Efrain Morales speaks English as a second language; Abby Heilenman has read "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman; Jack Arcadipane is completing an environmental project. Children of different ages, in different schools, in different subjects share a common experience. They are East Penn School District students employing technology to accomplish academic goals.

This year the National School Board Association honored the district by including it on the education technology site visit list for 2013. Therefore, on April 28, 29 and 30, East Penn teachers, students and administrators welcomed visitors from schools in Alabama, Washington D.C., North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas. The visitors observed students manipulating an array of educational technologies to expand their thinking, presentation, and creative skills.

Inclusion on the NSBA's visitation list underscores the district's commitment to implementing educational technologies. Each year the NSBA recognizes four districts nationwide as leaders in the use of technology. In addition to East Penn, this year's visitation sites are Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami, Fla.; Township High School District 214, Arlington Heights, Ill.; and Vancouver Public Schools, Vancouver Wash.

East Penn is further honored as the first Pennsylvania district to receive this recognition. As stated in the NSBA's site visit brochure, "The East Penn School District is a leader in educational technology with an emphasis on online computing applications that support project-based learning and problem-solving skills using various mobile technologies."

Seventy-five East Penn teachers in 60 different classrooms volunteered to provide demonstrations. Due to time constraints, presentations that could not be included in the three concurrent tours per building became available on the district's online Moodle website. The technology is as varied as the students.

Tammy Kita's secondary English as a second language class uses iPods to improve reading fluency.

Up one flight in the planetarium, instructor Andrew McConville uses Prezi to give his students an "...understanding of the depth of the cosmos."

At Willow Lane Elementary School, Jim Repischak's second grade "techies" log in to Glogster and create posters advertising their understanding of environmental issues.

Eyer Middle School's team of Doug Hunsicker, Molly Magro and Kelly Stellato allows students to view and critique their class's digital book trailer projects.

The list of presentations runs well beyond the scope of a single newspaper article; without exception, the students' accomplishments are as impressive as their enthusiasm is contagious.

Several of the visitors took the opportunity to interact with the children. Several asked questions indicating their intentions to introduce observed activities in their home districts. Kat Stewart, director strategic initiatives from Washington, D.C., found Scott Didra's use of Google Sketchup and the "Punch" Architectural Home Design suite "...really cool." She was most impressed by the students' ability to create architectural designs that possess real world applications.

In addition to the in-school tours, on the evening of April 29, the visitors enjoyed an evening at the DaVinci Science Center. Paid for by Advanced Disposal, CDI Computers, H.T. Lyons and Spillman Farmer Architects, the reception featured music by the EHS Jazz Combo and the Air Products Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Demonstration as visitors and hosts mingled and networked.

Inclusion in the 2013 NSBA education technology site visits is an undeniable triumph. However, when the tours ended and the guests left, East Penn's stated vision of "empowering students to maximize their individual potential and become lifelong learners..." remains.

Stacy Hawthorne, technology integration coordinator from Medina, Ohio explained she was "most impressed by the teachers' willingness to learn new things."

Those flexible role models and experience with current technologies are preparing East Penn students to mature into adults who explore new ideas and master tomorrow's innovations.