James Sgroi
Digital Learning Specialist- North Reading Middle & High Schools
Greetings!
I hope everyone has had an enjoyable and productive start to this new school year. Now that some of the beginning of the year “dust” has settled, and we have grown acclimatized to our classes, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is James Sgroi and I am the new Digital Learning Specialist for the Middle and High School. Prior to joining the North Reading team, I taught Computer Education at Timberlane Regional Middle school and during that time I completed my M.Ed in Technology Integration from Southern New Hampshire University. My goal here at North Reading is to assist and encourage you, the educational community, with all of your technology integration needs.
As educators, we all have varying and well-informed views towards integrating technology into our classrooms. To me, technology integration is much more than just infusing technology into the curriculum. Technology integration is about motivation, building relationships, collaboration, professional development, evaluation, budgeting and creating methods and practices that align with our standards. I share in the belief that before technology integration can take place, we need to get to know our students, understand where their interests lie, and learn how to best support their needs. This support can change from lesson to lesson, grade to grade, and class to class.
I also believe that this same approach applies to training teachers as well. We all come from various backgrounds, have numerous needs and different goals we all want to achieve. Determining and listening to educator needs lays the groundwork for positive collaboration and communication. More importantly, it allows the integrator, teachers and administrators to set their integration goals and enables these groups to create a framework that empowers them to not only achieve their objectives, but to continuously improve upon them.
I believe it is also important to continue to perfect the technology integration craft and develop authentic professional development to support this because, quite simply, the evolution of education both today and in the future is technology driven. Today’s society depends on 21st century learning skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, innovation and the ability to analyze to succeed in its global environment. Technology has become the vehicle behind this movement and will continue to be the standard in which advancement is measured. We as educators, must continually adapt to meet the technological needs of our community in order to grow and prosper. We must also continuously update the tools in our toolbox, maintain an eye that focuses on trends and current research, and, most importantly, continue to develop collaborative relationships within the school community. All of these processes will not only keep our school community, teaching practices and goals valid and up-to-date, but it also allows us to adapt to changes more fluidly and effortlessly. This approach will strengthen us to take positive risks in our classrooms and encourage us to continually confront our comfort zones.
When it comes to integrating technology, we are all in this together. Thank you for welcoming me into this special community. I am looking forward to working with you all.
Best,
James Sgroi
James Sgroi
James Sgroi
Digital Learning Specialist
North Reading Middle & High Schools
