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Mark A. Edwards, EdD
Superintendent, Henrico County Public Schools
Richmond, Virginia
For the past 25 years, Dr. Mark Edwards has worked in education as a teacher, principal and superintendent earning his reputation as a results-oriented leader. Since 1994 he has served as Superintendent of Henrico County Public Schools in Richmond, Virginia, leading a school system made up of 65 schools, 44,000 students and 3,000 teachers. Dr. Edwards has leveraged technology to raise achievement in Henrico County through the Technology & Learning Initiative, initially the largest educational laptop program in the country.
During the last two years, the Technology & Learning Initiative has supplied over 25,000 wireless laptops to all students in grades six through twelve and staff members in the school system. The Technology & Learning Initiative is not simply about equipping students and teachers with laptop computers. Edwards expects teachers and students to approach classroom activities differently, taking advantage of the tools that the laptops provide. "A primary goal of the Initiative has been to change the way we teach and learn, a shift away from lecture methodology to enriched, engaged instruction," said Edwards.
Dr. Edwards also recognizes the power of systemic change in making the Initiative a success. All members of the education community, including parents, are encouraged to become familiar with the technology students will be using in the classroom. Henrico parents are required to receive training on the use of the laptops, and, as a result of a request from the parent community early on in the Initiative, all students who do not already have Web access at home are eligible for reduced-cost service from a local Internet Service Provider.
In 2003, 100 percent of all regular Henrico County Public Schools met full accreditation on the Standards of Learning (SOL), Virginia's standards-based assessment tests. Henrico County scores are higher than the state average in all 11 subjects tested. Moreover, student achievement in Edwards' district increased in all subjects from 2001 to 2003, pointing to quantifiable results for the Technology & Learning Initiative.
Prior to joining Henrico County Public Schools, Edwards worked as Superintendent of Danville Public Schools in Danville, Virginia from 1992 to 1994, and as Assistant Superintendent of Wake County Public Schools in Raleigh, North Carolina from 1990 to 1992. He has also served as principal, assistant principal and teacher in schools around the Southeast.
Dr. Edwards holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee, a Masters of Arts from Tennessee Tech University, and a Doctor of Education from Vanderbilt University.
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