Welcome... This site will grow to become the home for all things related to Minnesota's Regional (Educational) Telecommunications Networks and those who care about them. It will (or does) contain an events list where invitations and RSVP's can be sent, discussion forums, blogging capabilities for members and much more. Please feel free to make comments by either responding to the thread in the forum or by sending an e-mail message to Marc Johnson at mjohnson@ecmecc.k12.mn.us or Mary Mehsikomer at mary@region1.k12.mn.us.

Thanks and enjoy the site... Marc Johnson, ECMECC and Mary Mehsikomer, NW-LINKS.

MINNESOTA TECHNOLOGY LEADER OF THE YEAR

Josh Sumption, Manager of Information Technology for the Southwest and West Central Service Cooperative in Marshall, MN, coordinates technical support for 59 member school districts and 14 nonpublic and charter schools, with over 51,000 students and 7,600 teachers across 18 counties in a 12,500 square mile area of western Minnesota.

Through the Technology Coordination Services framework, Josh ensures that small, rural school districts have access to effective, affordable technology services and support.

Josh Sumption spearheaded the development of a 32-district wide area network that serves over 60 school buildings and 45,000 students. To create this network, Josh had to build bridges and re-establish relationships with many districts that had been disenchanted with previous cooperative ventures.

Dedicated access to the Internet through this network has allowed districts to increase educational opportunities in many ways, including online learning and expanded web presence to better communicate with parents and students.

Josh also leads the development of the cooperative’s robust Distance Learning Program, which offers nearly 250 students courses online and over interactive TV, including creative writing, forensics, biology, business law and economics, plus several foreign languages. Without this program, many of the very remote districts Josh serves could not offer these courses. Twenty-five districts have fewer than 500 students.

Congratulations to Josh!