Sampson County Superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy is one of several district leaders throughout the nation being recognized for participation in the technology-based National Speak Up Research Project.

Twenty school district superintendents received the first Speak Up Shout Out Awards as 2016 Outstanding Superintendents for promoting participation in the effort. Speak Up is an initiative of Project Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the “empowerment of student voices in education.” Each year, students, parents and educators are polled about the role of technology in education.

“It is an honor to be recognized for Sampson County Schools’ participation in the National Speak Up Research Project,” Bracy said. “We are committed to integrating technology into learning. We consistently seek ways to enhance the use of technology in our schools. I applaud our students, teachers, parents, and community for supporting our efforts.”

According to a news release from the organization, the survey is the largest collection of authentic, unfiltered stakeholder voices on digital learning. Since 2003, more than four million have participated. The Speak Up 2015 surveys were available online between Oct. 1, 2015 and Dec. 18, 2015. According to some of the data, Project Tomorrow surveyed 415,686 students, 38,613 parents, 38,157 teachers and more than 2,000 librarians. It also included participation from administrators, technology leaders and communication officers.

“More than 2,600 districts participated in Speak Up 2015, but these 20 stood out to us for their commitment to raising the voices of their stakeholders, notably students, parents, community members and educators at all levels,” stated Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow. “Speak Up, in addition to being a national research project, is a free service open to all schools, and we are thrilled to see so many taking advantage of the online surveys and national reports.”

Daniel Domenech, executive director of American Association of School Administrators (AASA), also commented about the national effort.

“Superintendents across the country are dealing with an array of educational technology opportunities and Speak Up offers a platform so they can learn directly from their stakeholders about what students, parents and teachers are looking for now and in the future,” Domenech said. “The superintendents being recognized by Project Tomorrow are leaders in the effective use of technology for learning.”

Ten Sampson County schools were recognized as Speak Up Loud and Clear Schools for getting stakeholders involved, promoting the survey and the use of data. Those schools are: Midway Middle School, Hargrove Elementary School, Midway High School, Roseboro Elementary School, Clement Elementary School, Roseboro-Salemburg Middle School, Union Intermediate School, Plain View Elementary School, Hobbton Middle School and Midway Elementary School.

The total is more than any other district in North Carolina.

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By Chase Jordan

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Reach Chase Jordan at 910-249-4617. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.