Robert Glascock
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology
Howard County Public Schools

[“Mr. Glascock has displayed exemplary leadership as he has helped guide our school system into the forefront of technology use. Not only does he develop forward-thinking ideas for technology utilization, he also sees these ideas to fruition. – Sydney L.Cousin, Superintendent, Howard County Public School System]

A 30-year veteran of the Howard County schools, Robert Glascock began his career as a classroom teacher. Today, he uses his position as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology for Howard County Public Schools to steward far-reaching technology initiatives. His vision has touched all aspects of technology in the school system, making it easier on a daily basis for teachers to deliver a high-quality education to students.

A critical component of Glascock’s technological vision for the county has been making sure that teachers and staff have up-to-date equipment. He began the county’s Laptop Initiative, securing funding for teachers at fifteen schools to receive laptops and providing monthly professional development sessions. The program, after proving to increase teacher technology use, was expanded to more schools with the addition of mobile laptop labs.

The county’s new technology deficits went well beyond a need for laptops. In response, Glascock initiated a Technology Standardization/Replacement Plan in 2005. The goal of the plan, which is still being carried out, is to provide schools with instructionally valid computers, standardize hardware and software, and upgrade general-purpose and mobile labs. Technology upgrades in HCPSS directly made possible the implementation of the MSDE online assessment program in county elementary and middle schools.

Recognizing that technology is only helpful if it fills real needs, Glascock supported and promoted a Technology Leadership Academy for principals and vice principals that helped them identify and follow through on technology needs and goals for their schools. He also created an e-Learning Department, which supports all technological innovations in the school system. His organizational changes have been equally far reaching. His guidance facilitated the movement of technology offices from business and operations support departments into the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, thereby better integrating technology into instructional efforts. He was instrumental in the creation of a Document Repository, an online digital library containing the Howard County Public School System Essential Curriculum; other school system documents; and the Translation Bank, a HCPSS resource containing documents in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Urdu. He took Student Support Plans electronic, giving teachers the power to track assessment data for below-grade-level students and plan interventions, all in a format accessible to other educators and staff across the school system. Glascock also oversaw the implementation of the Collaborative Learning Community, a comprehensive system for messaging, scheduling, group discussion, teacher Web pages, e-learning, and professional development.

Glascock is active in the Howard County STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Business-Education Coalition. He also currently co-chairs the Technology Literacy by 8th Grade Advisory Committee for the Maryland Department of Education.