- J. Michael Conley Elementary School at Southwood
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J. Michael Conley Elementary School at SouthWood 
"Inquiring Minds"Location Tallahassee, Florida, Leon County, 32311
United StatesCoordinates 30°24′47″N 84°13′22″W / 30.41306°N 84.22278°W Information School type Public Established 2008 School district Leon County Schools Superintendent Jackie Pons Principal Laura Brooks Asst. Principal Lisa Urban Grades Pre-K to 5 School Color(s) Blue, Gold Mascot Yellow Jackets Website http://www.conley.leon.k12.fl.us J. Michael Conley Elementary School at SouthWood is a public elementary school located in the SouthWood community of Tallahassee, FL.
Contents
History
Conley Elementary was established in 2008 and is the newest public elementary school in the Leon County school district. The land on which the school is built was donated by the St. Joe Company, the developer of the SouthWood Community. The school is named in honor of former Leon High School principal and former Leon County School Board member J. Michael Conley. The founding principal was Ray King, who is now the Director of ESE for the Leon County school district. The founding assistant principal was Evy Friend, who is now the principal of Hawks Rise Elementary School.
Mascot
The school mascot is a yellowjacket wasp. A contest was held during the school's opening weeks to determine the name for the mascot. The winning name was "Buzz." A graphical representation of Buzz was created by Parker McCabe, a local graphic designer.
International Baccalaureate Program
In May 2010, Conley Elementary was granted candidate status for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. This program purports a philosophical commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education. It has received criticism because it requires a $7,000 annual fee to the International Baccalaureate Organization, for which the school receives only a "framework" for a curriculum that requires teachers to spend more time planning and less time teaching.[1]
Technology
Conley Elementary is known for its progressive use of technology to enhance the learning process. The technology efforts at the school are led by David Schubert, the school's technology coordinator.
Hardware
Conley Elementary has standardized on the Apple computing platform. Each classroom at Conley includes an iMac desktop computer, a mounted Epson digital projector, an Elmo document camera, a Smart Technologies interactive whiteboard, a TV tuner and a LightSpeed audio amplification system.
Intelligent Classroom Outlet
Intelligent Classroom Outlet
The hardware components in each classroom connect to what is called an "Intelligent Classroom Outlet." The ICO includes ports to connect the Ethernet network to the computer, the television network to the TV tuner, the computer and TV tuner to the projector, and the audio amplification system to the ceiling-mounted speaker and infrared microphone receiver.
iMac Desktop Computer
The desktop computer is the hub of the Intelligent Classroom at Conley Elementary. It is capable of loading websites that include curriculum content, multimedia and information. Teachers use Smart Notebook software to create interactive lesson activities that run on the computer. The computer is connected to the digital projector, so its screen can be shared with students, and to the Smart Board, so the teacher and his or her students can interact via touch with the computer content. The document camera connects to the computer so teachers can write with digital ink on top of documents and save the documents as computer files or on their websites. The desktop computer connects to the audio amplification system to enhance the instructional multimedia experience.
Digital projector
An Epson PowerLite digital projector is ceiling-mounted in each classroom. The projector receives video signals from the desktop computer and the TV tuner in the classroom. Documents from the document camera are displayed on the projector through the desktop computer. The image from the digital projector is projected onto the mounted interactive whiteboard. Because most of the multimedia Conley's teachers show comes from the Internet, and because the projector produces a larger image anyway, Conley's founding principal decided not to spend money on television sets for the classroom. This decision provided substantial savings in cost.
Document camera
An Elmo document camera is connected to the desktop computer in each classroom. These devices have replaced overhead projectors as a method for displaying paper documents. Teachers at Conley do not have to worry about creating transparencies, as the document camera can show any paper document. Document cameras are also used to demonstrate activities using real objects, such as counting math manipulatives. The document camera is connected to the computer, so students and teachers can write on top of images from the document camera using the Smart Board's digital ink. Teachers can also take snapshots of images from the document camera and include them in computer files or post them on their websites for students and parents to access at home.
Audio amplification system
The LightSpeed audio amplification system mixes all of the audio used in the classroom and adds microphones to reduce strain on the teacher's voice and facilitate student participation in whole-group activities. The computer and TV tuner connect to the audio amplification system, which is connected to a ceiling-mounted speaker in the middle of each room. An infrared receiver mounted near the speaker picks up the audio signal from the wireless microphones used for teachers and for students. The teacher microphone is compact and designed to be worn like a necklace, for hands-free operation. The student microphone can be passed around the room and used for helping students take turns in group discussions. The LightSpeed audio amplification system incorporates several research-based technologies that have been shown to improve the engagement of students with attention deficit disorders.
Student Classroom Computers
Each Pre-K through 5th grade classroom includes three to five student computers, which are used regularly by students working in instructional software such as SuccessMaker and FASTT Math.
iMac Computer Labs
Conley Elementary includes two 24-station iMac computer labs, connected to the north end of the media center. Students visit the computer lab three to five days per week to work in instructional software such as SuccessMaker and FASTT Math.
Macbook Laptop Rolling Labs
Conley has two 21-station Macbook carts. Students in 4th and 5th grade use the laptops to conduct research, write research papers, create presentations and take assessments. Teachers are always finding new ways to use the laptops with the students. A long-term goal of the school is to obtain a laptop lab for every two 3rd through 5th grade classroom. The school is currently seeking funding for this goal.
Teacher laptops
Each teacher at Conley Elementary has been issued a Macbook for use at school and at home. Teachers primarily use their laptops for lesson planning and communication with parents, administrators and colleagues.
Wireless network
Conley has 100 percent wireless coverage, allowing teachers to bring their laptops to planning meetings and enabling mobility for the laptop carts.
Special areas
All students at Conley Elementary School receive instruction in Art, Music, and Physical Education as special areas. The special areas exist to allow planning time for the classroom teachers. Students in grades K-2 also receive instruction in Media, Guidance, and French as special areas. Students in third grade also receive instruction in Technology as a special area.
References
External links
Categories:- Elementary schools in Florida
- Educational institutions established in 2008
- Clock towers in the United States
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