Technology Program Administrator

Technology Program Administrator: H.E. McCracken Middle School

Krisann Johnson
Georgia Southern

Technology Program Administrator

Executive Summary
This report provides data and evaluation of the current state of H.E. McCracken Middle School
Media Center, located in the Beaufort County School District. Methods of collecting data and
evaluations include were interviews, discussions, research and observations. A rubric for
observation was used during observations. See appendix for descriptions. After collecting and
reviewing data, it became new knowledge that the Media Center is not working efficiently
towards full expectations in areas of goals, technology, and personnel support. My
recommendation to solve the personnel support is to hire a full-time technology technician that
can work solely on tablet issues. For the Media Centers goals, I would recommend that a third
goal would be made that expresses the need to technology support. Also, the goals need to
include specific dates to help achieve the specific target goals. My last recommendation is to
create a building-level Media Center advisory committee. The report also investigates the fact
that the evaluation conducted has limitations.
Organizational Chart
This chart was created from the information collected through interviews, discussions and
observations at H.E. McCracken Middle Schools Media Center. Interviews and discussions were
conducted with the schools Media Specialist and Technology Technician.

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Methods
Information collected for the evaluation of H.E. McCrackens Middle Schools Media Center
was interviews, discussions, research and observations. Interviews and discussions were
conducted with the Media Specialist (Appendix A), Bookkeeper (Appendix B), and staff that
have been working at the school over 3 years. Documents collected for the evaluation were
Beaufort County School District Library Media Specialists Policies and Procedures Manual
(Appendix C), Media Specialist Long Range Plan (Appendix D), Beaufort County School
Districts website (Appendix H), and Media Center October Calendar (Appendix E). A checklist
for observation was used during observations (Appendix F). A rubric for evaluation was used to
determine the needs of the Media Center (Appendix G). See appendix for descriptions.
Center Context and Goals
Mission

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H.E. McCracken Middle Schools mission is a part of Beaufort County School Districts mission.
The mission of BCSD media centers is to ensure students and staff are effective users of ideas
and information and to promote activities which encourage life-long reading and learning skills.
Goal
Goals of the Beaufort County School District Library Media Centers:

To provide materials and services appropriate to the curriculum of the school.

To provide materials and services that meet the information and recreational library needs

of the learning community.

To provide opportunities for collaboration between the library media specialist and

classroom teachers to incorporate information literacy into instruction.

To provide age and developmentally appropriate resources in all formats to meet the

information needs of varied users.

To promote information and media literacy.
To implement the integration of the library media program into the curriculum through
collaboration among all members.

Goals of H.E. McCracken Middle Schools Media Center are as follow:

Goal 1: The HEMMS media center staff will attempt to increase the amount of independent
reading for all students in grades eight and nine by creating an environment that promotes books
and literacy.
Objective 1: Create library displays and bulletin boards promoting high interest books and book
series.
Objective 2: Continue to research the latest young adult titles and update the library collection
with high interest books.

Technology Program Administrator

Objective 3: Provide additional copies of materials that are checked out most often.
Objective 4: Show book trailers or give book talks to teachers and students.
Objective 5: Promote the BCSD virtual library to students.
Goal 2: In an effort to promote safe, ethical, and effective use of technology, the media specialist
will collaborate with teachers to prepare and present lessons that help our students master
information literacy, inquiry, and research skills.
The following Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning will be utilize in pursuing
this goal:
Information Literacy:
Standard 3- The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively.
Independent Learning:
Standard 6- The student who is an independent learner is information literate and strives for
excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation.
Social Responsibility:
Standard 7- The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is
information literate and recognizes the importance of information to a democratic society.
Standard 8- The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is
information literate and practices ethical behavior in regard to information and information
technology.

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Select age appropriate materials that support the schools curriculum and standards are

that promote information literacy.

Use information generated within Destiny, the automated library system, to continuously

maintain and weed the collection.

Provide a diverse collection of fiction, non-fiction, periodicals, journals, and magazines

that reflect individual reading preferences.

Provide and encourage the use of state supported online resources such as SC Discuss
and SCETV as well as local online resources such as the online newspapers Bluffton

Today and The Island Packet.

Adhere to all additional policies of program administration as describe in the BCSD
Media Services Policy Manual.

