District technology coordinator works through many changes

WORLAND - After 13 years as the Washakie County School District No. 1 technology coordinator and 40 years overall of service to the district, Kathy Wise retired June 12.

Wise has been the district technology coordinator for 13 years. Prior to that position she taught for 27 years in the district and one year at Emery, South Dakota. She also served in the district as an instructional facilitator for 13 years

She began teaching in District 1 as a special education teacher and taught sixth-grade reading and social studies and a computer application course at Worland Middle School

She said she got interested in teaching and special education through babysitting younger children.

Wise said one of the children she babysat was a "severe autistic child," and "I guess that's why I wanted to go into special education."

Wise grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota, and teaching positions for her and her husband Ed, brought them to Worland. They raised two children, Ben, a disease biologist with Wyoming Game and Fish, and Kim Lange, a third-grade teacher at South Side Elementary. They also have two grandchildren.

Wise said her transition to technology began while teaching the computer application courses but her first year as an instructional facilitator was working with the teachers to integrate technology into the classrooms. She said her role was to be a support and resource once the teachers became comfortable with the technology.

The move was an easy transition regarding technology, but the role change from actually teaching students to working directly with technology was harder for her, she said.

"However, I was in and out of classrooms so much that I was still able to be around kids and help kids."

As the district technology coordinator, Wise described her position as helping purchase equipment, overseeing three technicians and prioritizing technology work in the district.

The position has grown a lot over the years because of the amount of technology used in the school system.

"So much more is involved with it. There's the cyber security issues, everything is dependent upon the internet now. I just kind of made sure things kept running. So many things now depend on the internet to work even within a building – security cameras, telephones, even the sprinkler systems are all internet controlled. [The coordinator job is] making sure all those plates keep spinning. I administered the technology," Wise said.

She added, "It's one of those things people don't think about it until it doesn't work."

One of the biggest changes in her career came as technology became a readily-available tool. She said the went from computer/technology lab-based situations where the students came to the lab to use technology to a situation of having more equipment in the classrooms and in the hands of each student.

COVID

This year was also challenging with moving the district to alternative learning due to COVID-19.

"We had mobile labs for most of the students and the district is still working on finishing up kindergarten and first grade," she said.

"It was quite a switch. There is a real learning curve. It was a little tough to begin with but once we got the kinks worked out ... Once we got over the initial learning curve of it, I think things went pretty well."

As for technology in the district, Wise said, "There's a lot of work goes on behind the scenes both within the district and for them to use it outside the district."

RETIREMENT

As for retirement, Wise said after having spinal surgery two years ago she decided it was "time to take care of me. I need more time to come back from that."

She hopes to be able to travel more now that she is retired. She said they were able to travel to Italy and Greece last year but with COVID they are likely looking at traveling around the state for now.

"I really have enjoyed my time at District 1, I have been afforded a lot of opportunity for professional growth and I appreciate that."

Her last official day was June 12. She said since she had worked on a "teacher's schedule" with downtime in the summer, she likely won't notice the change in her life until August when teachers and staff head back to school.

She said her son got married the day after her last day and they have had other things going on this summer so it has been busy.