NORTH ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS

New Director of Technology and Innovation Starts at North Allegheny

On Jan . 4 , Richard Platts began work at North Allegheny School District as Director of Technology and Innovation , a new position created to provide leadership in all areas of technology throughout the District .

Platts will directly oversee the Information Technology Department as it supports both the administrative and infrastructure needs of the District , as well as the teaching and learning environment for students and staff members .

“ Being in the second year of our Focus 2020 technology initiative , we now have more opportunities to further innovate our educational practices and focus on technology integration in the classroom ,” says Superintendent Dr . Robert Scherrer . “ We ’ re looking forward to having Mr . Platts on board as we continue to create engaging learning environments that leverage technology for all students and teachers .”

Platts began his career in education in 2004 as a teacher in the Upper St . Clair School District , where he was actively involved in the implementation of the District ’ s Strategic Plan , technology coaching and administering several school-wide technology systems . He also participated on the Technology Mission Team , Data Analysis and Management Team and Global Education Committee .

In 2013 , Platts was appointed as the Director of Technology for the South Park School District , where he was responsible for IT and educational technology infrastructure . In this position , Platts implemented a disaster recovery plan , aided in the planning and deployment of a one-to-one program , adopted and implemented Google Apps for Education , and conducted an evaluation , migration and implementation of a Student Information System , new phone system and Data Warehouse .

Platts has served as a presenter at the Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference and is a member of the International Society for Technology in Education . He has also participated in the Sprout Fund for the Pittsburgh City of Learning and was a Steering Committee Member for the Allegheny County Regional Wide Area Network .

Platts graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts in Germanic and Hispanic languages and literatures , and completed his Master of Arts in teaching in foreign language . He also completed a Master of Public Management in educational technology management from Carnegie Mellon University .

NASH Creative Arts Magazine Wins National Recognition

North Allegheny Senior High School ’ s literary and creative arts magazine VARIATIONS recently won Most Outstanding High School Literary-Art Magazine from the American Scholastic Press Association . The honor was only given to 13 schools across the country , and NASH was the only high school

in the state to receive this award . The Association also awarded VARIATIONS a First Place with Special Merit Award .

In addition , the National Council of Teachers of English recognized VARIATIONS with the title Recommended for Highest Award . Again , VARIATIONS was the only high school literary magazine in the state to win this title for 2016 .

NAI School Nurse Honored with State Award

Charity Istone , the school nurse at North Allegheny Intermediate High School , is the recipient of the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners ’ “ 2017 Pennsylvania School Nurse of the Year ” award . She will be recognized at the PASNAP conference in April 2017 . As Pennsylvania ’ s School Nurse of the Year , Istone serves as the state ’ s nominee for the National Association of School Nurses “ National School Nurse of the Year ” award , which will be announced this summer .

Ingomar Elementary Earns Common Sense Digital Citizenship Certification

North Allegheny School District ’ s Ingomar Elementary School has been recognized as a Common Sense Certified

Photos courtesy of Kaitlyn Zurcher

56 North Allegheny