History
For the past 5 years, Beaufort County School District has paved a way for all schools to be 1:1
technology. All schools Media Center is activity involved in this process. Based on interviews
with current certified staff who have worked at H.E. McCracken Middle School for over 3 years,
the Media Centers history is displayed as followed. Media Center and schools technology
updates were not tracked prior to the dates below.
2010- Beaufort County School District introduced county wide virtual library for student access.
2010- Media Center created student chess and book clubs.
2010- Beaufort County School District required all school to implement a summer reading
programs.
2011- Media Center designed and presented book author door mural.
2011- Media Center bought an electronic poster maker.

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2012- Beaufort County School District gave all core teachers classroom-set IPads. Media Center
was in charge of repairs and collections of IPads.
2013- Beaufort County School District gave all middle school students an individual IPad.
Tablets were given and collected during the school day. Media Center was in charge of repairs
and collects of IPads.
2013- Media Center began collection of new materials and weeded through outdated books.
2014- Beaufort County School District gave all middle and high school students an individual
Dell Tablet. Tablets were given to students at the beginning of the school year and collected at
the end. Students are allowed to take home tablets. Media Center was in charge of repairs and
collects of Dell Tablets.
2014- Media Center created a School Media Production crew. Students delivered daily
announcements and video tutorials.
2014- Media Center upgraded rooms presentation hardware.
2015- Beaufort County School District gave all middle school students an updated individual
Dell Tablet. Tablets were given to students at the beginning of the school year and collected at
the end. Students are allowed to take home tablets. Media Center was in charge of repairs and
collects of Dell Tablets.
2015- Media Center prepared for next years return to a 6-8 grade school. Materials have been
added for those grade levels and weeded some the high school books.
Personnel

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H.E. McCracken Middle School Media Centers current staff positions are as followed:
Media Specialist: Position role is to administer an integrated information technology program
that provides library, media, and technology resources in support of the instructional program of
the school. He/she reports to building administrator and director of educational technology.
He/she supervises media specialist assistant (paraprofessional), parent and student volunteers.
Media Specialist Assistant: Position role is to perform general and specialized paraprofessional
duties in the schools media center in conformance with established procedures. He/she reports to
schools media center specialist. He/she supervises parents and student volunteers.
Computer Technician: Position role is to perform general and specialized computer repairs for
students and teachers in the schools media center in conformance with established procedures.
He/she reports to schools administration and districts technology director. He/she supervises
students and teachers.
Other stakeholders include certified and classified staff at H.E. McCrackens Middle School.
This includes the following: administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals and office staff.
Current Status of the Center
Presently, H.E. McCracken Middle Schools Media Center is an established media and
technology center in Beaufort County School District. The Media Center is operated by a full
time Media Specialist, Assistant Media Specialist, and a part-time Technology Technician.
Budget
Origination of Funds
Beaufort County School District
H.E. McCracken Middle Schools

Amount
$17,550
$25 from each

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Technology Funding

student

The accurate amount of funding that H.E. McCracken Middle School Media Center receives
from the district is $17,550. The school principal divided the funds for the Media Center
designating $11,000 for books and $6,550 for technology and room upgrades. In order to receive
a Dell Tablet, each student must pay a $25 technology fee. These funds are used for Dell Tablet
repairs. Technology scholarships are given to students that are unable to pay the fee.
Center Activities

Teaching of Proper Research- To the audience of students completing an ELA course, the
Media Specialist demonstrates the proper way to research and select resources. All

activities are conducted in the Media Center.

Teaching of Policies, Plagiarism and Copyright Laws- To the audience of students, the
Media Specialist demonstrates the proper way to research and avoid plagiarism. All

activities are conducted in the Media Center.

Supervising Media Centers Computer Lab- To the audience of the students, the Media

Specialist manages students use of computers in the Media Center.

Overseeing Online Testing- To the audience of students completing PSAT, ACT Inspire,
EOCs and Pass exams, the Media Specialist supervises the technology being used.

Activities occur throughout the schools campus.

Supervises 1:1 Dell Tablet Devices- To the audience of teachers and students, the Media
Specialist supervises repairs, issues and tablet documentations for the entire school.

Activity occurs in the Media Center.

Providing Basic Technology Support- To the audience of administrators and teachers, the
Media Specialist aids in technology issues or support.

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Providing Professional Development- To the audience of administrators and teachers, the

Media Specialist provides learning opportunities when needed. These opportunities range
from assistance with Promethean Board to use Web 2.0 tools in the classroom. All

professional development occurs on campus.

Teaching the Use of DISCUS- To the audience of teachers and students, the Media
Specialist provides learning opportunities to teach the proper of use DISCUS, a virtual
library. All activities are conducted in the Media Center or in individual classrooms.

