Over 80 educators and business leaders from throughout California met last month to participate in a collaborative initiative to improve instruction for students attending high schools, ROPs, adult schools, community colleges and four-year colleges in California.
Over the past three years, Bill Cullifer, Executive Director of the WebProfessionals.org organization has led this collaborative initiative that is effectively:
– Increasing awareness of the economic and social benefits of Information Technology (IT) and New Media education in California
– Demonstrating industry support for key initiatives and programs
– Developing new and strengthen existing relationships with stakeholders
– Connecting with other stakeholders in a collegiate environment
– Advancing the cause for IT and New Media education by supporting teachers and students in the classroom.
Resources provided at the conference are available on the IT Innovation Summit Website for those who were unable to attend.
Special recognition was given to the following individuals for their innovative contributions to improve education in California:
Todd Salesky, Coordinator, Global Information Technology Academy, Brea Olinda High School
Daniel Manson, Professor, Computer Information Systems, College of Business, Cal Poly Pomona
Dwight Osborne, Teacher, Val Tech Academy and Adjunct Professor, Coastline Community College
John Bjerke, West Region Area Academy Manager, Cisco Systems Network Academy Program
Nancy Jones, Professor, Coastline College and Coordinator of the Statewide Career Pathways project
John Gerits, Marketing Manager, Insight Investments’ Systems Exchange Division
The summit was made possible through the combined generosity and cooperation of the not for profit organization WebProfessionals.org and its WhyITNow.org initiative; LA County ROP, the California Department of Education, the Mid Pacific Information and Communication Technologies project and the California Chancellor’s Office Community College ICT Collaborative. Participating business partners included representatives from InsightInvestments, Cisco Academies, CompTIA and Monster. A lively, entertaining and informative luncheon key-note was provided by the extremely gifted Janine Warner.