Technology isn't just a buzz word in Allen ISD. With a superior infrastructure, Allen teachers and students benefit from the speed and resources of a well thought-out network. 

Contact Us
P.O. Box 13
610 Bethany
Administration Annex
Allen, TX 75002
972.727.0484

Staff

Charlie Spearman  - Executive Director of Technology
Susanne Barton  - Secretary
George Galdiano  - Systems Administrator
Arnie Salmeron  - Network Administrator
Paul Hornberger  - Assistant Network Administrator
Brent Goerner  - Database Administrator
Nancy Rouse  - Lotus Notes Administrator
Steven Martin  - Technology Coordinator
Barb Lecheler  - Instructional Media Coordinator
Anthony Russo - Software Coordinator
Andy Craig  - Hardware/Software Tech
Cynthia Robinson  - Hardware/Software Tech
William Barrett  - Hardware/Software Tech
Lori Morgan  - Hardware/Software Tech
Keith Taylor  - Hardware/Software Tech
 

The Vision
The former Texas Education Commissioner and Dallas ISD Superintendent, Dr. Mike Moses, has described Allen ISD as a “lighthouse” district for technology integration. At Allen ISD, we view technology as a tool to create real-world learning environments, expose students to a universe of ideas, and prepare them for the future in a constantly changing world. To support this mission, Allen ISD has developed a digital information infrastructure that places powerful technology tools in the hands of students and teachers. Using network, multimedia, and video conferencing technologies, students in all grades have almost unlimited resources for exploring and learning about their world. Our technology efforts have resulted in innovative approaches to instruction, staff development and increased learning opportunities for students.

Staff Development
Allen ISD sees staff development as an important component towards successfully implementing technology in the schools. AISD will provide various opportunities (during the workday, after hours, non-contract days) for staff to obtain professional development in a variety of formats.

Integrating Technology

Allen ISD continues to responsibly integrate technology in all core areas across the K-12 curriculum. AISD will implement a curriculum that is vertically and horizontally aligned to support the desired competencies of the AISD graduate. Allen ISD has implemented an electronic curriculum management program to assist teachers at all grade levels in planning measurable goals and suggested uses for technology.

At any time of the day, a walk through an Allen ISD school might reveal students compiling research into a word processing program, creating and presenting PowerPoint presentations, storyboarding the elements of a novel with Inspiration, or building a database of information. Students use the Internet for individual and collaborative research, scanners for web page development and digital cameras to document science experiments.

Right Tools for the Job
Allen ISD believes in using professional tools to teach real-world skills. In addition to numerous programs used to support classroom teaching, standard productivity software includes Microsoft Office Suite and Inspiration. Allen ISD maintains more than 6000 computers for student and employee use in computer labs, libraries, offices, and as classroom workstations.

District-wide acceptable use guidelines govern student and employee use and access to computers and networks. Web-filtering software blocks access to categories of sites the district deem inappropriate. For the past seven years, every classroom teacher has been assigned a workstation for their use. Students use a variety of technology tools, including data projectors, plotters, CD ROM burners, digital video cameras, Mpeg cameras and video editing systems.

Technology Infrastructure
Continuing growth in Allen ISD has offered unique opportunities for integrating technology into building design. New schools are cabled with both fiber, category 5, and wireless access to provide flexibility for a variety of technologies. Existing facilities have also been cabled to create local area networks (LANs) for student management, instruction, and Internet access. Every classroom has Internet connections. Every campus has video conferencing capabilities. Cisco routers and leased OC3 phone lines provide a wide area network (WAN) for the entire district.

Partnerships
As a leader in instructional technology, Allen ISD has sought joint ventures with other schools and school districts across Texas and the United States. In June 1999, Allen ISD received a Technology Innovation Challenge Grant from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $8.79 million. The grant is being used to build on Allen ISD’s instructional technology programs and then help replicate those programs in approximately 50 Texas school districts. The Allen ISD proposal called KIDS (Key Instructional Design Strategies) was among 14 approved by the Department of Education for 1999 from 431 submissions.

The Virtual School District teams Allen ISD with Highland Park ISD, Laredo ISD, San Vicente ISD and Terlingua CSD. United through distance learning technologies, including video conferencing, the Virtual District provides unique opportunities for professional development and student enrichment. Allen ISD joined with Laredo ISD in June 1998 to receive a grant of nearly $1 million to enhance the Virtual District.