Evaluation
After reviewing H.E. McCracken Middle School Media Centers documentations and completing
observations, I assessed whether or not the center is fulfilling its mission and operating
efficiently. I evaluated these aspects based upon the following rubric.
Rubric

Goals

6 points

4 points

2 points

Goals are
realistic, broad,
and measurable.
They clearly
address the
needs for
teaching and
learning. Goals
addressed the
following
questions:
Who? What? By
when? How
much?

Goals are mostly

equipment based,
and/or are broad
and measurable
but are not
completely clear.

Goals are
absent or
seemed to be
only
equipment
based, and/or
are not
measurable or
completely
clear.

Grade: 4 points
Explanation:
H.E. McCracken
Middle Schools LongRange Plan provides
overall goals that are
broad, measurable and
addresses the needs.
Goals do not provide
strategies, benchmarks,
evaluation method,
funding source/
amounts and person
responsible. The plan

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did not provide specific

by when dates for
achieving goals.
Mission/
Vision

Technology

The
mission/vision
is all-inclusive
dealing with
learning
outcomes, not
just technology
outcomes. The
statement
recognizes the
learning process
skills and
values.

The
mission/vision
focuses on the
technology
outcomes and
avoids the
learning outcome
issues.

Provides clear
Provides
and strong
overview of the
description of
current and future
how technology use of technology
is currently used in enhancing the
in learning
teaching-learning
environment
process for
and ways it will
students. Little
be used to
detail on how
achieve
technology will
instructional
be integrated into
outcomes;
learning and
describes how
curriculum.
technology will
enhance
curriculum and
teaching and
learning
strategies; is
tightly coupled
to other reform
efforts;
indicates what
students will do.

There is no
indication of
an articulated
mission or
vision in this
technology
Media Center.

Grade: 6 points
Explanation: H.E.
McCracken Middle
Schools Long-Range
Plan provides the
mission that deals with
the learning outcomes,
not just technology
outcomes. The
statement recognizes
skills that ensure
students and staff are
effective users of ideas
and information.

Technology
and Learning
statement
absent or
provides
incomplete
information
on the current
use or future
role of
technology in
the
technology
center and
how it will
enhance
learning.

Grade: 4 points
Explanation:
Beaufort County School
District Library Media
Specialists Policies and
Procedures Manual
provide evaluation
methods along with the
terms of collecting the
data. Evaluation
methods determine the
capabilities of the
services and hardware.
There was little detail of
how technology will be
integrated into learning
and curriculum.

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Personnel

Budget

Ongoing

Additional
Support personnel Media Center
support
are employed in
staff is not
personnel are areas of the Media
available
employed in
Center program.
throughout
areas of the
Media Center
the
Media Center
staff is somewhat instructional
program. Media
available
day to assist
Center staff is
throughout the
teachers and
always available instructional day
students.
throughout the
to assist teachers
instructional
and students.
day to assist
teachers and
students. All
Media Center
staff is fulltime.

Grade: 4 points
Explanation: Through
observations and
interviews, data was
collected presenting
H.E. McCracken
Middle School Media
Centers staff is
somewhat available
throughout the
instructional day to
assist teachers and
students.

A budget for
purchasing
resources with
specifications
and
requirements is
explicitly stated
and explained in
detail including,
but not limited
to: funds
allocated for
staff
development,
tech support,
computers,
printers, LCD
projectors,
tablets/iPADS,
hardware/softwa
re, internet
access, and
misc. expenses.

A budget for
purchasing
resources with
specifications and
requirements is
vaguely stated
including funds
allocated for staff
development, tech
support,
computers,
printers,
projectors,
tablets/iPADS,
hardware/softwar
e, internet access,
and misc.
expenses.

A budget for
purchasing
resources is
not
nonexistent
nor does it
include any
evidence of
funds
allocated for
staff
development,
tech support,
computers,
printers, LCD
projectors,
tablets/iPADS
,
hardware/soft
ware, internet
access, or
misc.
expenses.

Grade: 4 points
Explanation: Through
an interview, data was
collected presenting
H.E. McCracken
Middle School Media
Centers budget for
purchasing and
requirements is vaguely
stated including funds.
It

An effective

An ongoing

There is little

Grade: 6 points

12

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Evaluation

ongoing
evaluation is
evident and
obliges planners
to reconsider
and adapt
objectives,
priorities, and
strategies as
implementation
proceeds as well
as facilitate
making changes
if certain
aspects of the
plan are not
working.

evaluation is
evident and
obliges planners
to reconsider and
adapt objectives,
priorities, and
strategies as
implementation
proceeds but
facilitates making
very few, if any
changes if certain
aspects of the plan
are not working.

to no
evidence of
an effective
ongoing
evaluation
where
planners are
obliged to
reconsider
and adapt
objectives,
priorities, and
strategies as
implementati
on proceeds.

