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Chapman High School

Chapman High School boasts a proud and unique history. Back in 1886 Chapman, serving Dickinson County, Kansas, became the first county-wide high school in the U.S. Today, it is breaking ground in a different area - professional development - with results that are driving the future.

Chapman teachers plan and deliver instruction using district laptops. That much is unremarkable. But that teachers can earn outright ownership of those laptops by logging technology-focused professional development hours? Unbelievable. Over the course of three years, teachers can earn credit for time spent on technology training outside of school hours. Once they’ve reached a pre-determined number of hours, the laptop is theirs and the district provides a new one for school use. This unique incentive is bolstering educators’ technological savvy and, in turn, enriching students’ education.

Today, having set the stage for technology integration excellence, Chapman High School is providing teachers with yet another innovative benefit: access to a wealth of instructional resources and training opportunities to use on those meaningful laptops through the Empowered Desktop by Kan-ed.

The Empowered Desktop is a customized web portal provided to all Kansas schools by Kan-ed, a program established by the Kansas legislature to increase collaboration among public institutions. Through the Empowered Desktop, teachers, students and administrators have access to a variety of proven, engaging applications and resources — all designed to support teaching and learning that is personal, authentic and engaging. Several of the resources delivered through the Empowered Desktop are being used by Chapman teachers to satisfy professional development requirements — and to earn that laptop.

“Ultimately it’s the students who benefit from technology-rich professional development initiatives in our school,” said Chapman principal Dick Hall. “Giving our teachers access to the resources of the Empowered Desktop is clearly supporting both classroom instruction and teacher training.”

By developing innovative professional development programs and keeping an eye on the skills needed for 21st century teaching and learning, Chapman High School is ensuring a future as notable as its past.