Fort educators support funding for D3A2 program (03/14/07)

FORT RECOVERY - To Columbus and back again.

Fort Recovery Superintendent David Riel, Fort Recovery Elementary School principal Shelly Vaughn and third grade teacher Nicole Homan spoke before a subcommittee of the Ohio House of Representatives Tuesday, Riel reported at Tuesday's Fort Recovery Local School Board meeting.

The three talked to the subcommittee about the need for continued funding for the Data Driven Decisions for Academic Achievement (D3A2).

D3A2 is a grassroots effort through a initiative by the Ohio Department of Education which gives Ohio teachers access to learning resources that is aligned with ODOE standards. Fort school teachers first identify areas where students need more work. Then go to the D3A2 website and search for resources to use in class such as videos, worksheets, lesson plans and tutorials, Vaughn said this morning.

Before D3A2, teachers would identify student's needs and perform an Internet search and sift through thousands of items until they find learning tools that would work for the student or class.

"Even teachers who are not tech savvy can use (D3A2). All of that data is now at your fingertips," Vaughn said. She added that D3A2 should be ready to go next week for all Fort School District teachers.

Fort Recovery Schools were one of twelve schools in the state to receive the first version of D3A2.

Vaughn and Homan also spoke to the subcommittee in 2005 about the program.

"It is exciting that we could be a part of knowing that funding will happen. It's nice to have a hand in that," Vaughn said. "(D3A2) is effective and efficient."

Every teacher has a personal computer in their classroom to access D3A2.

Fort teachers already use the district's DASL program which keeps track of data on student achievement and can be used to identify areas where students need improvement.

Also Tuesday, board members approved the appointment of volunteer coaches Melissa Staker as volunteer junior high track coach and Bill Link, Theresa Lennartz, Ralph Evers and Renee Evers as volunteer softball coaches.[[In-content Ad]]