Livingston Parish Elementary Schools
Receive IBM Early Learning Technology
IBM Regional Director Jim Driesse, Livingston Parish School Superintendent, Livingston Parish School Instructional Supervisor Belinda Watson, and Doyle Elementary Principal Diane Smith, pictured left to right, recently held a media tour of Doyle Elementary School's classrooms where three new IBM Young Explorer Learning Centers have been installed as part of a parish-wide grant initiative. The school district was awarded 75 learning centers by IBM, allowing three centers to be placed at each elementary school in the parish. Pre-K, Kindergarten and first-grade students at Doyle Elementary, including kindergarteners Camryn Stewart and Caleb Aime, pictured sitting, have already begun working on fun, interactive lessons that teach math, science and language concepts.
The Livingston Parish School System has received 75 Young Explorer learning centers from IBM
valued at nearly $200,000 to enhance and inspire learning among its youngest students,
thanks to a technology grant awarded to the district.
School officials and representatives with IBM announced the donation today (Oct. 26) at Doyle Elementary School in Livingston, where local teachers and students demonstrated their use of the new computerized centers.
The computer centers are actually housed in brightly colored, child-friendly Little Tikes furniture, and they are equipped with award-winning educational software that helps children learn and explore concepts in math, science and language. The computer centers also help children learn important socialization skills such as cooperation and sharing, which are essential to classroom success.
The user-friendly designs help teachers and students become more confident about incorporating technology into their day-to-day learning activities.
"We are excited about the learning potential these new early learning centers will provide for our students," Livingston Parish School Superintendent Bill Spear said. "Thanks to IBM, we are able to provide three learning centers at each elementary school in the parish, and they will be incorporated into classroom instruction for our pre-K, Kindergarten and first graders."
Livingston Parish School Instructional Supervisor Belinda Watson said she applied for the IBM grant earlier this summer after a parent of a Seventh Ward Elementary student notified his school principal about the company's program; and the principal, in turn, presented Watson with the opportunity. She said each learning center is valued at approximately $2,600.
"This program allows our district to expand technology throughout our elementary schools, and to do so in a way that benefits our youngest students," Watson said. "We believe that by introducing these students to these computerized learning centers, they will be better able to adapt and utilize other technology tools as they progress in their education."
The grant is part of a $4 million nationwide initiative by IBM to provide 1,500 computers and teaching curricula to schools and nonprofit organizations that provide services to disadvantaged students. The company has partnered with the KidSmart Early Learning program to provide new learning opportunities for children through its Young Explorer computer center.
"IBM is dedicated to bridging the digital divide and building the skills that young students need to succeed in their future education and their eventual careers," said Stanley Litow, vice president of Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, and president of IBM International Foundation.
Litow noted that the KidSmart program also includes access the KidSmart website, www.kidsmartearlylearning.org, which can assist parents and teachers as they guide the children's use of the technology.
IBM Vice President and Senior State Executive of Louisiana Jim Driesse said the grant to Livingston Parish is one of largest single grants awarded through the program.
"Congratulations to Livingston Parish and its officials for securing such a sizable gift. This is one of the largest single grant awards given out," Driesse said. "We are excited for the school district and the potential it has to introduce so many students to this program."
IBM developed the KidSmart program in 1998 to help reduce the digital divide, especially in urban areas, where it was becoming apparent that children from less affluent backgrounds needed access to specialized technology tools and educational materials to better prepare them to enter school. IBM is focused on increasing the number of children entering into math, science and engineering, and believes that success in early childhood learning is a critical step.
Since the inception of KidSmart, IBM has donated more than 50,000 Young Explorer learning centers to schools and nonprofit organizations in 60 countries, serving more than 10 million students and 100,000 teachers.
Doyle Elementary School's kindergartners Caleb Aime and Allie Behrnes work with a computer software program that teaches numbers and colors using their classroom's newly installed IBM Young Explorer Learning Center. The school received three IBM learning centers as part of the company's KidSmart Early Learning program.
