Vancouver Public Schools has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education as one of nine national finalists to highlight the role district leaders play in using technology to transform schools. The education department considered 400 school districts across the country before narrowing the field to 31 semifinalists. Interviews with superintendents determined the nine finalists.
In April, a video and research team visited Hough Elementary School, Discovery and McLoughlin middle schools and the middle school campus of Vancouver iTech Preparatory. To tell the story about how the district uses digital tools for learning, the team interviewed teachers, teacher librarians, students, principals, technology facilitators and Superintendent Steve Webb. Districts nationwide will be able to view the videos produced from the interviews to learn how to implement digital learning in their own district.
Vancouver Public Schools has been recognized nationally by the education department previously for its leadership in using technology for teaching and learning. In February, the federal agency chose Vancouver to host one of 12 Future Ready Regional Summits to help school district leaders use technology to improve teaching and student learning.
The district is a founding member of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, which was started with support by the education department.
In 2013, voters approved a technology levy that funds $4 million annually for six years — from 2014 through 2019. The district is working toward providing individual technology devices for each student in grades 3 through 12.
