Case Study: St. Lucie County Public Schools drives student collaboration and digital learning with Microsoft Skype for Business and Office 365

Skype for Business and Appropriate Use Help St. Lucie Public Schools Drive Innovation in Education

St. Lucie County Public Schools, a large K-12 district in Florida, sought to improve learning outcomes and provide students with dynamic, anytime-anywhere educational experiences. The challenge was to equip both traditional and virtual students with the tools for modern collaboration while proactively addressing concerns about the appropriate use of new technology. To drive this digital innovation, the district partnered with Microsoft and implemented solutions including Office 365 and Skype for Business Online.

Microsoft's solution provided the district with a suite of collaboration tools, with students particularly embracing Skype for one-to-one and group video interactions dubbed #SkypeUp. This enabled remote collaboration, recorded lessons, and participation for students in suspension or attending the virtual academy. Crucially, Microsoft’s Yammer was used to support a proactive appropriate use initiative, which fostered a positive behavioral change and safe adoption. The results included a more collaborative culture across the district and the provision of vital technology access that also served as an economic development tool for families.

St. Lucie County Public Schools

Terence O’Leary

CIO