Tuckahoe Schools Launches 'Technology for All' Initiative

The Tuckahoe Union Free School District is embarking on an ambitious Technology for All initiative in line with their strategic plan. At the Board of Education meeting on May 12, the district approved a purchasing agreement for 700 Chromebooks that will provide every student in grades 3-12 with access to a classroom device by September 2014. The purchase agreement spreads costs over a five-year period and the district anticipates support through a Smart School legislative allocation.

John Krouskoff, a certified Google expert and BOCES consultant, will be leading ongoing professional development to foster the inclusion of technology into the classroom. Earlier this spring he began Google Educator certification with two groups of teachers and staff seeking to become certified in specific areas of Google Apps. Teachers are embracing the model, “Chromebooks have the potential to change the way teachers teach and students learn in Tuckahoe...and it has already begun. The ability to integrate technology into virtually every lesson, and engage students by giving them the opportunity to collaborate with one another online both inside and outside the classroom, is beyond exciting for me as a teacher.“ said Michael Gray, grade 3 teacher.

The Technology for All initiative follows a year of preliminary technology-related rollouts in which the district updated all of their websites, launched an electronic calendar, provided access to the parent portal of the student information system, extended the Wi-Fi access procured last year to after hours (under a continuous filter), started classroom integration of Chromebooks on a small scale and provided professional development and support for teachers who are required to manage their own websites. Students are in favor of the Chromebook initiative.“Chromebooks are a great help in school. They make it so that you will never lose your work or homework because it automatically saves. It also is great practice for us because we are going to need to use technology for the rest of our life." said Savannah L. Anthony D. agrees, "One way they are helpful is that it gives you more opportunities to get work done...They are fun to use and a great way to present and "Share" documents!"

Superintendent Dr. Barbara Nuzzi commented, “In support of our new strategic plan and mission ‘Prepare every student for excellence,’ it is critical that we as educators provide our students with access to current, real world tools and transformative learning experiences under a fiscally responsible model that will enhance their education in preparation for whatever opportunities tomorrow may hold for them.”