POTSDAM -- Mark R. Bennett, principal at Potsdam High School, has been named the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education’s 2018 New York State Outstanding Leader.

According to officials at NYSCATE, “through his organization, determination, and drive, Mr. Bennett has been instrumental in helping the Potsdam Central School District realize its technology vision. Mr. Bennett works hard to achieve the mission of NYSCATE by leading his building and the district in the integration of technology in the teaching and learning process.”

As high school principal and chair of the Potsdam District Technology Committee, he has led the development of a three-year District Technology Plan to identify and support the instructional applications of technology, provided leadership in the overhaul of his district’s technology infrastructure, supervised the implementation of a district-wide Digital Citizenship Curriculum, created a parent guide, student handbook, user agreement, and self-insurance plan for the 1:1 program, and developed a comprehensive professional development plan to support instructional staff through this changes, according to the announcement from St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES.

In April 2016 and March 2018, the school district in collaboration with NYSCATE hosted Google Summits. As middle school principal, Bennett helped establish the first MakerSpace in the district, in collaboration with the library teacher assistant. He also helped author both a NYSCATE and a Corning, Inc. grant to purchase 3D printers and organized a “materials” drive so that the MakerSpace could be stocked with supplies. As high school principal, recognizing that his students need expanded learning opportunities, Bennett has advocated the creation of online learning. During the summer of 2017, he created the first online credit recovery program in St. Lawrence County, and has been working to establish partnerships with local colleges to offer students low or no-cost online courses.

“The strongest evidence of Bennett’s long-range technology planning process can be found in the three-year District Technology Plan,” the announcement said. This comprehensive plan was identified as a “model plan” by NERIC.

NYSCATE is a non-profit professional organization representing more than 25,000 technology using educators and administrators in New York State.