Board Approves New Apple Products for All Students, Teachers

At the April 22, 2019 Board of Education meeting, Johnston board members approved the lease of all-new Apple iPads for students and staff in the district.

More than 6,000 new personal learning devices will be given to students and staff at the start of the 2019-20 school year. This monumental roll out will be the largest of its kind in the district and speaks to the critical role instructional technology plays in learning.

“We went 1:1 with iPads in 2012 at Johnston High School and haven’t looked back,” said Ann Wiley, JCSD instructional technology coordinator. “Each year, we’ve expanded 1:1 offerings to more students and teachers throughout the district. The board’s support of new products will give our students and staff the very best in personal learning tools.”

Giving students their devices is only half the picture. Teachers and support staff invest time year-round in learning about appropriate and beneficial apps, software, and teaching tools

Students and teachers in grades 4 through 12 are part of the JCSD 1:1 program. More than 6,000 new Apple devices will be distributed in the district next year as part of a new lease.

to make the most of the iPads. So much so, in fact, that Johnston High School, Johnston Middle School, and Summit Middle School are recognized as Apple Distinguished Schools for their iPad program.

Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence that use Apple products to inspire creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. They showcase state-of-the-art technology in learning, teaching, and the school environment and have documented results of academic accomplishment.

JCSD technology staff will spend the summer preparing approximately 6,140 new Apple devices for students and staff in grades 4 through 12. Lower elementary grades and early childhood education classes are 2:1 on Apple devices.