Kent School District wins award for website

The Kent School District is the recipient of the Best of the Web 2011 award from The Center for Digital Education in the category K-12 District Education Website.

The district website, which was revamped and launched last year, was judged in several categories including uniqueness, innovation, accessibility, functionality and security, according to a Kent School District media release.

The site was created as part of the school board’s initiative to develop better communication channels with parents, community members, students, and staff. The site receives, on average, more than 500,000 visitors per month. Visitors to the site can view student-developed videos, surveys, information about schools, tips for families to helps students achieve academic success, and access school board agendas, meeting times and

minutes.

“Kent School District is honored to receive this award,” said chief information and automated operations officer Thuan Nguyen. “We are committed to finding new ways to reach and involve our community and during a time of diminishing financial resources, good communication is part of supporting and maintaining a great community. From our school board and superintendent to our classroom teachers, bus drivers, parents and students, our website has become a daily tool critical to the success of our school district. This award tells me we are on the right track in design and utility and it is greatly appreciated by our entire information technology staff. ”

Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas said, “This national award shows our commitment in Kent School District to communicating with our families, students, staff, and the community that supports the district. We are pleased to receive this award, and will continue to make use of technology to communicate the exciting things going on each and every day in our district.”