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Volume 2 Issue 5May 1998

Customized Staff Development: Coming to a Campus Near You

Jackie Siminitus
Stakeholder Relations and Communications, Pacific Bell Education First

In February 1994, Pacific Bell quietly announced its$100 million Education First Initiative for California schools, libraries, and community colleges. While the bulk of the Pacific Bell Education First commitment went to providing up to five high-speed digital lines per school, library, and community college for free for a year for Internet access and/or interactive videoconferencing, the initiative also provided staff development and more. (see "Pacific Bell Education First Into the Future," http://www.kn.pacbell.com/edfirst/edfirstfuture.html ).

Each of Pacific Bell's four Education First Advocates (see “Education First Advocate Profiles”), high-energy teachers recruited by Pacific Bell to give customized workshops, have favorite or popular programs within his or her geographic region.

For example, Beth Bustamante is bilingual, and word has spread in the Los Angeles area about her Spanish resources workshops. Beth often brings in San Diego State University Education First Fellow Linda Woods Hyman via interactive videoconferencing because Linda is also bilingual and has developed a popular web site, "Algunas Lugares en Espanol."

Tom Holland has worked with the San Diego Zoo's education outreach team using interactive videoconferencing so animal experts can reach out to students in classrooms.

Mary Lasica and all the Advocates give videoconferencing workshops, often connecting with San Diego State University Education First Fellow Jodi Reed, who specializes in community college educational technology tools and applications, especially interactive videoconferencing for distance learning.

All Education First Advocates enjoy working with a lead educator, librarian, distance education coordinator, or other representative from a school to plan and co-host a workshop that will be most meaningful.