Project Plan

Chicago Public Schools (CPS)

Rough Draft # 4High School Computer Competition Program Proposal

Chicago Public Schools (CPS)

High School Computer Competition

Program Proposal

Rough Draft # 4

Authors:Sheila Frazier, BDPA Program Director, 773-238-0630, frazier5@ix.netcom.comMilt Haynes, BDPA Chicago President, 630-979-2893, mhaynes@lucent.comAva Evbuoma, BDPA Program Consultant, 708-331-3805, jonevu@ibm.net

Last Revised Date:November 3, 1998

Document Version:Rough Draft # 4

Program Sponsors

Paul Vallas, CPS CEO

Richard Koeller, CPS CIO

Richard White, CPS Director of Learning Technologies

Milt Haynes, BDPA Chicago President

Document Review History

The following table documents all the reviews of this document.

Document Distribution DateVersion ReviewedDocument Review DateReviewed By

10/29/98Rough Draft # 210/30/98BDPA: Sharon Ali, Ava Evbuoma, Sheila Frazier, Milt Haynes

11/2/98Rough Draft # 311/2/98CPS: Maggie Culver, Richard Koeller, Henry Parker, Richard White

Table Of Contents

5Executive Summary

Background5Statement of Problem/Need6Program Scope and Objectives6Program Synopsis6Program Objectives6Program Implementation Options7Option One Full Program7Option Two Pilot Program7Program Expansion Options7Program Benefits7Benefits to CPS7Benefits to BDPA8Benefits to Students8Program Evaluation Criteria8Conclusions/Next Steps9Management Plan10Project Organization10Project Costs10Project Schedule12Action Plan13Proposal Development13Project Planning13Identify Participating Schools13Develop Curriculum13Prepare Training Sites13Train Students13Tournament13Post Program Evaluation14Follow-up Program Activities14Program Terms and Conditions15Organization15Contest Management15Responsibility of Individual School15Entry Meeting16Financial Terms16Entry Fees16Contest Rules17Programs17Order of Appearance17Time Schedule17Round Host and Timekeeper17Judging18Duties18Numbers18Determination of Winners18Tabulation Procedure18Advancement from Preliminaries to Finals18Awards19Special Rules and Limitations19Qualifications20Black Data Processing Associates20Ms. Sheila Frazier20Sample Programs21BDPA Chicago High School Computer Competition Program21Junior Webmaster - High School Competition Set21Appendices21

Executive Summary

The demand for highly skilled technology professionals is growing so rapidly that Americas school systems are having trouble producing qualified employment candidates in great enough numbers. To make matters worse, the IT industry is changing so rapidly that equipment and curriculum in the vast majority of public schools have become obsolete and outdated. Unless something is done differently, companies will continue to look to offshore talent pools to fill the best high tech jobs.

It is important to move quickly and with determination in order to keep from falling further behind the technology curve. BDPA programs help bridge the gap between industry need and student preparedness but not in enough numbers to meet the growing demand. BDPA is very interested in partnering with organizations like CPS that can provide large numbers of entrants into the Information Technology talent pool. This is why it makes good business sense for BDPA to collaborate with CPS to sponsor an annual citywide High School Computer Competition.

The CPS High School Computer Competition program will provide students an opportunity to learn state-of-the-art technology and compete academically to display their creative talents and demonstrate acquired technical skills. The implementation of such a program will improve scholastic aptitude in addition to enhancing problem solving ability, communication and presentation skills, along with an opportunity to learn team building concepts.

Students will compete in computer literacy, web page development, and Microsoft Visual Basic programming. A pilot program will be introduced in the 1998/1999 school year in a select number of high schools. Students will be invited to compete in a tournament, which will be preceded by an intensive, comprehensive technical training program. Prizes like trophies, computer equipment and college scholarships are recommended. After completing the program, students will be encouraged to continue furthering their education and improving their to technical skills by enrolling in more advanced technical programs such as the National BDPA High School Computer Competition program.

Background

The BDPA started their Computer Training Programs to introduce students to computer technology at an early age. By giving students access to a computer and patient instruction, they go on to become computer programmers, college students, summer interns, college graduates and well established Information Technology professionals. Students are not only given viable career options, computer skills training also helps to provide a constructive alternative to gangs and crime.

