Arkansas Academy of Computing - Member public profile

Making a Difference in Computing and Information Technology

Home
Member details

Back

Don Benton

Member profile details

Membership level

Dormant

First name

Don

Last name

Benton

don.benton@ade.arkansas.gov

Phone

5016276224

MemberProfile

www.donaldbenton.com

https://donb84.wixsite.com/don-benton/vita

Don Benton, Assistant Commissioner of Research and Technology at the Arkansas Department of Education, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
For two decades prior to joining the Department, Don was the Director of the Hot Springs Technology Institute (HSTI) and saw that conference grow from small,
plucky startup to the preeminent professional development conference in the state to a gathering that inspired dozens of others around the state. He founded the Schools Without Walls conference a decade ago. Don began his career at the Hot Springs School District (HSSD) where he grew from classroom teacher in 1994 to the Technology Director in 1998. He would hold that role for eleven years and oversee the district’s transformation in educational technology.
Don left HSSD to become a faculty member at Henderson State University (HSU) where he served as an Assistant Professor for nine years. He developed the MSE program in Educational Technology Leadership which was approved as a degree conferring program six years ago. He then oversaw the development of the online learning program for HSU’s Educational Leadership offerings.
Don’s reputation as a leader in Educational Technology has garnered him numerous recognitions. He has been honored with the National Business Education Association’s Award of Merit in 1994. HSU recognized his contributions by awarding him their Faculty Excellence in Innovation and Creativity award in 2012; and he has been named the Arkansas Technology Leader of the Year twice by the Arkansas Association of Instructional Media (2002 and 2013).
Don received his BS, his MS, and his Ed.S. at Henderson State University, and was the first graduate student to complete his degree work using the digital portfolio system there. He is pursuing his Ed.D. at Boise State university candidate.