Ridgefield's new Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ralph Wallace, is an educator who fervently believes in the use of modern technology in public education. But he leavens his approach with a strong dose of traditional educational values. In an exclusive interview for the Ridgefield, Ct. Democrats' Web Site, Wallace, who is slated to become Ridgefield's superintendent on July 1, shared his views on the role of the Internet, computers, and upcoming new technologies in public education. While Wallace is a strong supporter of the use of the Internet in schools, he says "the best technology for learning in the public schools today is NOT the Internet, it's stackable, networkable CD-ROM technology." He explained: "The Web today is a bit chaotic... a CD-ROM server in the school simplifies access to the information our students need."
Road map to new technology
Describing his success in moving Cheshire, Ct. to the forefront of educational excellence during his tenure as Superintendent there, Wallace outlined the road map to implement advanced technology. "You need to start with your goals - what you want to do," before buying computers and other equipment. "Then you need the infrastructure, the cabling... the network 'plumbing.'" He stressed the importance of selecting the right software as well as hardware, and emphasized that properly training the teachers in the technology was the key to success. "In Cheshire we have six teachers who train other teachers on technology," Wallace explained.
Supports recruiting minority teachers
Dr. Wallace also confuted some widely-quoted sound bites by indicating his support for the Ridgefield Board of Education's recently-adopted outreach plan to recruit minority teachers. In commenting on Ridgefield's upcoming participation in the Connecticut Minority Teacher Recruiting Action Program, Wallace said, "I think it's a good program, and an excellent opportunity for Ridgefield to try to get some of Connecticut's 'best and brightest' teachers."
Technology with a human touch
Dr. Wallace's philosophy is that technology is not a substitute for "the three R's," but rather a way to enhance and improve traditional educational approaches. He stresses the human factor along with his embrace of new technology. In explaining how the Cheshire schools protect school children from exposure to unwanted sites on the Internet, Wallace pointed to a two-pronged approach: "First, you should have firewalls [safeguarding your network], then, even more importantly, someone overseeing what the students are doing... It doesn't matter if it's slate boards or the Internet, our teachers need to be in charge!"(Above, Dr. Wallace talks with Selectman Barbara Manners)
Award-winning results in Cheshire schools
Under Wallace's leadership, every public school in Cheshire has built a web site, and the Cheshire High School web site received the national first place award in the 1996 Microsoft Schools on the Web Contest. Along with the recognition came a $15,000 grant from Microsoft. Winning the national award "was a signal to the whole town that we could excel... here was an important thing in which we could be world-class," said Wallace.
No quick fixes for Ridgefield
The incoming superintendent said he promised "no easy or fast solutions" in upgrading Ridgefield schools' technology. "The road in Cheshire was paved with hard work, personal missionary work. It took the first year... to get the educational establishment and the town to recognize how important this was. Then it took another year to get demonstrable results."
Dr. Wallace said he had visited the Ridgefield Democrats' web site in his research on Ridgefield, and based on the site, he said he "figured Ridgefield must be pretty advanced and Internet-savvy." He also praised the new Town web site for its creative and attractive graphic design. But, he said "obviously work needs to be done to keep it updated." In concluding, Wallace said "I am excited about working with people in Ridgefield... who are helping in the effort... [to use] modern technology [to] help improve public education. It is my goal to lead Ridgefield to educational preeminence."
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