This year, in 1998, BDPA trained over 60 High School Computer Club students, and another 18 students underwent intensive training in the High School Computer Competition Program. 34 more students participated in the BDPA summer internship program. BDPA programs need to be expanded to meet the growing demand for information technology professionals. With 396,000 job openings for Information Technology Professionals, BDPA has to do more to meet this pressing business need.

Why are companies engaging offshore talent instead of looking to the public school system to meet the growing demand? Consider this. The Chicago Public School System has 422,000 students and 16,000 graduating seniors each year. If only half of them chose an IT career, that would make a significant impact on the number of Information Technology job openings. Granted, to fill the growing demand, CPS will have to expand and maintain their networking infrastructure and computer labs. This is money well spent because students need to be introduced to computers at an early age, not only for career potential but also as a challenge learning tool that will engage their fertile intellect.

CPS students also compete with their suburban counter parts for high-tech computer jobs. Just a few miles away in suburban Naperville, students are well trained and prepared for the jobs of the future. For example, Neuqua Valley High School (NVHS) is a $61.5 million facility built to service 3,000 students. Consider this quote from the principal, Kathryn Birkett:

We have approximately 16 labs at NVHS that are used in a variety of curriculum areas. We also have specialized labs for music (MIDI), graphic arts, applied technology and CAD. About 400 machines are available to our students. Each of our students have access to the inter-net and have their own network password so that they can save files to their hard drive space and can pull it up on any of the machines in the building.

But the suburban competition does not stop there. Many Naperville homes have at least one computer and sometimes two. And day care centers introduce computers to pre-school aged children! This explains why there is an immediate need for a comprehensive, CPS computer training program.

Statement of Problem/Need

The IT industry is changing so rapidly that equipment and curriculum in the vast majority of schools has become obsolete and outdated. Connectivity between curriculum design and industry need is missing. Only a small number of schools and only a handful of students at those schools are afforded the opportunity to be trained in computer technology.

Few Chicago Public High School students are entering BDPA competitions and successfully finishing the program to become national team members. Few minority students are considering information technology as a potential career.

The U.S. Department of Commerce reports a massive shortage of qualified candidates to fill high tech jobs. The latest estimates are that more than 100,000 are needed every year until 2006 to fill the 1 million-plus positions that will be created. Although BDPA programs are helpful in bridging the gap between industry need and student preparedness, their efforts fall short in meeting the growing demands for high tech computer jobs.

Program Scope and Objectives

Program Synopsis

Students will compete in computer literacy, web page development, and Microsoft Visual Basic programming. A pilot program will be introduced in the 1998/1999 school year in a select number of high schools. Students will be invited to compete in a tournament, which will be preceded by an intensive, comprehensive technical training program. Prizes like trophies, computer equipment and college scholarships are recommended.

Program Objectives

The goals of the Chicago Public Schools will be addressed by initiating a computer competition. It would increase the academic performance of students thereby increasing the high school graduation rate and the percentage of students scoring at or above the national and state norms on standardized tests. The number of students pursuing higher education and employed following graduation should increase.

The amount of time spent on instruction, as outlined in the Children First Education Plan, will increase.

Preparation for a computer competition would allow for an expanded after-school enrichment program.

The BDPA Train The Trainer program will also increase the training opportunities for principals and teachers which is also outlined in the Children First Education Plan.

Student incentives such as scholarships, computer equipment, and trophies would encourage more students to participate in the after-school training program and computer competition.

Heightened awareness of IT industry and potential for career options. There will be a percentage increase in students choosing IT as a career goal.

Program Implementation Options

Option One Full Program

Plan this school year for a full program implementation next school year. In the second semester of the 1998-99 school year, the planning phase would begin to hold a full-scale competition in the 1999-2000 school year.

Option Two Pilot Program

A pilot competition would be held in the 1998-99 school year during the second semester. Since a full scale, citywide computer competition will require at least two years to fully develop a pilot program to test the concept is recommended. A pilot program would allow for program refinement (e.g. Competition Terms and Conditions) during the second semester of the 1998-1999 school year, and a better quality, full-scale competition for the 1999-2000 school year.

Program Expansion Options

Options to be considered for a program expansion are:

Deploy program to all CPS high schools.

Hold an inter-mural competition with suburban high schools.

