Perry Schools Awarded Technology Grant from Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund
As the learning environment grows more dynamic every day, educators are faced with the challenge of meeting every individual students’ unique needs in the classroom. Technology plays a major role in a student’s academic career and they begin building that foundation in elementary school. As early as third grade students are required to take state assessments fully online.
At Perry Lower and Upper Elementary School, the current technology equipment has not been adequately operating and meeting the needs of students and staff in recent years. Teachers are using donated desktop computers and smart boards from 2009 or older. While students are struggling to operate outdated, slow iPads with software that won’t even support the newest educational applications. When teachers are spending unnecessary time trying to troubleshoot why an app won't load, helping a student who got kicked out of a state assessment, or the sound is not working for a student that needs something read to them, time on task and higher fidelity in learning outcomes are negatively impacted.
After many conversations addressing the technology issue, research, and assessment of this critically important component of academic success, the school district is pleased to see relief on the horizon.
Under the leadership of Lower Elementary Principal Jennifer Shields and Perry Schools IT Director Chad Wheatley, a thorough technology improvement plan has been developed for the school district. The district tech plan includes detailed short term and long term initiatives to purchase and sustain devices, equipment, infrastructure, software, and hardware. It also outlines a timeline, life cycles, and orderly rotation for future purchases and updates over the next several years.
With a solid plan in place, they presented the plan and a grant proposal to trusted community partner, Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund (MFAF). Perry Public Schools recently received notice that they were awarded this grant, in the full amount of $756,000.
With this grant, Perry Schools will provide and maintain an infrastructure that provides equity of access to technology, as well as efficiency in the use of technology for all staff members and students so that learning can take place anytime/anywhere. Students will have 1:1 access to iPad or Chromebook devices. Also, teachers and administrators will gain better access to data management systems for analyzing student data to improve instruction and maximize student outcomes.
The installation of new devices and equipment will begin this summer with Pre-K through 6th grade classrooms. The tech plan includes framework and budgeting for junior high and high school technology updates in the future.
“What an incredibly huge gift this is! We are so grateful for this opportunity to improve technology for our staff and students and build successful pathways for all learners,” says Jennifer Shields, Perry Lower Elementary School Principal.
The Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation was established in 1992 by late Perry residents and Ditch Witch founders, Ed and Mary Malzahn, to support their community in perpetuity. After losing Ed in 2015, the MFAF Board of Trustees have strongly upheld the couples’ mission of pouring support back into the Perry community and continuing their tradition of generosity and civic responsibility.
Perry Public Schools Superintendent Chad Wilson added, “I am blown away by the continued support of the MFAF. They share our vision, care about the academic success of our students, and are helping equip us for future generations. To say I am thankful is an understatement.”