13

Explanation: Beaufort
County School District
Library Media
Specialists Policies and
Procedures Manual
does a great job of
providing an ongoing
evaluation. While there
is not a specific section
labeled Ongoing
Evaluation, it is evident
as one reads through the
plan.

Recommendations

Goals

H.E. McCracken Middle School Media Center

needs to include specific dates to help achieve
the specific target goals. This will allow the
goals for the plan to be thorough and very clear
for the readers and evaluators of the plan.

Technology

H.E. McCracken Middle School Media Center

needs to provide evaluation methods along with
the terms of collecting the data. Evaluation
methods need to determine the capabilities of
the services and hardware. Also, it should detail
of how technology will be integrated into
learning and curriculum.

Personnel

H.E. McCracken Middle School Media Center

needs to have staff available throughout the
instructional day to assist teachers and students.
To be more specific, the Technology Technician
needs to be a full-time staff member.

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Budget

14

H.E. McCracken Middle School Media Center

incorporates costs with the funding amount and
source. However, it is not specifically stated so
it is recommended that they include
specifications in order to ensure clarity within
the budget section of the plan.

Evaluation Summary
H.E. McCracken Middle School Media Center has a variety of services to offer administrators,
teachers, and students. After collecting and reviewing data, it became new knowledge that the
Media Center is not working efficiently towards full expectations in areas of goals, technology,
and personnel support. There are several reasons why I believe this to be true.
After conducting observations and interview with the Media Specialist, I determined the majority
of the technology responsibilities are managed in the Media Center. Because of these duties,
majority of the Media Centers staff works solely on technology issues and resources. H.E.
McCracken Middle School and 1:1 technology device school, therefore technology issues occur
throughout the day. The current technology technician is only hired for part time services,
making the media specialist spend excessive time on students tablet issues. My recommendation
to solve this issue is to hire a full-time technology technician that can work solely on tablet
issues. This would relieve duties from the Media Specialist allowing time spent on literacy and
research resources.
In the H.E. McCracken Middle School Media Center goals located in the Long-Range Plan, it
focus on the increasing the literacy and research skills of students. Like mention before,
technology is a huge part of the Media Center. It seems that the technology elements are missing

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from the centers goals. I would recommend that a third goal would be made that expresses the
need to technology support. Also, the goals need to include specific dates to help achieve the
specific target goals. This will allow the goals for the plan to be thorough and very clear for the
readers and evaluators of the plan.
In the Beaufort County School District Library Media Specialists Policies and Procedures
Manual, it focuses on creating a library advisory committee. Committee members would support
the Media Centers staff to work collegially to enhance the program. At H.E. McCracken Middle
School, this committee is absent. I believe that it would create a superior environment for
students and staff. It would also permit regular needs assessments to determine what additional
resources are needed.
As you can see, there are several reasons why I believe that H.E. McCracken Middle School
Media Center is not working efficiently. For each of the reasons, I provided recommendations. It
is anticipated that these recommendations would improve the current state of the Media Center.
Appendix
Appendix A
Interview with the Media Specialist:
Name:________________________________________ Date:___________________________
Location:__________________________________ Subject:_____________________________
Questions
1. Describe the history of the Media Center.
2. What is the mission of the Media Center?
3. What are the goals of the Media Center?
4. Who are the stakeholders?
5. What is the current status of the center?
6. What are the challenges of the Media Center?
7. What is your job title?
8. What are your responsibilities in this position?

Data Collected

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9. What are the job titles of the other staff members and describe their
responsibilities?
10. Describe the resources that the Media Center provides.

Appendix B
Interview with the Bookkeeper:
Name:________________________________________ Date:___________________________
Location:__________________________________ Subject:_____________________________
Questions
Data Collected
1. What is the current budget for the Media Center provided by the
school district?
2. Does the school contribute to the media center budget?
3. Who is in charge of allocating the funds?
4. Is there any fundraising money available to the Media Center?

Appendix C
Elkins. B., Haist, L., Kelley, M., Lepionka, L., McKnight-Zeigler, C., Richardson, L., Roseneau,
M. (2008). Beaufort County School District Library Media Specialists Policies and
Procedures Manual. Retrieved from
http://www.beaufort.k12.sc.us/files/_AGH6L_/44a7daaa21e36bb83745a49013852ec4/B
CSD_POL_PROC_MANUAL_2008.pdf
The purpose of this policies and procedures manual is to provide a guide for the operation of the
Beaufort County School District (BCSD) school library media center programs. This manual was
created in 2008 and will be revised as necessary.

