10/30/2008
North Slope Borough Educator Heralded as National "Leader of the Year"
GCI SchoolAccess congratulates Shana Blankenship for helping implement one of the most ambitious 1:1 computing initiatives in the country
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Barrow resident Shana Blankenship, director of instructional support at North Slope Borough School District, received the top education technology honor at an awards banquet in Seattle last night. Recognized for her efforts in helping implement one of the most ambitious 1:1 computing initiatives in the country, Shana was named the 2008 Leader of the Year by Technology & Learning, a leading national education technology publication.
Shana was one of four national finalists flown to Seattle to be feted for their achievements, an event at which the panel of judges revealed they had selected her as the top overall winner. The editorial director and lead judge said with a record number of nominations this year, they had to tighten their rubric and focus heavily on the educator's role in the community and the sustainability of his or her program.
In Shana's case, her three-years-and-counting program involved equipping every student in fifth through 12th grade with a laptop computer. The idea was initially introduced by the school board, comprised mainly of Inupiaq elders, who sought to find a way to engage their youth in the Western world from which they were so far removed and provide them, for the first time ever, with digital equality.
"I can't emphasize enough the bravery that our school board had then and continues to have now," said Shana. "They faced an uphill battle and a significant amount of skepticism – if not downright resistance – when they first proposed 1:1. But that didn't stop them for an instant. They recognized the urgency and importance of their task, and they set out determinedly to meet their goals."
The board and administrators, Shana among them, were challenged with how to blend the centuries-old Inupiaq traditions with modern technology; how to retain the cultural past while embracing the technological future.
Through 1:1 and a valued partnership with GCI SchoolAccess, they've done just that. Inupiaq culture is now an integral part of the curriculum and educational standards are developed to more closely match the native environment. The generations now have a common platform through which to engage each other. Kids have taken a renewed interest in being Inupiaq and the elders are curious about this new technology.
"It's the whale and the supercomputer," Shana aptly said. "It's culture and technology meeting in a synergistic way. The culture lives through an amazing set of technological tools called iLife."
Beyond the cultural restoration, Shana's program has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of student tardies and an increase in graduation rates. Additionally, students gain important social, emotional and leadership skills, and learn and display remarkable technological acumen.
"Our kids are dubbed 'the tidal wave,'" she said, "because we simply can't keep up with them."
About GCI SchoolAccess GCI is the largest Alaska-based and -operated integrated telecommunication provider. A pioneer in bundled services, GCI provides local, wireless, and long distance telephone, cable television, Internet and data communication services. More information about the company can be found at www.gci.com. SchoolAccess is a suite of services designed to advance the educational opportunities of K-12 students. Designed by both experienced technologists and veteran educators, SchoolAccess provides services and features geared specifically with teachers, administrators and students in mind. More information on GCI SchoolAccess products and services can be found at www.schoolaccess.net.