Implement a Train-the-Trainer program so local high school teachers can conduct their own team training to allow students to be trained in greater numbers.

Hold an open invitational competition with private, parochial and suburban high schools.

Break out program into varsity and a junior varsity competition.

Expand technical complexity of program (e.g. include OLE containers, ActiveX, Crystal reporting).

Deploy program throughout the State of Illinois.

Introduce program model to BDPA for deployment to over 45 chapters nationwide.

Program Benefits

Benefits to CPS

Offer competitive programs with suburban schools

Raise the bar on computer literacy throughout the high school system

Improve computing skills of teachers and students that can be used for other initiatives

Reduce cost for maintaining school web pages by using students trained in the competition program.

Students improve scholastic aptitude as they learn to research and use the World Wide Web knowledge base.

Web sites developed by students give parents a mechanism to see what the school is doing and a mechanism to communicate via e-mail

Students learn teamwork

Extracurricular activities keep students off the streets.

The partnership of BDPA and CPS will create the first system-wide High School Computer Competition and demonstrates CPS as an education leader

Prepare students to become Microsoft certified

Better utilize computer equipment and computer labs.

Stay abreast of the latest technology by

Partnering with an association of professionals working in the IT industry.

Help students compete for other competitions (e.g. Golden Apple Scholarship Finalist) that offer even greater rewards.

Benefits to BDPA

Develop feeder pool for follow-up programs:

High School Computer Club

Computer Organization Of Learning (COOL)

High School Computer Competition

Summer Internship Program

Increase membership base and participation in chapter programs, activities and fund raising events.

Provide exposure and visibility in the community.

Access to a successful model program that can be rolled out statewide and nationwide.

Benefits to Students

Students will be more than computer literate, they will be technologically advanced and better problem solvers, better academically, have spent more time in instruction, and have numerous incentives such as scholarships, computers, trophies and certificates.

Program Evaluation Criteria

The process to evaluate success will involve student & teacher interviews, feedback sessions and exit surveys. Key metrics will be established. Sample metrics are the number of students participating in follow-up programs, grade point average, students choosing IT career and continuing on to institutions of higher education. A measurement mechanism will be put in place to profile and track students.

One potential performance measure could be based on a percentage of student graduates from 2000 to 2004 meeting college entrance requirements, transitioning from school to work, scoring at or above national and state norms on standardized tests.

Program coverage is expected to increase over time. Initially, the pilot program will impact 4-5 schools, 10 students and 2 teachers at each school. Continued growth and participation is expected to 75 schools, 30 students and 3 teachers at each school. Projections are 40-50 students, 8-10 teachers to 2250 students and 225 teachers. Student participation requires BDPA membership and teachers are strongly encouraged to join BDPA. Therefore corresponding growth in BDPA Chicago membership is expected.

Conclusions/Next Steps

A survey of the current high school technology environment is needed to determine resources available and cost estimates. BDPA Chicago recommends completion of the survey, which will include data collection, analysis and reporting. Also recommended is the immediate allocation of full time CPS resources to complete this proposal and to start the project planning and program design steps.

Management Plan

The CPS HSCC program will be managed by the Department of Learning Technologies. Several CPS employees will be needed for program administration, design and implementation. The High With the support of the administration and BDPA to provide curriculum training materials, technical training and competition orientation, participating schools will manage student solicitation and preparation. The CPS administration supported by BDPA officials will manage the actual competition.

Project Organization

The project would be year round and would require a Program Director, Program Consultants and Clerical staff.

The program director would oversee the overall development of the program, contact schools and interact with teachers and students.

Program Consultants from BDPA and CPS would help to develop the project and would be used to administer exams and train teachers.

The clerical staff would prepare documents, do mailings, and follow general office procedures.

BDPA will be used as a resource pool for technical support and program expertise. This includes:

Expertise for program design with over 12 years of experience hosting computer competitions.

Access to industry professionals to be engaged as technical instructors.

Corporate relationships to pursue for program sponsorship.

Connectivity to industry professionals to stay abreast of technology trends

Management of the intramural competition will be shared between the CPS administration and other Illinois State school systems.

