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21 hours ago

DeSoto Trail Elementary

Challenging each student to blaze a successful trail to the future.

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Technology, David Schubert

David Schubert, Technology Specialist

David Schubert

As a proud graduate of the Leon County school system, it’s an honor to serve the next generation of students here. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of West Florida. Over the past two decades in Leon County Schools, I’ve worked in roles ranging from special area teacher to instructional trainer before landing at DeSoto Trail in 2013.

I believe technology should enhance learning, strengthen family connections, and open doors to opportunity. At DTES, I maintain and support all campus technology while overseeing programs such as the Career & Professional Education initiative, the Trailblazer Fitness Adventure fundraiser, and the WDTS Morning News Show. My goal is to ensure our digital resources help students learn continuously; if you need assistance getting connected or navigating our platforms, please reach out to me.

Technology @ DTES

Technology supports a differentiated learning environment at DeSoto Trail, enabling computer-based assessments, personalized instruction and practice activities, and collaborative projects. Students are expected to use classroom technology productively, responsibly, and appropriately. Below, you’ll find more information and support for accessing the digital tools and resources we use every day.

ClassLink Support

  • ClassLink logoClassLink is a secure portal that gives students one-click access to all their digital learning tools. Instead of remembering multiple usernames and passwords, students log in once to ClassLink and then sign in to each app automatically.

    We use Microsoft accounts to authenticate to ClassLink, so always look for the "Sign In with Microsoft" button when using ClassLink.

  • On a Laptop or Desktop Computer:

    • We recommend using the Chrome or Edge browser to access ClassLink.
    • Before you begin, enable the ClassLink OneClick Extension; the automatic sign-on for some sites won't work without this extension enabled.
    • Go to the Leon County Schools ClassLink login screen. You will probably want to bookmark this page.
    • Click the Sign in with Microsoft button.
    • Enter the student's username in the format StudentIDNumber@edu.leonschools.net.
    • Enter the 5 or 6 digit Student PIN. If your student doesn't know their PIN, contact their teacher.
    • Because Microsoft sign-ins can be persistent, a common issue occurs when a parent uses a Microsoft account for college or work, or when siblings try to access ClassLink on the same computer. If your home computer is shared, we recommend using the Profiles feature in Chrome or Edge. You'll find this option in the top right corner of the browser window. Create a separate profile for each student so their web browsing occurs in an isolated session, preventing access errors when another family member uses the computer.

     

    On an iOS or Android Phone or Tablet:

    • Install the ClassLink Launchpad app for iOS or Android.
      Don't attempt to use ClassLink in Safari or Chrome; mobile operating systems don't fully support browser extensions, so the single-sign-on capabilities of ClassLink don't work properly outside of the ClassLink app on these devices.
    • Open the app and browse to the Leon County school district, or find the Sign in with Microsoft button.
    • At the Microsoft login screen, sign in with the same username and password format listed above.

  • Savvas Realize

    Savvas Realize is the online portal for our MyView Literacy curriculum, and it has resources tied to the Reading skills covered through the curriculum in class each week. There are games, eReaders, grammar activities, and more.

    Lexia Core5

    Lexia Core5 is a daily reading instruction program we use at school, especially in grades K-2. It is tailored to your student’s academic needs as a reader. Students primarily work on this program at school. If you use it at home, remember that students should work in Lexia independently. You can explain concepts to them if they get stuck, but please refrain from over-coaching or giving away the answer; it’s important that the computer can accurately track which skills a student still needs to practice and which skills they have mastered.

    Renaissance

    Accelerated Reader by Renaissance is our independent reading practice program. It encourages students to grow as readers and practice reading skills that result in strong comprehension. While students cannot take book quizzes at home, they can log in to Renaissance to check their progress toward their goals.

    HMH Ed Learning

    HMH Ed Learning is the online portal for our Go Math curriculum, where you can access a digital version of the math textbook and related activities.

    XtraMath icon

    XtraMath gives students flash-card-like practice with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts. It works best on a computer with a number keypad. Students complete a quick session in XtraMath at school each day, but they can practice more at home if they'd like to.

    i-Ready icon

    i-Ready is a daily math instruction program we use at school, especially in grades 1-2. It is tailored to your student’s academic needs in math. Like Lexia, students primarily work on this program at school, and it is important that they work independently so the computer can accurately track which skills a student still needs to practice and which skills they have mastered.

    IXL Learning

    IXL is a skills practice program for Math, Reading, and Science that also helps prepare students for the FAST test in grades 3-5. Teachers may assign practice activities to be done at home. As with other programs listed above, students should work on these practice activities independently so we get accurate data about the areas in which they need additional support from their teacher.

