Manchester Community Schools Participates in Digital Learning Summit

L-R Shanna Spickard, Jennifer Mayes, TIna Maly, Cherie Vannatter (Photo courtesy Shanna Spickard)

Superintendent Cherie Vannatter and other leaders from the Manchester school district recently joined representatives from thirty other districts for an invitation-only regional education summit focused on improving teaching and student learning outcomes through the effective use of technology.

“It was an informative and inspirational two days,” said Vannatter. “We worked with colleagues from all over the Midwest to further our district framework for 21st century teaching and learning with technology integration. We will continue the work we started with Manchester teachers, administrators and other stakeholders.”

The summit was led by the Alliance for Excellent Education and U.S. Department of Education with support from the Leading Education by Advancing Digital (LEAD) Commission and a coalition of more than 35 national content partners.

Held over two days at Gurnee School District 56 in Illinois, the event—one of thirteen regional summits nationwide— was limited to school districts where the superintendent had signed the Future Ready District Pledge—a promise to develop the human and technological capacity needed to personalize learning using digital tools.

“‘Future Ready’ isn’t about technology,” said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia. “It’s about a more personalized approach to teaching and learning that ensures that all students have the skills they need to succeed in college and a career. Future Ready is about empowering teachers and leaders, helping students take charge of their own learning, and keeping parents engaged and informed.”

Led by trained facilitators skilled at using technology and digital learning effectively, the summit was a highly collaborative event that helped participating districts build teamwork and create regional networks of experts who can learn together as they make the transition to digital learning. The summit focused on a comprehensive set of issues that drive student learning including: curriculum, instruction, and assessment; professional learning; technology, networks, and hardware; budget and resources; data and privacy; use of time; and community partnerships.

Through the work they completed at the summit, the educational leaders from Manchester can build digital learning plans that align with instructional best practices, are implemented by highly trained teachers, and lead to personalized learning experiences for all students, particularly those from traditionally under-served communities.

For more information about the Future Ready Regional Summit, visit Future Ready Schools.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.