Instructional Design for Student & Teacher Empowerment
The schools of Watauga County represent a legacy of excellence in education and have been recognized for many decades for high levels of student achievement, engaged citizenry, and successful careers. Our commitment and resolve to sustain this excellence is demonstrated by the design and programming of our new campus & facility for WHS. Watauga High School 2010 provides us the opportunity to enrich the lives and future of our students—an opportunity we embrace as the skills for success, in the present and future, continue to change. The new designs of WHS are aligned to empower teaching and learning, and to provide every student the opportunity for excellence in these exponential times of the 21st Century. Excellence in education today is synonymous with our recognition and development of the individuality our youth bring to the classroom. We must promote student mastery in the skills of communication, creative & critical problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability, aspiring innovation, career development, preparation for higher learning, and in the research skills needed to acquire and share human capital. Our accomplishment of this vision requires us to continue in our application of best practices in classroom learning and to go beyond the walls of the classroom with project-based, problem-based, and performance-based experiences where students are engaged through interests, teamwork, and applied learning.
The instructional resources and design platform in our new facility provide students and teachers with the capacity to navigate the Global Learning Community as never before. From the presence of multiple technologies to the furniture selected for this facility, the Global Learning Community design (named Pioneer IT here at Watauga High) will allow students greater freedom in course selection through NCVPS, early-college courses, the pursuit of certifications and licensures for enhanced employability, multi-directional access to import and export knowledge while sharing their creativity and learning within multiple networks locally, and around the Globe. Teachers in all subject areas are empowered with the resources to enrich lessons with greater relevance and to allow students to experience more of their curriculum within the context of digital resources. State-of-the-art infrastructure, an interactive classroom suite design, a personal learning device for each student (E5400 Dell Laptop), presentation-ready classrooms, and the presence of Global Communication Centers in our school provide one of greatest and advanced learning platforms in existence today.
As you will see firsthand in just a few moments, the facilities of the academic core, fine arts, performing arts, visual arts, career and technical, health & physical education, library/media, athletics, food services, and the many other co-curricular dimensions of our new high school are designed for the optimal development of today’s youth and the future generations of Watauga students.
Recognition of Benefactors & Golden Leaf Presentation
In closing my remarks, I must take a moment to recognize some corporate and other organizations for their contributions in support of the Pioneer IT learning design, and other contributions at WHS. If representatives from these establishments are present this morning will you please stand (or wave your hand) as I name your organization?
• Blue Ridge Membership Corporation (Sr. VP Lee Layton & Dir. Grey Scheer & Dir. Susan Jones)
• Branch Banking & Trust of Boone
• Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff (CEO Joe Miller) Joseph Miller
• Katalyst (Principal Christopher Christy)
• Mark III Benefits (Neil Browder)
• Precision Printing (PJ Ollis)
• Radford Quarries (DJ Cecile)
• SkyLine Membership Corporation (CEO Jimmy Blevins) Brent Keith
• SmarterSystems (Proprietor Barry Whalen) Acct. Mngr. Greer Dickerson
• SmartTech (Reperesentative Joey Schnople)
• The Watauga Education Foundation (President Dr. Jay Fenwick)
And we have 2 Legacy Donors to date for awards of $100,000 or more:
• The Golden Leaf Foundation (Senior Vice-President Mark Sorrells, Board Member: Michael Almond) $150,000
o Special Presentation by Golden Leaf *Chairman Younce & Mr. Wyant come forward
• The Appalachian Regional Commission (Governor Bev Perdue) $200,000 *Blend with introduction of Governor
Introduction of the Honorable Governor Bev Perdue (for Keynote Address)
Drawing on her experience as a former teacher, Bev Perdue is working to transform North Carolina classrooms into 21st century learning centers through increased technology in the classroom and a statewide online school initiative, steps critical to preparing students to enter the global workforce. She understands clearly that the success of our education system will define our economic future as a state, that's why she is committed to attracting and retaining the best teachers in America.
Before entering public service, Perdue worked as a public school teacher and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Education Administration.
She has acted on her firm belief that world-class public schools are essential to ensuring opportunity and prosperity for all citizens.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you the 73rd Governor of North Carolina---the Honorable Governor Bev Perdue!
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