Nicholas Gledich

Colorado Springs School District 11

Colorado Springs, Colorado

One of Gledich’s first moves as leader of Colorado Springs School District 11 was bringing wireless access to all district schools. The district now encourages students and teachers to bring their own devices to school. Schools also are encouraged to purchase iPads, eReaders, and other tools to support student learning with technology.

The district has levy funding in place specifically to support technology integration equitably in all classrooms, and this funding is used annually to refresh computers and other technology in the schools.

Although budgets have been an issue in Colorado and nationwide for several years, Gledich hired a grants director who has helped bring in more funding for two schools with high-need students. He also supported the district’s first common District Professional Development Day in September.

Gledich asked educators how they ensure that 21^st-century learning is occurring in all classrooms for all students, and district staff subsequently developed a 21st Century Personalized Learning Vision and Strategic Planning program. This program aims to create and document an instructional technology vision aligned with the International Society for Technology in Education’s National Educational Technology Standards, as well as Colorado state standards.

Ed-tech programs used within Colorado Springs classrooms include Accelerated Reader, CompassLearning Odyssey, Discovery Education streaming, Sharepoint, SAFARI Montage, ST Math, i-SAFE, and WorldBook Web.