Unsung Heroes: DCS Technology Team
Davidson County Schools technology team has made sure the learning hasn’t stopped during the pandemic. {Contributed photo}
In March 2020, every public school system across North Carolina was rowing in the same boat. With COVID-19 cases increasing at a rapid pace, Governor Roy Cooper decided to close all public schools for two weeks.
For many departments charged with overseeing the transition, they were thrust into a world of uncertainty. The technology department at Davidson County Schools was no exception.
Commencing to confront the issue, Director of Technology Keith Koonts and his nine-member team began working vigorously to shift their priorities in a short amount of time. After Cooper’s announcement, they got to work.
Koonts explained the process. “The technology team began preparing 18,000 Chromebooks for students to take home for remote learning. The Chromebooks had to be updated and bagged. Hotspots for students without Internet connectivity had to be configured and distributed. Digital applications had to be tested to ensure that students could access them remotely. Login credentials for each student had to be verified to allow access to all digital remote lessons. Email addresses had to be assigned and shared with students so teachers could communicate remotely.”
Soon, two weeks turned into the remainder of the 2020 school year being conducted virtually. When the 2020-21 school year began, schools remained in the same state in which they closed: open online … only. The technology team adjusted.
“They worked many hours to assure that the students had everything they needed to work remotely from home. A hotline was made available until 8 p.m. weekdays to help transition students to remote learning from home. Staff members agreed to work extra hours daily to make this option available. The technology department adjusted well to the new assignments that were additional to their normal duties, stepping up to make remote learning for our students possible.”
As is the case with most shifts, there were challenges. Koonts said initially there was some difficulty connecting devices to home networks. Family members who weren’t familiar with laptops and the Internet also encountered hurdles. Staff assisted them in working through these hiccups. Additionally, Koonts noted that everyone involved had to adjust to remote learning.
To continue the process of teaching, teachers utilized Zoom and Google Meet for classroom instruction. Students submitted assignments through Canvas and Google Classroom. Koonts noted that one of the benefits of online instruction included the fact that teachers and students learned how to use the laptops and digital tools that will enhance the classroom experience upon return to a classroom setting.
During the height of virtual learning, Koonts praised staffers who worked diligently to assist whoever needed help. “Technicians worked with teachers and staff members daily making sure all laptops and network connections worked properly. Chromebooks that were not functioning for students at home had to be brought back to the schools and repaired. Teachers created digital assignments daily with recorded videos or live videos teaching all subjects for students to work remotely. All subjects were taught every day.”
On August 16, DCS returned to in-person classroom instruction with virtual learning options for those who opted to go that route. Koonts and his team were prepared as they’ve already weathered the largest storm they’ve encountered.
“The technology staff never complained during the process and worked together as a team to make the best of a difficult situation. I have a great staff that is totally engaged in providing technical support for Davidson County Schools daily. Davidson County Schools administrators and school board members have always supported me and my staff. That truly makes the difference. Nothing will ever replace face-to-face learning for most students, and while some students didn’t do well with remote learning, there were many students who excelled and continued to learn in a year when being present in person was not an option. I feel like the school district grew in the digital learning realm and using digital tools will enhance the classroom experience significantly.”
