Award Presented to John Q. Porter at EduStat Summit 2005 in New York

SchoolNet, Inc., and Public CIO Magazine have named John Q. Porter, deputy superintendent for Strategic Technologies and Accountability in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), as the 2005 School CIO (Chief Information Officer) of the Year.

The award was presented at the EduStat Summit 2005, a gathering of educational leaders from around the country held in New York City last week. The summit focuses on ways to use technology in instructional management and data to drive decision-making.

“John Porter's work in Montgomery County Public Schools reflects a new level of excellence in the delivery of technology to support improved instruction and accountability,” said award co-presenter Susan Patrick, director of the Office of Technology, U.S. Department of Education.

Porter was selected from among approximately 25 nominees, all of whom are school district chief technology information officers who have “implemented innovative technologies to help increase academic achievement and to improve education within their districts.”

“John Porter has been instrumental in helping Montgomery County Public Schools better harness the power of today's technology to improve instruction in our classrooms and system operations,” said Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of schools. “Our technology enhancements led by Mr. Porter have increased teacher productivity, given us better data to use in making instructional decisions, and improved the efficiency of the school system.”

As a cornerstone of innovations needed to support instruction and accountability, the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS) was launched in all 192 schools in 2001.The IQMS was designed to save money by evaluating program effectiveness, allowing for realignment of resources when indicated.

Providing teachers with new technologies, such as handheld computer technology for student assessment, has been a top priority to save time and improve instruction. Quality professional development also has been critical to the successful use of technology. All schools now have an assigned technology specialist whose primary role is to integrate technology to support school improvement plans and provide training.

Among other accomplishments, the refreshment cycle for computers has greatly improved during Porter's tenure. More than 45,000 computers now are refreshed every 4 years. The increased availability of reliable, up-to-date technology has had a significant impact on classroom instruction and business practices.