Allen ISD through the KIDS grant teamed with Lightspan, Inc. to develop an on-line reading curriculum, targeting kindergarten through 3rd grade students. The Lightspan Early Reading Program provides teachers tools for use in the classroom that empower them to make more effective instructional decisions. It provides students with the developmentally appropriate and motivating content they need to remain engaged in learning as they develop skills and knowledge.

A Passport To Learning
The SHIFT (Students Helping Integrate Future Technologies) program in the secondary schools places students in the role of technology consultants for their peers and teachers. SHIFT students assist other students and faculty members in learning software, Internet and multimedia applications.

Web Mastering courses at AHS and Lowery Freshman Center help students become skilled in designing, developing and updating web sites. Students are introduced to the use of HTML, http, ftp, Java, Common Gateway Interface (CGI), various web authoring programs along with proper use and incorporation of electronic input devices and media in the publishing of web pages. Students in these courses also serve as resources for teachers and other students by acting as tutors in the lab, giving large group instruction in classrooms, mentoring individual staff members, troubleshooting technology problems, and creating products for teachers to use in their classrooms.

The Cisco Networking Academy program is an innovative education and training program for high school and college students. Cisco provides a specially developed curriculum to students enrolled in the networking classes. The courses cover a complete range of networking concepts, from pulling cable to subnet masking rules and strategies. The four semester elective sequence prepares students to take a certification exam.

Live Wire Electronic Cafes at Allen High School and the Lowery Freshman Center feature interactive and multimedia stations with Internet access. Computers in each Live Wire include specialized software for video creation, html programming, and graphic editing. Designed to create a user-friendly environment, the Live Wire features background music and café-style seating at booths and counters and is open after school and on Saturdays to the Allen community.

Statistics
Number of Campuses: 17
Number of Campuses with Direct Connection to Internet: 17
Percentage of Campuses with Direct Connection to Internet: 100.00%
Number of Classrooms with Direct Connection to Internet: 922
Percentage of Classrooms with Direct Connection to Internet: 100.00%
Computer/Student Ratio: 3 student(s) for every computer
Computer/Teacher Ratio: 1 teacher(s) for every computer

Existing Conditions
• OC3 and Gigabit WAN connections between each campus
• T1 WAN connections to Region 10, Laredo and Service Center
• 50Mb connection to the internet
• WAN firewall
• AISD Intranet
• Dynamic IP addressing assignments
• Video conferencing at all campuses with an Accord/Polycon MCU
• 50 servers on LANs utilizing Windows 2000
• 6000 workstations and laptops available for student and teacher use (2.5 – 1 ratio, teacher ratio 1:1)
• Workstation to student ratio 2-1
• Three year on-site warranty for new workstations 
• 135 large screen presentation devices
• Networked printers, scanners, and digital cameras on each campus
• Window 95/98/2000/XP 
• Inspiration software
• Network keyboarding software
• SASI student management and IgPro grade book software on each campus
• Parent Connect online student grade/attendance access for parents
• Comprehensive virus protection
• Classroom Projectors
• Teachers have secure remote access through Citrix Metaframe
• Internet filtering software
• Lotus Notes email and scheduling package
• Domino Web Page publishing
• Internet access from all networked workstations and laptops
• Food Service point of sale server, software, and workstations
• ACT work order system
• District technology staff
• Technicians assigned to each campus to ensure timely repairs dispersed through an online Help Desk
• Centralized management of the WAN and LANs

Telecommunications Services

Telephones

Each classroom is equipped with a telephone for emergency and routine communication. In addition, each campus is equipped with portable communication devices, such as cell phones and two-way radios.

Internet

Each networked computer has access to the Internet through a 50Mb connection. Internet access is filtered as required by CIPA for inappropriate content. The entire WAN is protected from viruses and malicious programming by a firewall and Intrusion Prevention system devices.

Accessibility

Each school is equipped with computers, networked printers, scanners, digital cameras, presentation stations, and video conferencing equipment. Equipment is located in computer labs and libraries for large group instruction, and in classrooms for individual student access.