Project Costs

Project costs are directly dependent on research results to understand the current environment. For example, administrative costs will vary based upon the number of participating schools and students. Facility costs will be dependent on whether or not existing facilities are adequate, the availability of auxiliary facilities and costs associated with computer upgrades and providing inter-net access. Some costs may be reduced by in kind donations of equipment, facilities and volunteer resources. A cost/benefit analysis is recommended to complete this proposal and a more detailed budget analysis is recommended as part of the project planning step.

Cost categories to consider are:

Personnel Resources

Program Director

Program Consultants

Clerical StaffFacilities

Office

School training sites

Competition SiteEquipment

Office Equipment & Furniture

Personal Computers & Printers

Trophies & Other Student Incentives

Project Schedule

Action Plan

By May 1999, a whole new system will have been developed to use in years to come to help better prepare students for the challenges of the millennium. A detailed work breakdown structure will be produced as part of the project plan. School and student surveys will need to be developed along with student registration packets, computer examination materials and methods of grading. A curriculum will have to be developed, sites discovered, instructors identified and trained. After the tournament is held, students will be encouraged to evaluate the program and pursue ancillary program opportunities.

This action plan summarizes major activities necessary for the successful implementation of the prototype program.

Proposal Development

Research current scholastic and technical environment. Complete proposal. Approve proposal and allocate funds and project resources.

Project Planning

Plan, organize and set-up project controls. Develop detail plan that itemizes costs, people resources, and equipment, schedules and project scope. Organize the project team. Set up status meetings, communication and other status reporting mechanisms.

Identify Participating Schools

Survey all Chicago Public High School principals, computer education teachers, and computer club sponsors to determine which schools are interested. Program designers determine current capability of students, teachers and technical environment. Develop school registration and information packets detailing background coupled with rationale and objectives. Update CPS website (with BDPA Chicago website link) to include program overview and contact information.

Develop Curriculum

Schools need criteria/curriculum to know how to prepare the students for the computer competition. Need scholastic based guidelines that all schools follow relative to how they select students. Develop tournament problem set, skill level requirements and technology gaps. Assist schools develop curriculum to close gaps.

Prepare Training Sites

Identify local, regional and alternative training locations. Upgrade computer equipment at training sites as needed. Introduce curriculum to technical trainers and provide training support as needed. Technical trainer selection criteria will consider expertise in computer literacy, web page design and Microsoft Visual Basic programming.

Train Students

Schools solicit participation and register students into the program. Selection criteria include scholastic aptitude and computer expertise. Students need to have grades of at least passing in all classes (i.e. no pass, no play). Schools pay a $15 student entry fee which covers the required BDPA student membership. Technical trainers train the students and prepare them for the competition.

Tournament

Select competition site. Set up competition rules and guidelines. Develop competition problem definition and tournament format (e.g. 1st, 2nd and 3rd round competition criteria). Acquire prizes. Select Judges. Hold 3 round competition. Award prizes. Publicize results.

Post Program Evaluation

Evaluate pilot program effectiveness. Interview students and teachers. Capture metrics. Prepare evaluation report with recommendations.

Follow-up Program Activities

Plan 1999/2000 school year program. Introduce students to follow-up programs offered by BDPA and other organizations. This includes additional training programs, computer competitions and internship programs. Encourage students to acquire Microsoft Office certification.

Program Terms and Conditions

Organization

Contest Management

Designation of manager: In all cases in which a member school is selected as a contest center, the principal of the high school shall automatically assume entire responsibility for the contest. The principal may delegate the authority to manage the contest to another staff member.

Advisory Committee: HSCC committees, consisting of three (3) coaches from three (3) different schools assigned to the contest center, will be appointed by the contest manager. Participating schools shall be notified of the names of the Committee members prior to the date of the contest.

The function of the Contest Advisory Committee shall be:

to aid the manager in planning, organizing and administering the contest;

to interpret the rules when necessary; and

to serve as a panel to select the contest judges.

All Committee members must be consulted about potential judges prior to the selection of any person. Written consensus of the Committee shall be required for each judge employed and shall be obtained by the contest manager prior to contacting the judge.

