Marlboro PK - 8 Hosts Google for Edu Innovative Leadership Summit

Last month, the Marlboro Township Public School District Pre K-8 (MTPS) hosted an annual MTPS + Google for Education Virtual Summit. Perpetually recognized by Google for its outstanding use of technology to drive positive learning experiences, MTPS has been granted the coveted designation of serving as a Google Reference District. With only seven other school districts in New Jersey holding this esteemed designation, MTPS has set itself apart by providing access to advice, tips, and best practices to the other 600+ school districts in the state while also hosting learning events for educators. The 2021 event had the honor of hosting over 90 registered attendees from around the state of New Jersey.

This year’s theme focused on innovative educational leadership in the face of adversity. Despite the various complex challenges the district faced over the past 14 months, the virtual summit shed light on various stories of success and excellence due to innovative solutions created by resilient leaders. Since Superintendent, Dr. Eric Hibbs took the helm in 2013, the district adopted a much needed vision for instructional technology that supported the entire school community. Eight years later, who knew we would need this clear vision more than ever as the COVID-19 pandemic changed teaching and learning forever? In retrospect, this visionary leadership was ahead of its time, and without it, MTPS would not have had such a successful transition from in-person learning to remote instruction in March of 2020.

MTPS Instructional Technology Vision Statement: We believe instructional technology affords effective, personal learning opportunities for all students.

Google believes in openness and this fits with the district's vision for personalized learning by empowering choice, flexibility, and liberating classrooms for students and teachers. The journey for learning is different for everyone. The flexibility and variety found within the Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals ecosystem helps the district meet the needs of individual learners.

The pandemic proved that leadership can come from all people and all places-- those who keep pushing, see challenges as opportunity, maintain a sense of gratitude, and can work humbly with those around them with empathy and kindness. Without surprise, MTPS students have exemplified these traits which is why the virtual event proudly kicked off with a keynote from over sixty student leaders from different schools, grade levels, and programs from around the district including Student Council, Student Ambassadors, Peer-to-Peer, and Conflict Managers. In their own words, students voiced their definition of a strong leader in the face of adversity. CLICK HERE to view the inspiring keynote video.

The virtual event was filled with informative sessions provided by district leaders and educators including:

• “What ‘Kind’ of District Is This?”: How simple acts of kindness within MTPS turned into building a classroom in an African orphanage through partnership with Think Kindness. Read more about the MTPS’s kindness initiative here: Marlboro School Superintendent Epitomizes Kindness. To donate, visit MTPS’s Operation Classroom website.
• “Are you “Following” Gen Z?: Tech Tools to Engage, Support, and Promote SEL in K-8 Education”: Infusing Google tools into everyday practices as a way to promote overall student well-being.
• “Let’s Get (A)loud! An After-School Read-Aloud Program Pre K - 8”: Engaging students through the joy of reading--or listening-- administrators and teachers explained the why and how of this successful initiative.
• “MTPS Virtual Hackathon: Pushing Past the Pandemic to Problem-Solve, Program, and Persevere”
• “We’re Jammin’ and I Hope You Like Jammin’, Too” with Google Jamboard
• “Inspiring Leadership in Students Through Creativity and Freedom: A ‘What is’ and ‘How to’ Discussion on 20% Time/Genius Hour”
• “Our First Year as Tech Coaches” shared stories of how the coaches navigated their roles through a pandemic and built relationships across multiple buildings in the district.
• “Creating Social Skills Stories with Peer Leaders”
• “Molding Mindful Leaders: Inspiring the Leader within Students Through Mindfulness”
• “What Should Stay? A Look at Strategies from Virtual/Hybrid Learning That Should Continue”
• “You Can Use Google Slides for That?” including video editing, green screening, 3D printing, YouTube thumbnails, custom web page/social media headers, etc.

Overall the virtual day of learning and sharing stories of excellence was a huge success which was proven by the overwhelming positive feedback from attendees. See some of their comments below:

“Impressive selection of offerings. Marlboro should be very proud of their staff and district accomplishments.”

“Great format, engaging presenters.”

“All three of the sessions I attended were great! Teachers are always looking for new ways to instruct. As an Instructional Technology Facilitator, I get to share these ideas with teachers in my district to use in their classrooms with their students.”

“All of the presenters were passionate about their topic and their examples were fantastic.”

“I was extremely impressed. I wish I could have attended more sessions.”

“It was nice to feel connected to other districts!”

“I love the way it was run! The opening video was so inspiring as well!”

MTPS would once again like to thank the knowledgeable and professional presenters as well as the attendees for sharing a special day of reflection and gratitude. We look forward to hosting another MTPS + Google for Education Summit next academic year!