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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Gold Hill rallies to save IOOF Lodge ... Oregon charter fishing company accused of pocketing money for licenses ... The writing's on the wall ... Gold Hill rallies to save IOOF Lodge ... Oregon charter fishing company accused of pocketing money for licenses ... The writing's on the wall ... EDUCATION Eagle Point superintendent invited to White House Comment By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 5, 2014 at 6:26 PM By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 5, 2014 at 6:26 PM » Social News Eagle Point Superintendent Cynda Rickert was the only superintendent in Oregon invited to attend the National Connected Superintendents Summit, hosted by President Barack Obama in November at the White House. Rickert was one of 700 superintendents nationwide to apply and one of 100 to be invited. The conference was centered around the president’s ConnectED initiative, which aims at getting 99 percent of students across the country connected to the Internet, preparing teachers to use technology effectively in the classroom and providing students with access to educational devices. Rickert, who admitted she personally is not very tech-savvy, said she was invited because of the district’s effective use of technology. Over the last five years, the district has recognized the importance of digital learning and purchased 450 iPod touches, 1,010 Chromebooks and 1,566 iPads, including one for every kindergartner to use in class. “We don’t believe the mission is technology in any way, shape or form,” Rickert said. “Our mission is teaching and learning. And technology is a tool we use for teaching and learning. “Kids today live in a digital world, and for us to reach them in schools, we need to reach them in their digital world,” she added. The Eagle Point School District paid for Rickert to attend the two-day event in Washington, D.C. The first day, Rickert said, was spent in focus groups, led by the U.S. Department of Education and the Alliance for Excellent Education. She also had the opportunity to meet key players from both agencies, as well as people from the American Institutes for Research and the Office of Educational Technology. After passing through multiple security checkpoints, Rickert said she and the other superintendents were able to enter the White House the second day through the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Obama addressed the superintendents in the East Wing, where he talked for nearly 20 minutes about his passion for education and about how to level the playing field for all children and expand education to include digital learning, Rickert said. “I was in the second row,” Rickert said. “It was very exciting. “You’d think we as superintendents could be dignified, but when he came into the room everyone got a little starstruck,” she said, adding that one superintendent kept leaning over her to take pictures of the president with his iPad. Back in Rickert’s office, district employees crowded into her office to watch the presentation, which was streaming live. Rickert said she also heard from Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise, met with regional superintendents to discuss best practices and enjoyed cupcakes with the presidential seal. “(The event) connected us regionally to others who have done more than we have and who we can learn from and who will help to carry (our mission) forward,” she said.  Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt . By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 5, 2014 at 6:26 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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