    McGraw Hill ConnectED

    ConnectEd is the online portal for our Science curriculum, where you can access a digital version of the textbook and related activities. It is available for students in grades 3-5.

  • Destiny Discover

    Destiny Discover is our library catalog for finding print books available in our media center's collection. Students can search by topic or reading level and view a list of books they have checked out.

    Khann Academy

    Khan Academy provides free, high‑quality lessons and practice in math, reading, science, and more. Short videos pair with adaptive exercises. This is a great resource for additional practice at home.

    Canva graphic design platform

    Canva lets students design polished presentations, posters, flyers, and graphics with easy drag‑and‑drop tools. Leon County students have access to the education version, unlocking professional features like premium templates and collaboration tools.

    Microsoft 365

    Microsoft 365 offers Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, and Teams for writing, presenting, note‑taking, and collaboration, as well as OneDrive for online file storage. Leon County students have access to a paid Office 365 membership that works on school and personal devices as long as they are enrolled in our school district.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Each classroom is equipped with an interactive panel, document camera, sound system, and a Chromebook for every student. CAPE classrooms include full sets of Windows laptops, giving students hands-on experience with foundational computing skills. Through ClassLink, our single sign-on platform, students and teachers access a wide range of curriculum-aligned web-based software.

  • The Focus Parent Portal gives custodial parents and guardians secure access to their child’s school records. During the student enrollment process, the enrolling parent will create a Parent Portal account, which is automatically linked to that child’s information.

    Additional parents/guardians will need to create their own account using a Parent Portal Letter from the school registrar. This letter includes a unique PIN that links their account to the student’s records. Situations such as siblings registered by different parents or changes in custody can make this process confusing. If you have custody of a Trailblazer but cannot see their records in Parent Portal, please contact Jennifer Bates at jennifer.bates@leonschools.net for assistance.

  • Every student in grades K–12 is issued a Chromebook by Leon County Schools. In elementary school, devices stay on campus and are used for learning activities, assessments, and accessing digital resources through ClassLink, our single sign-on portal. Having an individual Chromebook gives teachers and students the flexibility to use technology when it enhances learning and set it aside when other approaches are more effective.

    Chromebooks are for educational purposes only, and students are expected to handle them responsibly. Internet use is filtered and monitored for safety, and teachers use GoGuardian classroom management software to keep students on task.

  • Florida's Career and Professional Education (CAPE) program provides courses that build industry-specific career skills. At the elementary level, CAPE introduces students to foundational computer skills that support academic success and prepare them for high school CAPE courses offering industry certifications in technology fields.

    At DeSoto Trail, students in grades 3–5 complete ICT Fundamentals, Presentations, Word Processing, and Cyber Security courses developed by Certification Partners. These courses are taught during Special Area classes (Guidance, Media, or STEAM) so they do not take time away from core subjects. At the end of each course, students demonstrate their learning by taking a certification exam to earn a certificate in that subject area.

  • WDTS is our daily student-run morning news program, giving fifth graders the chance to take on on-camera roles or work behind the scenes. Students sign up with their homeroom teacher at the beginning of the year for a scheduled time when their class participates.

    This program is directed and operated by students, with oversight from the sponsor teacher, Mr. Schubert. Participants gain hands-on experience with professional broadcast technologies while learning valuable skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and public speaking. Serving on WDTS also means being a role model for the entire school: every Trailblazer starts the day watching the news show, so students learn the importance of preparation, responsibility, and leadership. Parents can watch WDTS from home via our YouTube playlist.

  • Trailblazer Fitness Adventure logoThe Trailblazer Fitness Adventure (TFA) is our school-wide fundraiser that promotes health and wellness while supporting essential resources for students. Each year, students participate in fun fitness challenges to celebrate the success of the fundraiser. The fundraiser runs through our PTO, who staff the event and designate how funds are used. Most years, proceeds are directed toward school-wide technology enhancements, helping us keep classroom devices and digital tools up to date. Some years, we’ve also funded major campus improvements, including new playgrounds and a paved running track.

    We’re proud that TFA is organized entirely by our PTO and school staff, without hiring third-party fundraising companies that take a large share of donations. Every dollar raised goes directly back to our campus to benefit students. This is one of our biggest volunteer events, so if you’d like to help, contact the PTO volunteer coordinators at desotovolunteers@gmail.com. Each year, we’re amazed by the incredible support from our Trailblazer community!