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HOPE ACADEMIES STAFF MEMBERS EARN CERTIFICATION FROM OHIO’S SCHOOLNET TECHNOLOGY TRAINING COURSE
More than 280 HOPE Academies administrators, teachers and other staff in Ohio successfully complete the computer training and certification program – enabling them to provide a “technology-rich learning environment” for students
AKRON, Ohio — October 1, 2002 — White Hat Management, LLC today announced that more than 280 staff members from its HOPE Academies have earned technology training certification under the SchoolNet training program offered by the State of Ohio. The Ohio SchoolNet certification program is highly regarded as the statewide standard for use of technology in education.
A total of 283 employees of eight HOPE Academies – five in Cleveland, two in Akron and one in Cincinnati – passed all four sections of the SchoolNet technology test. That represents an 87 percent success rate for all employees, including teachers, administrators and other staff such as custodial and cafeteria employees – even though many staff members had little formal training with computers or software previously.
HOPE Academies are tuition-free charter public schools that offer a high-quality alternative to traditional public schools. They serve school children in kindergarten through eighth grade. There are currently 10 HOPE Academies in Ohio – six in Cleveland, two in Akron and one each in Canton and Cincinnati. Two – one in Cleveland and one in Canton – of the 10 schools opened after the testing was completed and, therefore, did not participate in the SchoolNet program.
Among the other results of the testing were:
- More than 92 percent of administrators and teachers passed the test.
- More than 88 percent of instructional aides passed the test.
- In three of the schools – Lincoln Park and Cleveland West in Cleveland and Riverside Academy in Cincinnati – everyone who participated in the program passed the test for certification.
“We are very pleased to have had such a high success rate at all employee levels,” said Mark Thimmig, CEO and president of White Hat Ventures, LLC, parent company of the privately operated, Akron-based White Hat Management, one of the nation’s premier education management organizations. “This certification will have an immediate, direct impact on our already strong ability to offer students a technology-rich learning environment. The program has also significantly upgraded our people’s general computer skills, which will help them in other areas of their lives.”
The test covered subjects such as word processing, online research, manipulation of digital graphics, and use of the Microsoft Access and PowerPoint programs as educational tools. White Hat worked in partnership with public broadcasting stations in Cleveland and Cincinnati for testing.
White Hat demonstrated its support for technological literacy of its employees by employing qualified techno-educational teachers to help employees prepare for the test. The Company also paid a $500 bonus to teachers and staff who earned the certification to reward them for the many hours they spent on their own in preparing for the test. In addition, every teacher has a computer on his or her desk, and every HOPE Academy features computers in the classroom, a computer lab, educational software and full-time technology instructor.
Four categories of HOPE Academies employees participated in the certification
program:
- Principals, assistant principals and teachers (including classroom, art, music, physical education and special education).
- Instructional aides, who work with the classroom and special education teachers to ensure that students receive personalized attention.
- Staff members such as lunch room/kitchen workers, custodians and secretaries; and
- Staff specialists such as Title I and Title 6R staff members, and family advocates.
“Since the certification, I have helped create several PowerPoint presentations for use in both classes and assemblies,” said Martin Davis, a music teacher at the HOPE Academies West Campus in Cleveland. “This captures the attention of students and makes learning more interesting and enjoyable. Overall, SchoolNet certification has proven to be a valuable tool.”
“The Ohio SchoolNet training opened up a whole new world to my students and me where the Internet is concerned,” said Jackson Hederstrom, first grade teacher at the Brown Street Campus in Akron. “There are so many topics and sites available – right at our fingertips! One of my favorite applications was for studying Black History and the Underground Railroad. The cross-references that popped up were most helpful in further explaining the whole issue of slavery and the fight for freedom.”
About Ohio SchoolNet
The Ohio SchoolNet Commission is an independent state agency established
in 1997 to administer the state’s $600 million investment in technology
programs for public schools. The focus on learning combines the best of
traditional education with the rich resources and new opportunities that
technology provides. Strategic directions include: classroom infrastructure
including multimedia computers, video and networks to utilize technology;
professional development to help teachers use technology effectively;
effective and ongoing digital learning resources; and ongoing
assessment to show the impact of technology on learning.
About Charter Schools and HOPE Academies
Charter schools such as the HOPE Academies are independent public schools
made possible by a 1997 Ohio law. Like all other schools in Ohio, charter
schools are required to administer Ohio Proficiency tests, and adhere
to local and state health and safety codes.
Charter schools are becoming increasingly popular nationwide because education professionals, parents, and community or business leaders have flexibility in shaping the school, its curriculum, instruction, staffing, budget and internal organization. A defining aspect of charter schools is that they are attended by students whose families choose them and staffed by educators who choose to work in them specifically. They are typically separate and distinct from the local city boards of education.
HOPE Academies are community-based charter schools that serve school children in kindergarten through eighth grade. HOPE Academies are committed to helping parents and children overcome obstacles so the students can reach their academic potential. HOPE Academies approach this goal by providing a high-quality school of choice with curriculum specifically designed for their student population.
HOPE Academies are alternative community schools. When children come to a HOPE Academy, they find a safe, clean, positive, caring environment built on respect. No matter where a child begins, HOPE Academies do everything possible to raise his or her level of academic proficiency, by helping each child master the fundamentals of reading, writing and mathematics. At HOPE Academies, there is hope for every child.
About White Hat Management
The privately operated White Hat Management, LLC, founded in 1998 by Akron,
Ohio businessman and education activist David Brennan, is among the premier
full-service education management organizations in the United States dedicated
to educating K-12 students. The Company is the largest charter school
operator in Ohio. White Hat operates three types of schools: HOPE Academies;
LifeSkills Centers, which are alternative high schools; and OHDELA Academy,
which provides educational instruction, resources and support to parents
who educate their children at home. White Hat currently employs more than
700 people, including more than 600 teachers, staff and administrators
in the schools it operates. For more information, visit www.whitehatmgmt.com.