These are the times that try practitioners' educational bottom lines. Thomas Paine, an American revolutionary and pamphleteer of the eighteenth century, found that the revolution through which his writings steered America's colonial ancestors put both their souls and his on trial. However, even after being vilified by his former countrymen, this revolutionary patriot and little known inventor sought to remain connected to the continent. To do this, Paine designed a pier-less iron bridge that he hoped to promote in the new American states and, perhaps even abroad. Today, the importance of remaining connected to others near and far is also understood, and thus the digital revolution to further social studies understanding and curiosity for North Carolina public school teachers and their students in grades four through seven has been embraced. Like a pier-less bridge designed to move people, digital work online as well as in printed texts and video productions was designed to move the minds and imaginations of North Carolina's public school students by connecting them with global information about cultural geography beyond the borders of their towns. This article presents an account of how the best laid plans, digital and otherwise, can remain unrealized if they do not receive administrative support.