Compiled by Staff

State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox unveiled last week the Georgia Department of Education iTunes University site. At an event at Rutland High School in Bibb County, Superintendent Cox demonstrated how this free technology will allow teachers, students and parents to download many different resources directly onto an iPod or other portable device. 

"In these tough budget times, we can all use more help and more resources, especially when those resources are free," said Superintendent Cox.  "The GaDOE continues to seek out innovative and cost-effective ways to help make teachers' jobs easier, and iTunes University is one more tool to do that."

The GaDOE recognizes how important it is to use technology to enhance education. The iTunes University site creates a base of digital educational content where users can easily download and access audio and video content for use in the classroom, at home or while driving to work.  Visitors to the site can find content on everything from mathematics instruction to parent involvement videos. 

"This is an innovative and interactive way for students to learn," said Tony Jones, Bibb County's Teacher of the Year. "It will allow students the luxury to learn at their own pace using technology that most students are familiar with already."

Jones was also a recipient of a GaDOE Advanced Placement Handheld Technology grant. In November, 56 high schools in 46 school systems received AP Handheld grants. These grants provide teachers the resources to purchase any handheld device, which allows students to access educational material developed by the teachers, including instructional podcasts, activities, and assessments. These resources may also be made available on the GaDOE iTunes University site for other teachers across the state to use in their classrooms.

The iTunes University site is the latest teacher technology tool offered by the GaDOE. In Sept.2009, Superintendent Cox launched two online teacher tools, PBS TeacherLine and Verizon Thinkfinity. PBS TeacherLine offers low-cost, high-quality professional development classes to teachers so they can build content knowledge and earn the Professional Learning Units needed to maintain their certification. The Verizon Thinkfinity tool provides more than 55,000 lesson plans, activities and other resources for classroom teachers.

Student Contest

The GaDOE iTunes University site is one that students will be able to use to take digital content with them, but also give them an avenue to demonstrate their own creativity. Superintendent Cox announced a student contest that will encourage students to develop short movies that can be uploaded to the iTunes University site.  There will be three category themes:

1. Elementary School: Theme – Reading For Me!
2. Middle School: Theme – Monumental Math Moments!
3. High School: Theme – "Making It Happen!

"Today's students have grown up surrounded by technology," said Superintendent Cox.  "It is my hope that this contest will spark their creativity and demonstrate how they can integrate technology into the classroom and share with other students."

Complete contest details can be found by visiting http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/

Winners of the contest will be featured on the GaDOE iTunes University site.

King's Ridge Christian School Students 'Cut Footloose' for Inaugural Musical Production

More than 40 high school students performed in "Footloose, the Musical" at King's Ridge Christian School on April 23 and 24. The performance was the school's inaugural high school musical and received overwhelming support from the school community. The students -- many of whom had never been on stage -- worked on the production since January, and delivered a performance that the K-12 school community was proud of.

"I am so blessed to be a part of King's Ridge history by directing the first high school musical!  We have such a talented group of students who gave it their all to make the performance a big success," said Sandy Wise, play director and drama/music teacher at KRCS. "A large percent of them had never been on stage, much less performed in a musical. I think they surprised all of us with their God-given talent!" 

Based on the 1984 hit movie, this high-energy musical is about a big city kid who moves to a small town and shakes up the status quo. The musical opened on Broadway in October 1998 and has been a hit for student performances ever since.

Founded in 2001, King's Ridge Christian School is a non-denominational college preparatory K-12 independent school located in north Fulton County in the Atlanta metro area. The fully-accredited school supports the development of the whole child through strong academics, technology, and community service initiatives. Located on a 70-acre campus, building construction includes lighted athletic facilities, athletic center, performing and visual arts centers, and chapel. For more information about the school, visit www.kingsridgecs.org.

Readers are Leaders at Barnwell Elementary

Barnwell students have "reached the end of the rainbow" on the artist-inspired and -painted mural that documents the accelerated reader program. In addition, one fourth grade student (Lauren Garrett pictured with her teacher Mrs. Papadakis) has traveled beyond the rainbow with the goal of reading every Newberry Award winning book ever written. She achieved this goal by reading the eighty-nine Newberry winning books written from 1922-2010. 

"Most of the books were about growing up and learning important lessons," said Miss Garrett. This achievement has inspired other Barnwell students to set future reading goals proving that Barnwell Elementary students are truly book smart.