Parent Teacher Magazine Rowan-Salisbury Schools September 2017 | Page 5

Ranked "Top 10" Nationally for technology
RSS recognized as a Leader in the uses of technology
Exciting news for the Rowan-
Salisbury Schools as the school
board and district are ranked
among the Top 10 Nationally as a
leader in the uses of technology for
student success.
The top-ranked school districts
were announced through the annual
‘Digital School Districts Survey’
awards that honor and recognize
districts for their exemplary use of technology. The awards are presented
by the Center for Digital Education (CDE) and by the National School
Boards Association (NSBA). School Board Member Dr. Richard Miller and the
district’s Chief Legal Officer April Kuhn accepted the award at the National
School Boards Association
annual conference held in
Denver, Colorado.
This award recognizes
an innovative approach
to instruction that allows
students to use 1:1 devices
at school and at home, while
providing educators with
cutting edge technologies to
personalize instruction for
students.
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Jordan’s Hope--Nature’s Children
By Angelia Fleming
North Rowan Middle Language Arts Teacher
What do teachers do in the summer? Ashley
Holshouser, North Rowan Elementary School
teacher, and Angelia Fleming, North Rowan Middle
School teacher, recently hiked Pilot Mountain State
Park to explore possibilities for their upcoming
joint field trip. Holshouser an d Fleming met with
Park Ranger Jesse Anderson to plan the details for
their students’ programs.
Who inspired the idea for this field trip? North
Rowan Middle School student, Jordan Feaster.
While writing an essay challenge from DAR
(Daughters of the American Revolution) about
National Parks, Jordan took the narrative prompt to
a deeper level. “I hope to one day have at least 2 full
schools and maybe more going to parks and learning
about nature and maybe one day when they grow up start traditions,” says
Jordan.
“I continue to be impressed with how our students can take an article and a
writing assignment taught in class and grow it into a vision to reach out to
other students to make a positive difference in their lives,” states Dr. Lynn
Moody, Superintendent of Rowan-Salisbury Schools.
Based on her research and our readings of Achieve3000 articles, Jordan
formed a vision, Nature’s Children, where students would be given the
opportunity to visit national parks and experience nature firsthand. But
Jordan’s vision transcended beyond just individual student experiences.
Jordan also wanted her class to pair up with an elementary school class for
the experience. She wanted to give other
students the opportunity to visit parks as
well, and she wanted her middle school class
to mentor a younger class.
“In Jordan’s mind, her dream will truly be
successful if her program grows from our
first year visit to a state park to future visits
to national parks that involve even more
classes,” says Fleming. “Jordan’s vision is
for many children to work together to learn
about and experience nature.” Jordan states
that many of today’s students don’t have
an opportunity to go on field trips; many
students don’t even have the chance to visit
parks. She wants to change that.
Jordan has made a change. Thanks
to Rowan Partners for Education and
Achieve3000 for providing funds for this
field trip, Jordan’s dream can come true.
Along with the field trip, Holshouser and
Fleming are planning rich collaborative
opportunities for their students that include
research, planning, writing, and the creation
of an exciting project. When their students
start school in the fall, they will dive right
into their adventure.
Tune in for future updates on their
activities as they travel on their journey!
LtoR: Jesse Anderson/Pilot
Mt. State Park Ranger; Angie
Fleming/NRMS Teacher; and
Ashley Holshouser/NRES Teacher
Parent Teacher Magazine • Sept/Oct 2017 • 3