, administrators, and support staff use technology as a transparent educational tool by providing:
1. Training for all teachers and staff for electronic management tools, communication tools, 21st Century tools, and student information.
2. Student information with protected web access in real time for staff, students, parents, counselors, and administrators.
3. Local support from the Technology Department to provide troubleshooting at the site level.
4. Evaluation of student progress in the district and the effect of technology on performance.
5. Resource management of computers and infrastructure.
6. Consultation and research for schools concerning new technology and its use in education.
Infusing technology into the classroom instruction will create the students who are academically competitive, technology literate, motivated and engaged in the learning process. The students will be proficient information users who have the ability to access, process and effectively communicate information in order to improve their
learning and exceed in the national educational standards.