West Genesee Superintendent Chris Brown’s use of social networking sites like Blogger and Twitter to advance communication with students and parents has put him – and his district – ahead of the pack. His actions have now been recognized internationally.
Brown was presented with the “Making IT Happen” award at the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education Convention held Nov. 21 in Rochester. The award is given by both NYSCATE and the International Society for Technology in Education.
“While I accepted the award, I did so on behalf of all of the staff and community members who have embraced technology, been willing to try new things, and have never strayed from the mission of helping students to be successful,” wrote Brown in a Nov. 23 post to his blog, “Notes from the Superintendent.” “A special thanks goes out to all who have followed on Twitter and read this blog because that exposure has helped us to reach out globally and since [receiving the award on] Sunday I have been able to create some new networks of people beyond the confines of the state.”
Recipients of the awards are educators who, among other things, “apply available technology now; move forward and don’t look back; and see students as real people.”
In the 15 years that the award has been presented internationally, only 300 people have received this honor.
