Case Study: Thomaston Upson Schools

Activating Learning in Every Classroom

"The Promethean Activclassroom System ignited our imaginations. Our schools are ‘activated’ – alive with learning – you can see it, hear it, and feel it when you talk to our teachers and students."

Dr. Howard Hendley, superintendent of Thomaston-Upson County Schools

Challenges and Goals

Today’s students live in a multimedia world. The technologies that students enjoy in their lives outside school make it more difficult for teachers to capture their attention with “old fashioned” tools, like traditional chalkboards, whiteboards, and overhead projectors.

In 2001, the Thomaston-Upson County School District technology department initiated a plan to research new and exciting tools to assist teachers in improving upon more traditional methods of teaching that would significantly impact student learning. Their research led them to an electronic or interactive whiteboard.

"Our teachers do an excellent job teaching their students, and yet we knew they would welcome an innovative solution that could get this technology-savvy generation’s attention and keep them motivated to learn," said Dr. Marguarite Jones, principal of Upson Lee South Elementary School.

Mike Gatlin, Director of Technology and Federal Programs explains, “I could continue to fund existing initiatives, add something new like laptops for students or teachers, put more computers in the classroom, add mobile wireless labs.  But in all of these cases, I found that the same teachers were always the ones who were using the technology no matter what we introduced.  Time consumed to “check out” the equipment and unreliability were a key factor.”