Partnership Schools Practice What They Teach

By Amanda Brooke  M.TechnologyEd

Claire and Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School at DKJA

Rosenblatt High School was fortunate to find a helping hand and partner in another private South Florida school, Archbishop McCarthy High School in Pembroke Pines, when the 1:1 iPad Program was recently introduced.

When DKJA decided to implement iPad program for selected grades, specifically the 9^th and 10^th grades at Rosenblatt High School, we looked to other technology infused academic programs for inspiration. Archbishop McCarthy High School is an Apple certified school. Its principal, Richard Jean, implemented a precedent setting iPad program four years ago and set the standard for a successful implementation experience.  

A key component of his success was the McCarthy Tech Mentor team members: Irene Rodriguez, Monica Arango, and Melissa Criswisser.  They are both knowledgeable and generous with their technology-focused pedagogical practices.  McCarthy High School hosts teachers and administrators from other schools, providing them with the opportunity to attend training sessions and school visitations. These shared experiences facilitate the understanding of educational technology opportunities and programs. This year, DKJA sent two administrators and two teachers to experience this day of immersion in a successful iPad program at McCarthy.  DKJA sought the guidance and assistance of the successful McCarthy program.  

We were excited and impressed by what we saw happening at McCarthy. Students shared, with pride, their digital portfolios using the Notability app on their iPads.  The level of professionalism and willingness to collaborate was both touching and exciting.

In a generous act of kindness, McCarthy Principal Jean loaned the entire faculty at Rosenblatt HS iPads in order for them to begin their digital experience prior to and during the summer months.  The Rosenblatt HS faculty was invited to McCarthy for a fabulous Technology Professional Development “fieldtrip,” which provided members a personal experience with the McCarthy program.  The McCarthy Tech Mentors ran the training and followed up the training with a session hosted at DKJA. The Tech Mentors meet each faculty member at their current technology level, then expertly raise their skills, and inspire the person to do more. It’s gratifying to see educators from both schools working together with such dedication to their craft.

Amanda Brooke is the Technology Integrator at Claire and Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School at DKJA and teachesAP Psychology/ World History I & II.

She is the DKJA Program Director for the ADL and was instrumental in initiatives that enabled DKJA to earn the designation as a NO PLACE FOR HATE school.