Dr. James Hamilton
Outstanding Technology Leader Winner 2006
Principal
South River High School

"[Dr. Hamilton] believes that technology is a way to ensure that there aren't any 'haves' and 'have not's' inside the school walls." - Nancy Mann, Interim Superintendent of Schools, Anne Arundel County Public Schools

"He is a visionary and educator who truly believes that instructional technology can empower students." - Sarah Stiles, Instructional Technology Specialist, Anne Arundel County Public Schools

In 1990, when Dr. James Hamilton became principal of South River High School in Anne Arundel County, he was taking leadership of a school the Washington Post would later refer to as having been an "academic backwater." The article, in honor of a leadership award, sang the praises of Dr. Hamilton's tenure, and for good reason. The school was on its way to having some of the top SAT and Advanced Placement scores in the county. South River's remarkable turnaround has been in lockstep with Dr. Hamilton's push for educational technology - an effort that has had ripple effects countywide.

Dr. Hamilton has pursued a philosophy that educational technology only succeeds when it is not an add-on to instruction, but integrated into lessons. He has worked to ensure access to technology for all students at South River. The school now has computer labs for English, social studies, business/technology education and mathematics. All classrooms have a networked computer. The school boasts digital design classes and a state-of-the-art science lab. He is currently exploring possibilities that tablet PCs may offer special education students who have handwriting difficulties.

Acknowledging Dr. Hamilton as a resource who could assist other schools, the Anne Arundel County Public School system assigned him to the central office for a year. While there, he was tasked with a long-range instructional technology plan that included infrastructure and staff development for 117 schools and 74,000 students. He volunteered to serve as the AACPS Webmaster from 1995-2003. Dr. Hamilton, who is trained as an attorney, was also instrumental in sifting through legal questions of e-mail communications, Web site content, and copyright.

Dr. Hamilton's commitment to technology in education continues. He is currently serving on the Technology by 8th Grade advisory council, which is developing technology standards for students throughout Maryland.

A Snapshot of Achievements:

• Presented at Vice President Al Gore's "Americans Communicating Electronically" symposium.
• With students, developed an online bid-processing program that is now used by AACPS Purchasing and Human Resources offices.
• Established Twenty First Century Foundation and South River Technology Consortium in 1996 to put technology in South River and its feeder schools.
• Won the Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award in 1999.
• Was a finalist for the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals' Principal of the Year in 1999.
• Established nation's first partnership between students and community groups and businesses for Web site development.

Under Dr. Hamilton, South River High School . . .

• Became first in county to participate in online AP courses.
• Received 1998 Maryland Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence.
• Selected twice by Baltimore Magazine as one of the area's best schools.