NEW BLOOMFIELD - A new teacher position will help the New Bloomfield school district better utilize technology next school year.
The New Bloomfield R-3 Board of Education has approved a budget including a new position to serve as a part-time teacher and part-time instructional technology coordinator.
Superintendent David Tramel said the position will help teachers better integrate technology into their instruction.
"We hope to ensure that all of the technology we have is being utilized," Tramel said.
The person filling the role will teach some classes and have time in their schedule set aside for technology integration tasks.
According to the job description, the teacher/instructional technology coordinator will:
•Teach classes part time;
•Update and develop the district's website;
•Facilitate the professional development of staff in instructional technology;
•Assist district staff with troubleshooting hardware and software issues;
•Contribute to planning, implementation and evaluation of district technology plans; and
•Create and maintain the district's inventory of instructional hardware and software.
The position may also be asked to seek and apply for grants in an effort to further instructional technology, according to the job description overview. And other possible added job responsibilities could be:
•Working with administrators and staff to assemble a district technology plan that establishes short-term and long-term goals;
•Hosting summer training for staff;
•Working with conference/area schools' technology specialists to further training;
•Assist teachers as they develop technology-based lesson plans; and
•Visit classrooms on a daily basis to help teachers and students with technology needs.
The position will be filled by a current district teacher. The district also is adding a full-time high school teacher to take on half of the current teacher's course load along with new course offerings for students.
The district has discussed the need for a technology coordinator for about a year. Two New Bloomfield teachers visited South Callaway schools earlier this year to observe that district's instructional coaches and math programs.
Since adding the technology coaches, South Callaway has worked with Klista Rader, founder of 21 Vision Education Consulting, on training teachers in that new role.