 NC Superintendent Mark Johnson Opens Home Base Symposium
Citing innovation as a “game changer” for public education
in North Carolina, State Superintendent Mark Johnson told the more than 1,000
attendees at the first day of the Home Base Symposium on Wednesday that their
work is key to the state’s efforts to improve outcomes for all students.
“The kind of innovation you all are working on is going to
make the difference,” Johnson said.
Under his leadership of the Department of Public
Instruction, he said, the agency will rank innovation alongside “urgency” and
“ownership” as guiding principles in its role to better support the state’s
schools, educators and students.
“We want to be your people in Raleigh,” he said, “not
telling you what to do. We want to support what you do.”
Ownership, Johnson said, must include the good and the bad.
He acknowledged the past challenges that came with the roll out of Home Base as
one example.
“I know there’s history with Home Base and PowerSchool,” he
said. “We need to own what the problems are.”
Yet, he said he believes that the effective use of
technology holds real promise to help transform teaching and learning to the
benefit of more students.
“I have seen how technology can be a valuable tool for
teachers,” Johnson said. “We still need great teaching talent. But technology
is a tool that can help engage students.”
Technology can help accelerate gains for students who start
school two or three years behind, he said, and through a “parent portal,” help
forge more productive communications between teachers and parents.
“This is the game changer in education,” he said. “I believe
it can bridge the gap and provide every student with the opportunity to work
hard and succeed.”
Johnson concluded his remarks by urging conference attendees
to share their ideas about the Home Base tools. “Tell us what works, and tell
us what doesn’t.”
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