Mark+Smithivas+projects

A bit about me... I'm a dot com 1.0 refugee who ended up managing a computer lab at an [|tutoring program] for disadvantaged kids. Then moved on to help launch a new [|graduate program] at Northwestern University's [|School of Education and Social Policy]. Left academia to be a full-time [|stay-at-home dad].

In 2008, I'll be starting and/or continuing some education-related projects:

I'm chairing the technology committee at my daughter's school in Chicago. It's a CPS school, and I've had a crash course in bureaucracy and administrative hoops like you wouldn't believe. I'm a committee of one, so right now I'm trying to triage the needs. Going through a needs survey of the teaching staff and seeing where the low hanging fruit is. Am looking to network with other tech types who've had similar experiences in a CPS environment.

Next, I'm working with some journalism professors at Columbia College to write some grant proposals to get funding for a [|citizen journalism] project involving kids from underserved neighborhoods. They would be exposed to writing and journalism coursework and submit their reports using mobile phones. I'm looking to network with folks who might have connections to wireless providers and companies such as Verizon, Nokia, Motorola, Navteq, etc. who might be interested in funding this program.