The 1999 Summer CTO program is the second generation offering of the Summer CEO and High School Technology Work Experience programs previously piloted by San Carlos School District. A CTO is a Classroom Technology Officer, a student helper who has completed a training program and helps classroom teachers in using and supporting technology. CTOs typically receive instruction during the summer before, consisting of 3-5 hours per day over five days.

The program is very ìhands-onî and emphasizes routine maintenance and basic troubleshooting skills. Older students will learn to operate a help desk. Both Macintosh and Windows platforms are taught, with older students also receiving some exposure to the Unix operating system. Public school students entering grades 3-12 in a participating district are potentially eligible to participate. Grades 3-4 receive a ìpre-CTOî computer enrichment experience. Grades 5-8 receive training with an expectation that they will provide volunteer service to their own school during the following academic year. High school students also perform 40 hours of service to a nearby public elementary school during the summer; they then receive a $500 stipend upon completion of the program. High school students who have completed the summer program will also be given high priority consideration in the event that part-time tech support assistant positions become available at participating elementary and middle schools in the fall (if funding becomes available).

To be eligible to participate in the program, students must be enrolled for the fall semester in either San Carlos School District, Bayshore School District, or a local public high school which is geographically close to one of the participating elementary districts. They must be recommended for the program by either their school Principal or Technology Coordinator. High school students need one additional non-school reference, and must present a completed application for employment co-signed by a parent or guardian, along with their Social Security Card and evidence of citizenship or a work permit. There are more applicants than positions available, so not all eligible applicants will be able to participate. Attendees should bring a snack and drink daily (snack breaks are held away from the computers).

The head instructor is Dr. Mark L. Miller, founder of The Miller Institute for Learning with Technology (learningtech.org). Miller holds a doctorate in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1979), bringing over two decades of experience with educational technology to the program. Funding for this program has been provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, whose support is gratefully acknowledged, through a grant to San Carlos School District. For additional information, please contact Dr. Miller at 650-598-0105 or via electronic mail: mark@learningtech.org. Assistant instructors at various sessions will include Jessica Britt, a Cal Berkeley Computer Science major and 2-year veteran of the High School Intern program; Alice Miller, Technology Coordinator at both Arundel School and the San Carlos Charter Learning Center; and Don Peck, District Technology Coordinator for Bayshore School District.