Apple representatives visited Montlieu Academy of Technology this week to announce that the school has been named an Apple Distinguished School for the 2012-13 school year. Montlieu joins 87 schools across the United States that Apple has recognized as exemplary learning environments of innovation, leadership and educational excellence.
Montlieu, Guilford County Schools' (GCS) prototype technology school, provides one-to-one access to Apple iPad tablets for all students and faculty. Students use the tablets to supplement their education throughout all subject areas. The school has experienced impressive academic gains since beginning the technology initiative in the 2011-12 school year.
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| Students take photos and video on their iPads during the event. |
As teachers, parents and special guests entered the cafeteria for the Apple recognition event on Tuesday, hundreds of students raised their iPads to record performances by the drum line from Andrews High and cheerleaders from North Carolina A&T State University. The school celebrated the award as Apple representatives presented a plaque and banner to Principal Ged O'Donnell.
The recognition is just one in a series of accolades Montlieu has received within the past year. Montlieu also won the Piedmont Triad Education Consortium Signature School Award for 2012-13 and was recognized by GCS as one of the Most Improved Schools in the district for the 2011-12 school year.
Last week, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan visited Montlieu to learn more about the school's one-to-one technology initiative. The visit provided her with a preview of what GCS has in store for the new personalized learning focus of Strategic Plan 2016, introduced by Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green during State of Our Schools on Jan. 31.
As the district's prototype technology school, Montlieu will continue to set the pace for innovating new ways for schools to customize their students' learning experiences through the use of technology, Green said.
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| Sen. Kay Hagan visited Montlieu to see firsthand how students are using tablet technology in the classroom. |
Hagan said she plans to take what she experienced at Montlieu back to Capitol Hill with her and share the students' successes and the school's approach to engaged learning with her colleagues.
"I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to be here and to have witnessed firsthand what I have seen in this elementary school," Hagan said. "It really makes me realize how important it is, how technology is going to change how we educate our people. And I know that education is the whole future of our country."
