Read more about the article TechSmart Initiative for Student Success Final Impact Report Released

TechSmart Initiative for Student Success Final Impact Report Released

The Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission (MHCRC) officially wrapped up the TechSmart Initiative for Student Success in school year 2022/2023 after investing nearly $16 million over eight years to school districts in Multnomah County including: Centennial, David Douglas, Gresham Barlow, Parkrose, Portland Public, and Reynolds School Districts. Read the Final Initiative Impact Report.

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Read more about the article Centennial School District Awarded TechSmart Grant
From left: MHCRC Program Manager, Julie Omelchuck; Director of Curriculum & Student Learning at Centennial School District, Angela Hubbs; MHCRC Commissioner, Sue Diciple; Centennial School District Superintendent, Paul Coakley.

Centennial School District Awarded TechSmart Grant

Centennial School District (CSD) has been awarded a MHCRC TechSmart Initiative grant of $1,043,495 to implement a four-year project using project-based learning instruction to develop a cohesive, technology-rich, integrated math and science curriculum for 7-9th grade students.  The project aims to address an identified need to improve student outcomes in math and science, close the achievement gaps between student groups, as well as increase math and science credit attainment in 9th grade.  The project will begin in the school year 2018-2019 with a small cohort of experienced teacher teams along with the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) coach.      

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Read more about the article First Annual TechSmart Shared Learning Event
An attendee describes the technology-related classroom management challenges teachers face.

First Annual TechSmart Shared Learning Event

On May 8, 2018,  principals and technology coaches from 5 school districts gathered together for the first TechSmart Initiative Shared Learning Event, co-hosted by the Mt Hood Cable Regulatory Commission (MHCRC) and Pacific Research and Evaluation (PRE).  The event celebrated the work of Multnomah County School Districts, recipients of TechSmart Initiative Grant funding, and invited attendees to gather and collaborate on learnings from each district’s TechSmart Grant project. Discussions focused on classroom management techniques, digital citizenship, teacher and student engagement strategies, and group and individual training techniques. The MHCRC TechSmart Initiative for Student Success was originally launched in 2014 with the goal…

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Read more about the article MHCRC Participates in Principal for Almost a Day Event at Grout Elementary School
A teacher at Grout Elementary demonstrating differentiated learning methods

MHCRC Participates in Principal for Almost a Day Event at Grout Elementary School

Julie Omelchuck, MHCRC Community Grants Program Director, visited Grout Elementary School, in participation of the October 27th All Hands Raised annual event, Principal for Almost a Day (PFAD). Grout Elementary School is a one of five Portland Public Schools engaged in the MHCRC TechSmart Initiative grant to the district focused on K-3rd grade reading and English language learners’ progress. Highlights from the visit included participating in a professional learning planning session with third grade teachers for the literacy adoption currently underway in the district and observing classrooms where teachers are using technology tools and rotation station strategies to differentiate learning…

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Read more about the article 2016 AcceleratED Conference

2016 AcceleratED Conference

MHCRC’s TechSmart Initiative Program Director Julie S. Omelchuck and TechSmart grantees from David Douglas, Parkrose and Portland Public school districts attended this year's AcceleratED conference in Portland. AcceleratED provides content workshops and opportunities for collaboration around successful strategies and practices for integrating technology into teaching and learning. Read an interview with keynote speaker Daisy Dyer Duerr, a rural educator and consultant from Arkansas. AcceleratED is sponsored by OETC, a nonprofit consortium of K-20 educational organizations designed to aggregate knowledge and expertise to support schools' integration of instructional technology in order to improve educational outcomes for all students.

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Read more about the article K-3rd Grade Literacy at PPS

K-3rd Grade Literacy at PPS

NEWS RELEASE: October 14, 2015 CONTACT: Julie S. Omelchuck, Community Grants Program Director, MHCRC 503-823-4188, julieo@mhcrc.org MHCRC COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM   |   WWW.MHCRC.ORG MHCRC TechSmart Initiative Invests $5 million in K-3rd Grade Literacy at Portland Public Schools The Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission (MHCRC) handed the Portland School Board and Superintendent Smith a check for over $5 million at the November 3 Board meeting to fund critical teacher supports towards creating technology-rich learning for K-3rd grade literacy. The grant was made available under the MHCRC’s TechSmart Initiative for Student Success. The TechSmart Initiative grant investment is laser focused on significantly increasing…

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Read more about the article MHCRC TechSmart Initiative Funds Technology-Rich Mathematics at Reynolds Schools

MHCRC TechSmart Initiative Funds Technology-Rich Mathematics at Reynolds Schools

NEWS RELEASE: October 14, 2015 CONTACT: Julie S. Omelchuck, Community Grants Program Director, MHCRC 503-823-4188, julieo@mhcrc.org Justin Birmingham, Grants & Partnerships Coordinator, Reynolds School District 503-661-7200, jbirmingham@rsd7.net  MHCRC COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM   |   WWW.MHCRC.ORG MHCRC TechSmart Initiative Funds Technology-Rich Mathematics at Reynolds Schools The Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission (MHCRC) handed the Reynolds School Board and Superintendent Florence a $1.3 million dollar check at the October Board meeting to fund critical teacher supports towards creating technology-rich learning for 6th-9th Grade mathematics. The grant was made available under the MHCRC’s TechSmart Initiative for Student Success. The TechSmart Initiative grant investment is laser…

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Read more about the article TechSmart Initiative Launch

TechSmart Initiative Launch

September 2014: The launch of the MHCRC TechSmart Initiative coincided with the grand opening celebration of the new Richard C. Alexander Early Learning Center at Earl Boyles. The MHCRC provided a nearly $1 million grant to David Douglas School District to fund critical teacher supports towards creating a technology-rich early learning program at Earl Boyles Elementary School and the new Early Learning Center. The MHCRC was recognized as a significant project partner at the grand opening celebration and was honored with a conference room and two observation rooms named after the MHCRC and the TechSmart initiative.

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