Supporting the Digital Leap in Montana


Background: Taking the digital leap is particularly challenging in rural school districts that have limited resources, limited access to broad technical expertise, and limited access to high-quality professional development. Team4Tech partnered with the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) to offer professional development to teachers and support for technology leaders in rural school districts in accelerating their digital leap.

Project: In August 2018, a Team4Tech team of VMware employees supported Havre School District in Montana, USA. While there, volunteers worked to:

  • Accelerate Technology Adoption – Teacher excitement and new skills have
    led to a focus on technology and the implementation of maker spaces.
  • Improve the Robustness of District Network – Havre servers were old and on the verge of
    failure. The server donation has improved network performance and uptime.
  • Change in School System Success Matrix – Improvements in the success matrix
    include a system-wide focus on maker spaces as well as the improved network
    infrastructure.

Beneficiary Quote: “It is so hard to express the appreciation I have for the team and the talent so generously shared with our school district. Admittedly, I was somewhat skeptical and apprehensive hosting the team for 9 consecutive days. My concern dissipated rapidly as it became readily apparent these individuals were here to immerse themselves in our school and community. They were not here to save us, correct us, or demonstrate all that they knew, but rather to share and fully engage with our staff, children, and community. It was collaborative learning modelled at the highest functioning levelI have ever witnessed.”

Andrew P. Carlson (Superintendent, Havre Public Schools, Montana) in Havre Daily News