Technology Program Administrator

Savannah, Georgia
Gadsden Elementary School
Media Center

PART A: PROGRAM EVALUATION

Executive Summary
The Gadsden Elementary School Media Center is not only physically located in the
center of the school, but it is the central hub to almost all activities going on in the
school. The media specialist and clerk, along with volunteers, work together to keep
the recently built media center running. With the media center housing many
different activities and home of the copier, die-cuts, news broadcast studio, a mini
computer lab and teacher resource center, there is a steady flow of teachers and
students visiting Ms. Holman. Many groups meet in the media center for small
group or whole group lessons, remediation, gifted services, and volunteer and peer
mentorships.

Gadsden Elementary is a Title I funded school, resulting in an abundance of

technology resources. All classrooms are equipped with a Promethean Board,
projector, document camera, NEO2s, desktops, and AppleTVs. All grades 1-5 have
Chromebooks (grades 3-5 hold class sets) and classes K-2 have at least 5 iPads a
piece. The media center is responsible for distributing and monitoring each piece of
equipment and keeping an inventory of incoming resources.

The media specialist, Ms. Wanda Holman runs the media center and teaches classes
to grades K-2 students during their Specials times. She also addresses all
technology issues for staff and administration before a work order is put in for
technicians to come on site. Ms. Holman maintains the schools website and
broadcasts the morning news every morning. Wanda is responsible for making sure
all equipment is set up for Faculty Meetings, PTA Meetings, Staff Professional
Developments or any performances/presentations taking place at the school.

Savannah/Chatham County Technology Organizational Chart:

Superentind
ent
Dr. Thomas
Lockamy

Chief
Chief Data
Data
&
&
Accountab
Accountab
lilty
lilty
Officer
Officer
David
David
Feleciano
Feleciano

Manager
Manager
of
of IT
IT
Project
Project
Services
Services
Program
Program
Manager
Manager
Instructio
Instructio
nal
nal
Technolog
Technolog
y
y

Manager
Manager
of
of Web
Web
Services
Services

Director
Director
of
of
Network
Network
and
and
Engineeri
Engineeri
ng
ng
Services
Services

Instructio
Instructio
nal
nal
Technolog
Technolog
y
Coaches
y Coaches
(x7)
(x7)
Library
Library
Media
Media
Technolog
Technolog
y
Services
y Services
Coach
District
Coach
District
Media
& IT
Media &
IT
Support
Support
Assistant
Assistant
Web
Web
Programm
Programm
er
er
Manager
Manager of
of
Customer
Customer
Service
and
Service and
QUality
QUality
Assurance
Assurance

Network
Network
Engineer
Engineer
(x5)
(x5)

School
School
Technology
Technology
Committee
Committee

Teachers
Teachers

(Teachers,
(Teachers,
Administration,
Administration, Media
Media
Specialist)
Specialist)

Media
Media
Specialist
Specialist

Teachers
Teachers
Volunteers
Volunteers

Helpdesk
Helpdesk
Tech
(x5)
Tech (x5)
Field
Field
Technician
Technician
ss (x9)
(x9)
Jr.
Jr.
Engineer
Engineer
(x4)
(x4)
Infrastruct
Infrastruct
ure
ure
Techncian
Techncian
(x2.5)
(x2.5)

Methods
I used a variety of methods to collect information about Gadsden Elementary
Schools Media Center. As in being a veteran teacher that has been a teacher and a
technology committee member for the past 11 years, I have observed and
witnessed the way this system works for a long time. I was not employed by
Gadsden this year, but as I worked there for my practicum, I noticed that not much
has changed. I talked with the Assistant Principal, Gary Osuch. Gary is responsible
for ordering all technology equipment, and truly has a vision to enhance learning
through technology. I also had informal interviews with teachers and Gadsdens
Media Specialist/Technology Specialist, Wanda Holman. I also looked at various
reports to gather information for the evaluation report.

Center Context and Goals

History: This media center is located at Gadsden Elementary in the
Savannah/Chatham County School District. Gadsden is located in downtown
Savannah, as serves two public housing complexes. Gadsden is referred to as a Title
I School, because 100 percent of the student population are eligible for free or
reduced lunch. The students that Gadsden Media Center serves, have limited access
to internet and computers at their homes. Gadsden has been a Title I school for
many years, which has funded an abundance of technology resources and tools for
the teachers, students, and parents to utilize. Over the past ten years, the amount
of resources available have increased tremendously due to the administration
having a view for a technology driven school.
Mission: The mission of this schools library and media program is to collaborate
with teachers and others to provide appropriate resources and meaningful learning
experiences for students; to advocate reading improvement; and to foster an
interest in literature and technology.
Goal: The main goal of the library and media center staff is to Make the
Connection between the school library and academic achievement. In order to
achieve this goal we will:

Promote student interest in reading.

Promote and utilize technological resources and fluency.

Promote appreciation of literature.

Provide appropriate collections and resources to support and enrich the

school curriculum.

Support district, state and national standards.

Provide an attractive and supportive environment for students and faculty.

Center Activities

The media center at Gadsden serves many purposes. As I stated earlier, the media
center is the central hub for most activities and programs that go on at Gadsden.
Along with normal book circulation, the media center houses printing, laminator,
copier, poster maker, and teacher resource room. The media center is also a place
where small group and occasionally whole group instructional sessions take place,
along with remediation and gifted services. There are several conference rooms
where LOVE mentors work with students, peer tutors work together, and teachers
collaborate. There are many professional development sessions that take place in
the media center before or after school.

Evaluation
Based on what I have observed and the data that I have collected, it is obvious that
Gadsdens Media Center is operating efficiently. I have witnessed Ms. Holman and
the media clerk working with teachers and students to fulfill the main stream goal of
making a connection between the library and academic achievement. The school is
definitely equipped with an abundance of technology to fully incorporate and
integrate technology enhanced lessons in all classes. There is a lack of teacher buy
in at Gadsden when it comes to technology, which is upsetting when they have so
much at their fingertips. I have heard teachers tell me that they dont have time
for technology. It is going to be a challenge to get those teachers on board, but I
think if they would understand or see how it can benefit them, and that it is not
one more added thing, that they would be more inclined to implement it in their
rooms.
Recommendations:
-

Technology Tip Tidbits The media specialist could give a tip a week, and
introduce an easy Web2.0 tool for teachers to use/try that week. Provide
incentives for teachers to use the tool a couple times that week. The more
teachers use technology in their classrooms, the more they will buy into it

when they see the benefits.

Extra Hours I would recommend that the media center be open before and
after school for students to use the computers and resources. Many of the
students at the school do not have computer or internet access at home, so it

would be beneficial for them to be able to have the extra time with
-

technology tools.
Update Website The website should be updated more frequently with
resources that are relevant for students and parents. Changes should be
made frequently and grade level websites should be linked to the schools
site.