Detroit Public Schools to receive technology grants from Promethean to provide schools interactive classrooms

Published: November 14th, 2013

(Detroit, MI, November 14, 2013) Joining Detroit Public Schools (DPS) in their mission to educate students to perform at high academic levels, Promethean is investing $40,000 in interactive technology and professional development to three DPS elementary schools. The donation is part of an annual grant program in partnership with the National Alliance for Black School Educators (NABSE) to close the achievement gap through modernizing classrooms with the goal of making them more interactive and accessible for all students.

The annual donation is made to the school district of the host city of the NABSE Annual Conference. Over 3,000 educators will convene at the NABSE 41st Annual Conference at the Cobo Center November 13-17 to develop effective leadership and teaching skills that result in quality student learning. The first donation was made in November 2011 to the city of New Orleans, and another is planned for the 2014 annual conference in Kansas City, MO.

Over the past few years, DPS have expanded their schools’ reach to the community and have updated internet connectivity and technology in every school building. This allows DPS to support the needs of their diverse student population and improve their achievement. The donation will support their effort and help to turn three Detroit elementary school classrooms into cutting-edge interactive learning environments. The grant includes a total of five interactive whiteboards (ActivBoard 587 Mobile Systems), one interactive surface (ActivTable), and award-winning ActivInspire educational software. Schools receiving the donation are Chrysler Elementary, Bagley Elementary and Cooke Elementary.

“Promethean is committed to supporting organizations who promote engaging minds and inspiring ideas with interactive technologies that transform the way students learn and teachers teach and collaborate. That is why partnering with NABSE to provide a technology grant to schools is so important to us. Already, Detroit has shown a commitment to improving student achievement, and this grant will give them access to proven technology to continue their efforts”, said Lupita Knittel, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for Promethean.

As part of the donation, Promethean will train teachers on how to effectively use the technology to boost learning productivity, engage and motivate students, and transform how lessons are delivered. Teachers will also have access to thousands of digital resources from Promethean Planet, a collaborative online community dedicated to improving teaching and learning via interactive technology.

Detroit Public Schools’ Emergency Manager Jack Martin stated, “DPS truly appreciates Promethean’s generous donation and commitment to including high-quality professional development for our teachers as a part of the grant, and we believe the schools selected will greatly benefit from this wonderful gift.”

Promethean’s local partner, All Covered, a division of Konica Minolta, has generously offered to install the equipment and will also support professional development activities at no cost to the district.

About NABSE
The National Alliance of Black School Educators, founded in 1970, is the nation’s largest network of African American educators with a mission to improve the educational accomplishments of African American youth.
www.nabse.org/

NABSE Press Contact:
Ed Potillo
Phone: 202-608-6315
Email: epotillo@nabse.org

About Promethean
Promethean is a global education company that improves learning productivity by developing, integrating and implementing innovative 21st century learning environments that make everyone more engaged, empowered, and successful. The company is headquartered in Blackburn in Lancashire, England, with offices in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, please visit www.prometheanworld.com.

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• Promethean Planet: https://www.prometheanplanet.com
• Promethean Planet blog: https://community.prometheanplanet.com/en/blog/default.aspx
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• Promethean on Twitter: @ActivNews, @PrometheanUSA, @PrometheanTweet, @planet_tweets

Promethean Press Contact:
Sue Hanson
Phone: 763-657-0987
Email: sue@prwithpanache.com