The SVRTC met for their monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, after having to cancel the January meeting due to inclement weather. Sixteen members attended with representation from the following school divisions: Brunswick County Public Schools, Charlotte County Public Schools, Colonial Heights Public Schools, Cumberland County Public Schools, Danville Public Schools, Halifax County Public Schools, Henry Public Schools, Lunenburg County Public Schools, Mecklenburg County Public Schools, and Prince Edward County Public Schools.
The first speaker for the meeting, Heather Causey, Online Learning Developer, Hanover County Public Schools, spoke about Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Examples were provided in using generative AI for images, voice and text. Participants experienced how ChatGPT could be used to summarize large amounts of text in different ways. Causey then shared a document that she uses with her staff when introducing AI to administrators and other new users.
Also invited to the meeting was Cole Erickson from Check Point Software. Check Point Software is a multinational cyber security firm. Paul Wamagiris was also present with Mr. Erickson. Mr. Wamagriris is the CEO and owner of the Tenio Group, which is a strategic partner of Check Point Software. They work very closely together for state and local government; education more specifically, in K-12, to ensure that cyber needs are met. They protect your network by protecting your endpoints, whether it be laptops, desktops or mobile phones. Mr. Erickson went on to tell us that AI is something that has been integrated in cyber security tools for nearly a decade at Check Point. It is a vital piece of ensuring that the Cyber IT staff have what they need to make cutting edge decisions. Mr. Erickson went on to demonstrate how Check Point works for members.
The last SVRTC meeting for the 2023-2024 school year will be April 17, 2024.