Authority of Contest Manager and Advisory Committee:

The Contest Manager shall be authorized to conduct the contest under the provision of these terms and conditions. If a situation develops in which there is an apparent unfairness to a contestant, and which is determined to be the result of an administrative or judges error, the manager shall consult with his Contest Advisory Committee and determine the manner in which the situation shall be resolved. However, managers shall not have the authority to advance the students affected by unfairness, until he has had the opportunity to confer with a member of the BDPA Official. An on sight BDPA Official must resolve such matters. In addition, the manager shall be responsible to resolve questions of rules interpretation, to arbitrate disputes and to apply penalties for violation of contest rules. In all cases, the manager shall consult with the contest advisory committee prior to making a decision in any such matter. Decision of the contest manager in all cases here in described shall be final. The authority and responsibility of the contest manager and his/her contest advisory committee shall end when results are announced at the contest awards assembly. Any question relative to contest rules or any aspect of the contest that arises following the announcement of the results will be referred directly to the Director of the BDPA Executive Committee.

Responsibility of Individual School

The principal is the official representative of his school in all-interscholastic activities and the responsibility for seeing that all students from his school entered in the HSCC are eligible under the rules shall rest with the principal.

For each school represented in the HSCC, the principal of the represented school shall have present an adult, preferably a member of the faculty, who shall supervise and be responsible for the conduct of the participants and other persons from the school. A schools failure to comply with this provision shall result in disqualification of it contestants.

Entry Meeting

An Entry meeting shall be held at the date, time and place as designated by the Contest Manager. The Entry Meeting shall not be held during the regular school day The Entry Meeting will provide the opportunity for all schools to finalize their entries, to finalize logistics and ask questions regarding contest rules and guidelines. The Entry Meeting provides a forum for Contest Manager to finalize logistics, announce judging and other assignments (e.g. BDPA officials, team supervisors, student hosts, and timekeepers).

Guidelines for Conducting Entry Meeting:

An Entry Form, together with fees of $15.00 for each student entered, must be delivered to the Contest Manager at the Entry Meeting. It should not be mailed in advance.

It is mandatory for the coach or another official school representative to attend the Entry Meeting, except under the following conditions:

The host school will make arrangements to receive telephone calls from participating schools on the day of the Entry Meeting, and will send notice of these arrangements to schools at least one week prior to the meeting.

In the event that illness, severe weather conditions or other emergency will prevent a school's representative from attending the Entry Meeting, notice MUST BE GIVEN to the host school by telephone on the day of the meeting

If a school notifies the host school it will not be represented at the Entry Meeting, it must also verbally report all its entries to the manager and must accept whatever judging assignments the manager determines at the Entry Meeting it should be responsible for. It will be responsible for payment of fees for all contestants entered by its telephone call to the manager on the date of the Entry Meeting.

If the coach or other school representative fails to comply with these provisions, the individuals from that school shall not be permitted to participate in the contest.

Financial Terms

Entry Fees

Student Entry Fee: Each school shall pay a $15 entry fee for each student entered into the competition program. Checks for student fees should be made payable to the BDPA. This non-refundable fee will be used to pay for a one year BDPA student membership.

Base Entry Fee: Each school shall pay a base fee of $50 to participate in the High School Computer Competition. This fee is payable directly to the BDPA and is to be used to defray the cost of the Competition.

Contest Rules

Programs

Every school will be identified in the program. School codes will not be used. Each contestant will be identified in the program by school name.

Order of Appearance

The contest manager shall establish the order of appearance of competitors in consultation with the contest advisory committee, and under the following stipulations.

The assignment of competitors to the Preliminary Round and their order of performance shall be established by a blind draw. Assignment of contestants order for Preliminary Round II shall also be by blind draw with the further limitation that no more than one-half the teams may be drawn to compete against the same teams they competed against in Preliminary Round I.

The contest manager shall establish order of contestants in the Final Round by blind draw. With the advice of the contest advisory committee.

Contest managers shall post All Preliminary Round Results in a designated area so that Coaches only may check cumulative judging tallies prior to the public posting of the teams advancing to the final round.

Order for the Final round competitors shall be established by a blind draw conducted following the completion of the preliminary round by the Contest Advisory Committee.

Time Schedule

The following is a suggested time schedule for the Competition. Contest managers, with the majority approval of their contest committees, may alter this schedule in the event the number of contestants entered does not require the allotted time, or if necessary to meet judging needs during the contest day.

