If the children really are our future, then the future of education should be the top priority of any community. That’s why we here at AMS Public Interest have such a keen interest in improving Texas public schools and bringing classrooms into the 21st century.

This past week, we attended a convention organized by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). This annual conference features some of the brightest minds in Texas education and provides them with a forum to discuss the newest innovations in district administration, teacher development and school curriculum. I have to say, it’s incredibly refreshing to see so many people in one place who have devoted their lives to improving the educational system in our state!

The AMS team was honored to be given the opportunity to host a presentation on POWER ON TEXAS, a digital learning initiative created in partnership with the Texas Education Agency.  We gave an overview of the (free!) tools available to help districts and schools inspire interest in and action around boosting student achievement through technology integration in the classroom. (Check out the two videos in this post for a sneak peek at some POWER ON TEXAS materials.) We also shared the journey of the project from a Telly-Award-winning professional development documentary produced two years ago to POWER ON’s growth into a network of administrators, educators and policymakers who can come together to exchange ideas on how to effectively integrate technology into classrooms, improve teacher effectiveness and actively engage students in the learning process.

Our original initiative is becoming what some are calling a revolution in Texas education as interest continues to grow about technology integration in the classroom. We presented in front of a standing-room-only crowd of more than 300 Texas educators, administrators and policymakers.  Does that alone make this a revolution? Probably not. But what it does mean is that word has spread about the amazing benefits of digital learning, and school districts throughout Texas are starting to POWER ON!