Tech Excellence

Jurupa Unified’s award-winning technology department has added to the trophy case.

The district’s Education-Information Technology team has received a Schools of TechXcellence award for Digital Gateway, the 4-year-old program that assigns each student in grades 2nd through 12th a Chromebook for 365/24/7 learning. JUSD was 1 of 18 districts and schools nationwide to earn the TechXcellence award in December 2018. The annual honor, conferred by District Administration magazine and sponsored by HP and Intel, recognizes innovative, effective, replicable education technology initiatives throughout the United States.

“Receiving the TechXcellence award is significant for the entire Jurupa community,” said Paula Ford, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. “Digital Gateway was made possible through the community’s support of Measure EE, which provides the network infrastructure and student devices. And the continuing success of the program is the result of hard work by JUSD teachers, staff, administrators, and the district technology team.  A well-deserved recognition!”

The Chromebooks provide inclusive access to current technology, kindle innovation by teachers and staff, and open a digital world of opportunity to every student. Since JUSD installed the program in 2015, test scores and graduation rates are up, dropout rates are down, and the district has added 10 computer science courses. Meanwhile, in Jurupa Unified’s 2018 LCAP parent survey, 88% of parents said the Chromebooks have improved their child’s technology skills.

The program has inspired learning in unexpected ways as well.  In response to a question for the TechXcellence award, JUSD educators explained:

“One lesson we learned was how Digital Gateway inspired students in ways we didn't expect. In one success story, the program transformed the academic experience of a second-grader with a significant – and at the time, unidentified – learning disability. This student struggled to recite the alphabet, yet knew more about animals than most adults do. By using his JUSD Chromebook and the voice-typing tool in Google Docs, he was able to get his thoughts down on ‘paper.’ Once his classmates saw what he could do, they rallied around him and helped correct any mistakes that Google made. Not only did empowering the student change how other students saw him, but it changed the way the student viewed himself: While he still struggled with reading and writing, the use of Chromebook technology helped him realize that he had many other strengths in life – and much to contribute to his class, school and community.”

Indeed, the program reflects the district’s emphasis on infusing curriculum with principles of modern neuroscience; nurturing grit, resiliency and a growth mind-set in students; and helping every student learn without limits for a lifetime.

Digital Gateway also was named a 2018 Model of Academic Excellence and Innovation by the Riverside County Office of Education, and has been recognized twice in the past two years by the nonprofit Common Sense Media for teaching every Jurupa student to stay safe, smart and respectful online.

“Chromebooks improve every aspect of teaching and learning,” said Josh Lewis, Director of Education-Information Technology. “Teachers can provide unique learning experiences tailored to each student’s individual learning style. Students can be more creative in demonstrating their learning by creating video presentations, recording podcasts or using other digital tools. The devices have also increased teacher and student discourse, with feedback provided in real time.”

​The latest award for TechXcellence highlights those results. According to District Administration magazine, “December 2018 honorees were selected by the program’s judges from numerous nominations, and reflect programs that demonstrate effective and replicable success.” 

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