7:30-8:00Registration

8:00

Judges Meeting

8:30

Round I Section A

9:45

Round I Section B

11:15

Round II Section A

12:30

Round II Section B

Lunch

2:00

Posting Finals

2:30

Finals

5:30

Awards

Round Host and Timekeeper

A student host and timekeeper will be present in each round. The host will introduce the round, judges and teams. The host will also assist the judges upon requested. The timekeeper will keep the time and will announce the time remaining in the round at one hour, thirty minutes, fifteen minutes, five minutes and time.Judging

In accordance with BDPA guidelines, the contest manager shall appoint judges after consultation with the entire Contest Advisory Committee. The programming portion of the competition will require Microsoft Visual Basic certified judges. Members of the BDPA, Contest Advisory Committee or coaches assigned to work with the tabulation of results, should not be used as judges, except in emergency situations and with the approval of the Contest Advisory Committee and BDPA Officials.

Duties

It shall be the duty of each judge to rank all contestants in each round in the order of the excellence of their performance. Judges may not award the same ranking to more than one (1) team in a given section.

A judge shall confer with no one prior to the submission of his ballot to the contest manger. A judge shall not change or revise his ballot after it has been signed and placed in the hands of the contest manager. No one may question the judges ballot or confer with a judge concerning his decisions unless it is necessary to do so because the ballot is not intelligible or the decisions or rankings were not made in conformity with rules.

Each judge shall prepare brief written critiques of the work of each team. All critiques shall specify major reason for ranking. These critiques shall then be made available at the end of the contest to the coach of each competing team.

The same judge shall adjudicate all teams within an event during a given round.

Numbers

The number of required judges shall be determined and provided by the BDPA and confirmed with the Contest Manager.

Determination of Winners

Tabulation Procedure

Following the completion of each preliminary and final round, ballot cards and critique forms from each judge shall be returned to contest headquarters. Contest managers shall cross check ballot cards with critique forms to insure the accuracy of rankings and identify to which rankings are assigned. In the event any error or other question is identified, the judges(s) involved shall be contacted immediately to resolve the matter.Advancement from Preliminaries to Finals

Following completion of both preliminary rounds of competition the ranks received from all judges by teams shall be tallied. The six (6) teams with the lowest cumulative totals of preliminary round rankings shall be advanced to the finals. In the event of a tie for the last qualifying position, all tied teams shall also advance to the finals.Awards

Individual trophies shall be given to the members of the first, second and third place winning teams. Fourth, fifth and sixth place winners will receive alternate awards (e.g. medals, ribbons, and certificates). A plaque shall be given to the school winning first place.

Special Rules and Limitations

Tardiness, Absence, Performance Out of Order: Contestants must be present when called upon, in accordance with the schedule prepared by the contest manager and printed in the program. In the event a team or contestant cannot, for any reason, comply with the printed schedule, the team coach must personally consult the contest manager to be excused. Only if the manager or a member of the contest advisory committee give the team or contestant written permission may any team perform out of the order printed in the program. Teams failing to comply with the printed schedule without written excuse shall be disqualified.

Qualifications

Black Data Processing Associates

Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) is a nonprofit national organization that was formed out of a concern that minorities were not adequately represented in the computer industry. BDPA has a proven track record of over 22 years of providing successful programs and activities. This includes a 12 year history of hosting a nationwide high school computer competition program. This is in support of BDPAs objectives of: 1) The accumulation of a pool of information systems professionals possessing technical expertise, 2) Utilizing this business intelligence to strengthen and broaden the knowledge of minorities, and 3) Offering this expertise to minorities evaluating the Information Technology Industry for future career and business potential. It is this expertise that BDPA wishes to bring to a Chicago Public Schools computer competition.

Ms. Sheila Frazier

Ms. Sheila Frazier has been a teacher in the Chicago Public School System for twenty-two years. She is a product of the system having graduated from Parkside Elementary School and South Shore High School. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Chicago State University and her Master of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Michigan. She just recently received a second Masters degree in School Administration from Concordia University.

