Texas Long Range Plan for Technology Leadership 2006-2020

The Texas Long Range Plan 2006-2020 was in response to the NCLB signed into law in 2002. There are four domains in the Texas Long Range Plan: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Leadership, Administrator and Instructional specialist, and Infrastructure.

For the purposes of campus and needs as a teacher, I would like to focus on Domain 2: Educator Preparation and Development. This Domain enables teachers to have resources, tools and education that provide students quality instruction.

Data from "Campus Statewide Summary by Key Area" for 2007-2008 reflects 74% of schools are "Developing”, my campus included. This data indicates only 40% of teachers are meeting the SBEC standards throughout the state. In 2006-2007 my campus was considered Advanced per our STaR chart ratings with 16 points. Due to the development of the Long Range Plan, numerous opportunities for staff development were held throughout my district in 2006-2007. However, the consecutive two years it fell to 14 points which ranks it at "Developing." This change was caused by campuses responsibility for ongoing training.

How will our students effectively meet the technology challenges that will await them if we as educators are not better prepared? Districts, administrators and teachers themselves must continue to increase teachers’ personal learning through ongoing professional development or continuing education. The most successful type of professional development is: job-embedded. Until teachers are better prepared and open to becoming co-learners with our students, we will not see improvements in our ratings.