The Greeneville City School System has been named the top school system in the nation for technology innovation by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

The Society announced Tuesday that Greeneville is the recipient of the fifth annual Sylvia Charp District Award.

The award recognizes school districts that exhibit effectiveness and innovation in applying technology district-wide.

Criteria for the award include:

* "Consistent district effectiveness;

* "Use of ISTE's National Educational Technology; Standards and Essential Conditions (NETS) or a local or statewide derivative of those standards;

* "Effective and innovative implementation of technology; and

* "A commitment to share technology information with other districts."

A Model Program

The ISTE's press release said, "Greeneville has developed a model technology program for its nearly 2,800 students since the integration of a comprehensive technology program in the 1995-96 school year.

"Since then, Greeneville has maintained a commitment to creating interactive learning environments for students in its K-12 schools, the press release said.

"The city school system has continually strived to provide the latest learning technologies such as issuing Gateway tablets to all teachers, granting broadband wireless capability to all campuses, and installing LCD projectors in each classroom.

"To ensure that all technology is up to date, the district developed a cyclical lease replacement program that is used each year regardless of budget circumstances," the press release said.

It continued, "Greeneville's instructional technology team developed new processes for professional learning that easily integrates new technology into the existing curriculum, the press release states.

"Teachers actively participate in trainings that introduce tools to make classroom instruction efficient and valuable, according to the press release."

Dr. Lyle Ailshie, director of Greeneville's school system, responded, "Professional development plays an important role in being able to respond to the implementation of new technologies and their incorporation into the teaching and learning process.

"The system has recognized this need and has made technology integration a part of almost every professional activity."

ISTE added, "In order to ensure that all students have access to adequate technology, the district has implemented its Homelink program. Through this program, old computers being recycled out of the schools are placed with free Internet access in the homes of students who otherwise would not have a computer.

"Along with the program is a parent-training component allowing parents to be involved in the technology that their children are learning," Ailshie said.

Representatives of Greeneville City Schools, including Chief Technology Officer Beverly W. Miller, will be honored and presented with the award at the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), to be held in San Antonio, Texas, June 29 through July 2. The district will receive $2,000 toward NECC registration, travel and housing for two representatives.

For more information, visit www.iste.org.