She first began her teaching career at Bogan High School and has been at Lindblom Technical High School for the past twenty years teaching Advanced Placement Computer Science, Honors Computer Programming, Computer Software Applications, Computerized Physics, Computerized Chemistry, and Computerized Algebra in addition to pre-calculus, geometry, and advanced algebra. She has also taught mathematics and computer science at Chicago State University, business and mathematics at: Dunbar High School, Dawson Skills Center, and South Central Community Center. During her tenure at Lindblom she has served in the capacity of Computer Science department chairperson, attendance and grade coordinator, assistant programmer, math, volleyball and tennis coach, computer and black history club sponsor, as well as local school council secretary and member, and Chicago Teachers Union delegate. She has written numerous proposals and budgets to update computer equipment, sponsored a plethora of computer competitions, and helped develop challenging curriculum to encourage and promote student interest in Computer Technology.

Sheila is a member of many professional organizations such as Black Data Processing Associates, Phi Delta Kappa, Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, Kappa Mu Epsilon, and the Illinois Association for the Advancement of Black Americans in Vocational Education.

Sheila regularly participates in community service by manning the Parental Stress Hotline on alternate Sunday nights, facilitating a program for Child Abuse Prevention Services at Loretto Hospital, volunteering at Claras House Womens Shelter, and attending Salem Baptist Church of Chicago.

Highlights of her many awards include:

1998 BDPA Chicago Outstanding Educator of the Year Award

Chicago Urban League Mathematics Coach of the Year

CAN Insurance Mathematics Coach of the Year

Trinity United Church of Christ Day Care Parent of the Year

Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church Special Parent Award

Lindblom Technical High School Spotlight on Excellence Award

Chicago Citywide Mathematics League Service Award

University of Chicago Frye Foundation Award

Chicago State University Ruth R. Rasmussen Outstanding Scholar Award

Chicago State University Mathematics Department Certificate of Merit

Concordia University High Scholastic Achievement Award

Lindblom Mathematics Department Service Award

Palisade Bowl Parents Appreciation Award

With Ms. Fraziers distinguished background in computer technology and school system administration experience in mind, Ms. Sheila Frazier was selected by CPS and BDPA to outline ideas for the competition and to develop the CPS High School Computer Proposal. It was felt that by being a member of both organizations, she could blend CPS and BDPA more effectively.

Sample Programs

The following programs are similar competition programs that can be used as a guide and model for CPS program development.

BDPA Chicago High School Computer Competition Program

BDPA Chicago sponsors an annual High School Computer Competition program open to all Greater Chicago area high school students. The programs intent is to expand the students current high school education in the field of information technology. 10-20 students are chosen to participate in an intensive weekly training program. Curriculum includes computer literacy, advanced Microsoft Visual Basic programming (e.g. OLE containers, ActiveX, Crystal reports), programming logic, presentation and team building skills. At the conclusion of the first round of training program five (5) finalists are selected to compete in the BDPA National Computer Competition. This year, in 1998, the Chicago team finished in third place in the competition and the BDPA Chicago Chapter won numerous awards. BDPA awards $1,000 scholarships and $250 book scholarships annually to high school computer competition program participants.

The BDPA Summer Internship program matches students with supporting corporations for summer employment in computer science and engineering. For more information visit: http://www.bdpa-chi.org.Junior Webmaster - High School Competition Set

Internet Webpages Newspaper will honor Chicago's most talented high school students who enter a Junior Webmaster competition. Students can enter the competition free of charge. The purpose of the competition is to inspire students to Information Technology careers, especially those involving the World Wide Web and Internet. Students with access to the Internet and online connections can register online for the competition. Others can fax or mail in their registration letter. For more information visit: http://www.webpagesnews.com/webmaster/.

Appendices

BDPA High School Computer Competition Program (HSCC) Description

BDPA Chicago Desk Reference

Scoring the best tech jobs: Top-paying employers want more than just computer skills. U.S. News and World Report, October 26, 1998: 73.

Notes:

This is a draft version of the terms and conditions to be further refined and completed during the program and tournament design phases.

The Terms and Conditions listed are, in part, based on those issued the Illinois High School Association Individual Events Terms and Conditions.

The number of teams advancing to the final round is dependent on the number of teams entered in the competition. The six (6) team scenario is based on 12 teams entering. Another contest parameter that has to be determined is team size and whether schools will be allowed to enter multiple team. Recommended team size is a five (5) person team with two (2) alternates (7 students total).

Additional prizes like computer equipment and scholarship funds will be awarded based on availability and budget constraints.

November 3, 1998

8 of 1BDPA Chicago and Chicago Public School System - Proprietary

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