Oh! The Places Technology
Has Taken Us!
Dr. Jared Cotton
Superintendent
Janet Copenhaver
Director of Technology
Betsy Mattox
School Board Member
Vision: Henry County Public Schools where critical thinking is expected, creativity is nurtured, technology
and innovation are embraced, and learning is celebrated.
Mission: Henry County Public Schools, a high-performing school division, provides all students with an
exemplary education in a safe, supportive environment that promotes self-discipline, motivation, and
excellence.
Henry County
VIRGINIA
NORTH
CAROLINA
School Division At a Glance
 7100 students
 10 elementary
 2 middle, 2 high schools
 Regional Alternative school
 Regional Governor’s school
 Fully accredited by Virginia Standards
 School Board of Education Award Recipient
 Apple Distinguished District
Vision
Henry County Public Schools where critical thinking is
expected, creativity is nurtured, technology and innovation are
embraced, and learning is celebrated.
Mission
Henry County Public Schools, a high-performing
school division, provides all students with an exemplary education
in a safe, supportive environment that promotes self-discipline,
motivation, and excellence.
High Quality Instruction
Henry County Public Schools will produce globally competitive students.
High Quality Professionals
Henry County Public Schools will be directed by 21st century professionals.
Safe and Orderly Schools
Henry County Public Schools’ students will be healthy, responsible, and engaged in positive
relationships.
Innovative and Cutting-Edge Technology
Henry County Public Schools will encourage the application of technology to enhance
instruction and promote innovation.
Effective and Efficient Resource Management
Henry County Public Schools will be governed and supported by 21st century systems.
Family and Community Engagement
Henry County Public Schools will engage families and the community to ensure open
communication and opportunities for student success.
Administrative
BoardDocs
Web Site
Public input to website
Board meeting videos online
Paperless meetings
Google Docs
Superintendent's Blog
Videoconference
Technology in our Cafeteria
Technology in Transportation
Technology in Health Services
Technology in Instruction
iPad 1:1 Initiative
Initial Pilot:
Beyond Textbooks Pilot with VA Department of
Education
40 iPads for two 4th grade classes with digital Social
Studies textbook
We expanded to:
Social Studies Digital Textbook
for Grades 4 and 5
Social Studies Digital Textbook for Grade 9
Deployment Challenges
 Syncing
 Professional Development
 Parent Training
 Adding Apps
 Network Infrastructure
Current Status
 4000 iPads
 1:1-24/7 Grades three, four, and five
with digital Social Studies, English, and
Math textbooks loaded on iPad
 Classroom sets in Grades K-2, 6-12 and
all CTE classes
Our Students Speak!
Our Parents Speak!
Parent Survey
 Surveys sent to parents-1658
 Responses received back to school-1258
 76% returned survey
Parent Survey for 1:1 Initiative
 Have you used apps on your child’s iPad?
Parent Survey for 1:1 Initiative
 Have you looked a textbook on your child’s iPad?
Parent Survey for 1:1 Initiative
 Did your child have a computer or iPad before receiving
one from school?
Parent Survey for 1:1 Initiative
 Is your child more or less excited about having the
textbooks on iPad instead of printed textbooks?
Parent Survey for 1:1 Initiative
 Is your child more likely to complete homework and
study when it is on the iPad?
Parent Survey for 1:1 Initiative
 Do you have Internet access in your home?
Parent Responses
 My son takes care of the iPad and recognizes
how useful it is to him
 We think having books on the iPad is great
 Books bags are not as heavy
 My son shows me how he does his work
 Great improvement from traditional textbooks
 Gets students more excited about learning
 Good addition to study habits
Parent Responses
 This technology is something all children are going to have
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to use in the future-thankful my child has this opportunity
Find him studying more frequently
Loves to do homework on his iPad has been learning other
languages such as Italian an Spanish on the iPad
Helps teach responsibility
Makes learning fun he is more motivated and has done
excellent things this year Made him more interested in his
homework-we work together more
Less worksheets
Children are more excited to have homework
Parent Responses/ Suggestions
 There should be an option to buy the iPad
 Should have more things loaded on them
 Should expand to middle school
 More reading programs loaded
 Need to know when next meeting is
 Should have black history app
 Do not give homework that requires Internet
 Do not know how to find information to study for the test
 Parents should have training on how to view textbooks
Parents Reponses/Challenges
 Concern that children can go to inappropriate sites
 Too many chances for distractions
 Hard to make sure they are all charged
 Don’t like children taking tests on computers
 I know very little about computers or iPads, my son will not tell
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us the truth when I ask him
Old school is the best way
Charging the iPad over night is a real problem in this household
Ridiculous to have wireless access in HCPS because of our
economy
Technology has ruined old school-kids don’t know spelling,
planting gardens and how to exist without electronics-they will
never make it without knowledge of old school too
Q&A