Winona, Mississippi is located in Montgomery County, in the north central part of the state. Chartered in 1867, the community has a population of approximately 6000 people today. The town was originally located on the Mississippi Central Railroad line, and Winona, which is located at the intersection of Interstate 55 and US Highway 82, is known today as the "Crossroads. Legend has it that the name Winona was supplied by Miss Ella Moore, daughter of Colonel O. J. Moore who gave the railroad its right of way. She selected the name of her maid, a Native American Indian girl named Wenonah. The railroad officials changed the spelling to Winona.

Several industries are located in Winona whose products include auto electronic components, office furniture, and screw conveyors. As part of their technology plan, Winona school administrators have developed partnerships with corporate and private sector businesses and industries along with government agencies and other educational institutions to create learning opportunities for Winona's students so that they can become well-trained employees and community leaders in the future.

In recognition of the importance of making technology accessible for everyone, in 1999 Winona opened a Technology Community Resource Center. The center, which was built and equipped primarily with grant funds, is open to students, teachers, and community members during school hours and two days a week after school. Community members are offered basic computer skills training, and parents of Winona students are encouraged to take these classes. Teachers must pass a technology proficiency checklist for reemployment; the district provides technology professional development to assist the teachers in meeting these requirements. Winona has a 4:1 student-to-computer ratio. The school district's vision is for every learner to have equitable access to a wide range of information and technological resources as part of their education. The school district continues to place technology integration at the forefront of its educational program aimed at enhancing teachers' skills and educating all Winona students to be productive citizens in the 21st century.

Selection Process

The primary selection criterion for the Winona Junior High Student Tech Team was teacher referral. Each Accelerated Reader teacher suggested 5 students. From this pool of students, the Winona Junior High School administration selected the Student Tech Team.

Responsibilities

The Tech Team members will act as peer tutors, assisting students having difficulty in the Accelerated Reader program. The peer tutors would help to read to the students and help them take tests in the AR program. They will also assist with technology issues in regular classes that they are attending. They are responsible for some of the following items:

• Operation of the Technology Support Cart
• Help with PowerPoint presentations for teachers
• Assist with simple troubleshooting
• Assist with Internet research for teachers
• Retrieve and setup Technology Support Cart and Laptop Cart
• Act as an in-class resource for teachers with computer operations
• Clean and maintain school computers
• Assist with summer computer camps