In the Best Interest of the Student: How McPherson Middle School left Chromebooks Behind
February 12, 2026
Description
On Thursday, February 12, at 12:00 PM (CDT) KSBRC hosted a presentation by McPherson Middle School Principal Ms. Inge Esping and school social worker Ms. Carrie Brock. They will discuss how McPherson Middle School administration and teachers arrived at the decision to return to pencil and paper homework assignments and significantly reduce the use of Chromebooks in the classroom. They will also update us on how this policy and practice is going since students returned to the classroom and the implementation of this new policy in January.
McPherson has an enrollment of nearly 500 students and is one of newest schools to take this step, while others are contemplating moving away from a dependence on technology and returning to traditional pencil and paper. This new policy is also aimed at improving students’ focus and attention in the classroom and ultimately improving student performance and mental health.
Ms. Esping argues that when students are flooded by so many distractions, it makes it very challenging for them to stay tuned in to the classroom and to the teacher, and students seem to engage more and attend better when they’re physically able to feel the materials in their hands. Ms. Esping learned that others who have taken this step have been able to save money and have better learning outcomes in the long term as a direct result of this policy change.
Panelist:
Ms. Inge Esping, is the principal of McPherson Middle School in McPherson, KS with a population of about . During her tenure, she has led a cultural transformation centered on safety, connection, and consistency. Ms. Esping has implemented initiatives such as Bullpup Time Advisory, and the Resiliency Initiative and the Parents in Partnership program. Under her leadership, McPherson has been recognized as a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School for five consecutive years. Ms. Inge was recently named 2025 Kansas Middle Level Principal of the Year by the Kansas Principals Association.
A Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist™, Carrie Brock holds an MSW from Washburn University and a BSW from Kansas State University. Currently supporting students at McPherson High School through the McPherson County Special Education Cooperative, she also manages a private practice serving a diverse clinical population. Her commitment to system-level reform is rooted in her observations of how social media and technology shape the social, behavioral and psychological landscape for today’s students.