Marion County was settled by the Ford brothers in 1806 and became an official county in 1811, six years before Mississippi became the 20th state. The city of Columbia was established just a few years later in 1819 and named after Columbia, South Carolina, from which many of the early settlers had come. It has also served as the temporary capital of the state while a more permanent location was found at LeFleur's Bluff in what is now known as the city of Jackson.

Located in the south central part of Mississippi, Columbia is nestled against the banks of the Pearl River. It has a population of 6,600 people in the city and 25,500 in the county. It is within a short drive to Jackson, Gulfport, and even New Orleans. Columbia is a small town that is growing rapidly with many new and established businesses and industries there. The community also has a strong Main Street Committee as well as many churches and community organizations.

Columbia School District has a long history in Marion County. The first buildings were established in 1890, but only the basic subjects were taught in a building consisting of just four rooms. Today the city's educational system is made up of Columbia Primary School, Columbia Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School, and Columbia High School with a total of 1900 students. Each of these schools is on the cutting edge in the educational process. The high school and the middle school have wireless access to the schools' network, and teachers throughout the district are trained in computer competencies. Columbia School District has made a definite commitment to helping its students become ready for the world of tomorrow.

Selection Process

The selection of the Jefferson Middle School Technology Team involved several criteria. The students were first recommended by their teachers as having an advanced ability with technology. The students were then evaluated by the Technology Facilitator and the school’s administration using the following guidelines:

• Teacher recommendation
• Grades
• Behavior/attitude
• Class schedules
• Parental permission

Responsibilities

The Student Tech Team at Jefferson Middle school met on a daily basis as a class in the Technology Facilitator's classroom. With the opportunity to meet regularly, the students were able to receive a substantial amount of technology training from the Technology Facilitator as well as provide service to their school through a variety of activities. These activities included creating PowerPoint presentations for teachers and the Technology Facilitator, assisting the district Technology Coordinator in the set-up and maintenance of classroom computers and assisting the Technology Facilitator during professional development sessions for teachers.