Janet McLendon Receives NC Technology Educator Award 
December 2, 2004

This award also goes to all the media coordinators, technology facilitators, technology assistants, teachers and students who were part of the many projects we have done over the years. I couldn't have done it without you. 

Contributed by Carteret County Schools

    Janet McLendon is the North Carolina 2004 Technology Educator of the Year. Mrs. McLendon is an Instructional Technology Facilitator with the Carteret County Public School System.
    The award was presented to Mrs. McLendon at the North Carolina Educational Technology Conference in Greensboro on December 2. Sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Instructional Technologies Division, this is the 16th year the award has been presented.
    An East Carteret High School graduate, Mrs. McLendon received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in instructional technology from East Carolina University. She has taught at Beaufort Elementary School and in Pitt County. Mrs. McLendon currently rotates her time among four schools - Atlantic Elementary School, Beaufort Elementary School, Beaufort Middle School and Smyrna Elementary School.  
    Carteret County Public School System Director of Instructional Technology and Media Joe Poletti was the primary nominator, and Jeanne Powell, a NC Department of Public Instruction Teacher on Loan, was the secondary nominator.
    “Our candidate empowers teachers and students,” Mr. Poletti wrote in his letter of nomination. “She is always inventing, always flexible, always sharing. Her Technology Staff Development Web Page is a treasure trove of technology resources and happenings.”
    From her web page, visitors can learn about student-centered projects Mrs. McLendon has facilitated such as Atlantic School Goes to Washington DC 2003, Carteret County Clips, Wacky Weather, The Effects of Trawling on the Estuary, and A Lego Space Odyssey.
    “Perhaps the most powerful website she has created chronicles the wrath of Hurricane Isabel after a Drum Inlet landfall on September 17, 2003,” Mr. Poletti said. “Many of her students and teachers were left homeless by floodwaters. Community members sent her photos of the devastation, which she immediately posted.” He added that the site had over 22,000 hits in its first week of existence and was helpful in creating awareness for the devastation and then contributions to help the victims.
    Mr. Poletti noted that Mrs. McLendon provides outstanding services to the schools she serves, and she also provides resources to other schools and professional development during the summers.
    “Our candidate is passionate about her students’ success on the 8th grade computer skills test,” he continued. “To gauge their progress, she even implements a fifth grade computer skills test to her students.” Mr. Poletti explained that in school year 2003-2004, 95 percent of the eighth graders from Mrs. McLendon’s schools scored proficient on the North Carolina Computer Skills Test.
    Mrs. McLendon served on the North Carolina Computer/Technology Skills Core Revision Committee that guided the revision of the K-12 Computer/Technology Skills Standard Course of Study.  Mrs. McLendon serves on the statewide technology advisory committee.  Inspiration has published her lessons, and she is the school system’s liaison for LearnNC.  Her website is www.carteretcountyschools.org/staffdev
Mrs. McLendon is a native of Beaufort.  She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Salter of Beaufort. She is married to Dr. Mac McLendon.  She has two children, Walt Przygodzinski and Cindy Lewis. Attending the ceremony were her husband, children and brother Jeffrey Salter.