District technology team showcases Clever portal, screeners and Seesaw as classroom tools

Instructional coordinator Joshua Brown and instructional technologist Nita Gray presented the district’s instructional-technology approach to the board, demonstrating the Clever portal (single sign-on for student Chromebooks), screening tools and how online textbooks and interventions are used in classrooms.

Brown said the Clever portal gives students one place to access learning applications from pre-K through eighth grade and highlighted that teachers maintain specific links and resources in the portal. He described screening tools used to meet state requirements and provide national comparisons, naming I-Ready for math and grade-level tools for ELA; he said screeners are administered three times a year.

Nita Gray explained the district moved to Seesaw for family communication and praised its language-translation features. Both presenters emphasized that technology is intended as a tool to support teachers and not a replacement for instruction: "our teachers are the most important person in the room. Technology is a tool and that is all we use it for," Brown said.

The presenters discussed interventions and enrichment options and gave examples of how online resources can let families support students from home. They also described in-class devices such as interactive touch panels, staff-led professional development for new teachers, and technical support procedures for vendors and privacy vetting.

Board members asked who provides teacher training; staff identified Nita Gray (referred to as Anita in part of the transcript) as leading cohort-based training and in-class coaching for new teachers.

Next steps: staff will continue classroom support and professional development; no board action was requested at this meeting.