Val Verde Unified School District Host Google Symposium

Approximately 80 administrators from the Southern California area gathered for a Google for Education Symposium, Thursday, Oct. 8, at Rancho Verde High School. The event was designed to bring education leaders from our area together to showcase how technology can increase student engagement, help students achieve in school and prepare students for future careers. Angela Mecca and Cassi Caputo from the Google Education Team kicked off the event with Google’s vision for education. Val Verde Unified School District’s Assistant Superintendent of Education Services, Michael McCormick, along with Val Verde Unified School District’s Director of Information Technology, Matt Penner, and Teacher on Special Assignment, Phil Harding presented the symposium keynote. Val Verde Unified School District clearly impressed the attendees. Comments such as, “They are doing such amazing things; We need to send a team over to Val Verde to see what is going on so we can replicate this in our District; This is an awesome day,” were heard throughout the presentation. The afternoon included visits to the following school sites: Avalon Elementary School, Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School, Columbia Elementary School, Vista Verde Middle School, and Rancho Verde High School. Attendees were amazed at the things the teachers and students are doing with regard to instruction and technology. Once back at Rancho Verde High School for the afternoon keynote, attendees shared their experiences about school visits. The event concluded with Dennis Large, Instruction Technology Director at RCOE delivering the afternoon keynote address.