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Appendix D
Exley, K. (2014). H.E. McCracken Middle School Media Center Long-Range Plan. Beaufort:
Beaufort County School District.
The purpose of the document is to addresses the mission and goals of H.E. McCracken Middle
Schools Media Center. This document was created by the Media Specialist in reference to the
2015-2016 school years.
Appendix E
Media Center Calendar
The purpose of the calendar is to notify assignments and activities of H.E. McCracken Middle
School Media Center. Activities and assignments consist of dates and descriptions.
Appendix F
Observation Checklist
1
Literacy skills are being promoted by media center staff
2
Students are encouraged by the staff to be responsible digital citizens
3
Copy Right laws are explained and enforced by the staff
4
Media Center resources are current
5
Technology updates and repairs are current
6
Technology is being used by students in a meaningful way
7
Student access to websites is monitored by staff
8
Students use the computer lab
9
Teachers have access to appropriate technology resources
10
Instructional Technology support is provided for teachers
Appendix G
Evaluation Rubric

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6 points

4 points

2 points

Goals

Goals are realistic,

broad, and measurable.
They clearly address
the needs for teaching
and learning. Goals
addressed the
following questions:
Who? What? By when?
How much?

Goals are mostly

equipment based, and/or
are broad and measurable
but are not completely
clear.

Goals are absent or

seemed to be only
equipment based,
and/or are not
measurable or
completely clear.

Mission/ Vision

The mission/vision is
all-inclusive dealing
with learning
outcomes, not just
technology outcomes.
The statement
recognizes the learning
process skills and
values.

The mission/vision
focuses on the technology
outcomes and avoids the
learning outcome issues.

There is no
indication of an
articulated mission
or vision in this
technology Media
Center.

Technology

Provides clear and

strong description of
how technology is
currently used in
learning environment
and ways it will be
used to achieve
instructional outcomes;
describes how
technology will
enhance curriculum
and teaching and
learning strategies; is
tightly coupled to other
reform efforts;
indicates what students
will do.

Provides overview of the

current and future use of
technology in enhancing
the teaching-learning
process for students.
Little detail on how
technology will be
integrated into learning
and curriculum.

Technology and
Learning statement
absent or provides
incomplete
information on the
current use or future
role of technology
in the technology
center and how it
will enhance
learning.

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Personnel

Additional support
personnel are
employed in areas of
the Media Center
program. Media Center
staff is always
available throughout
the instructional day to
assist teachers and
students. All Media
Center staff is fulltime.

Support personnel are

employed in areas of the
Media Center program.
Media Center staff is
somewhat available
throughout the
instructional day to assist
teachers and students.

Media Center staff

is not available
throughout the
instructional day to
assist teachers and
students.

Budget

A budget for
purchasing resources
with specifications and
requirements is
explicitly stated and
explained in detail
including, but not
limited to: funds
allocated for staff
development, tech
support, computers,
printers, LCD
projectors,
tablets/iPADS,
hardware/software,
internet access, and
misc. expenses.

A budget for purchasing

resources with
specifications and
requirements is vaguely
stated including funds
allocated for staff
development, tech
support, computers,
printers, projectors,
tablets/iPADS,
hardware/software,
internet access, and misc.
expenses.

A budget for
purchasing
resources is not
nonexistent nor
does it include any
evidence of funds
allocated for staff
development, tech
support, computers,
printers, LCD
projectors,
tablets/iPADS,
hardware/software,
internet access, or
misc. expenses.

Ongoing
Evaluation

An effective ongoing
evaluation is evident
and obliges planners to
reconsider and adapt
objectives, priorities,
and strategies as
implementation
proceeds as well as
facilitate making
changes if certain
aspects of the plan are

An ongoing evaluation is
evident and obliges
planners to reconsider and
adapt objectives,
priorities, and strategies
as implementation
proceeds but facilitates
making very few, if any
changes if certain aspects
of the plan are not
working.

There is little to no
evidence of an
effective ongoing
evaluation where
planners are obliged
to reconsider and
adapt objectives,
priorities, and
strategies as
implementation
proceeds.

19

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not working.

Appendix H
Beaufort County District. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.beaufort.k12.sc.us/pages/BCSD
Beaufort County School District is committed to hiring the best educators and staff. This website
provides details of duties of certified and classified hired staff.