South Ripley Community School Corporation has been awarded the 2014 Digital Learning Grant from the Indiana Department of Education.
The school corporation was chosen along with 19 other schools across the state, from 132 applicants to receive $100,000 to further its digital learning initiative and 1:1 implementation plan.
South Ripley was one of 33 schools selected to make an in-person pitch to the eLearning Team at the Indiana Department of Education in Indianapolis. Making the pitch for South Ripley was a team consisting of Junior High Principal Rod Hite, Elementary Assistant Principal Amy Linkel, 5th Grade Teacher Ryan Lauber and Superintendent Rob Moorhead.
“Although the presentation team was limited to only four participants, it was a true team effort of many teachers and staff that helped create and perfect the presentation,” Moorhead said.
South Ripley plans to use the grant to provide high quality training for the teaching staff to help from continue to develop digital teaching skills and to assist with the creation of a digital curriculum. Additionally, South Ripley plans to provide an eLearning Coach to work side by side with teachers with the new program.
After a successful pilot program this school year, South Ripley plans to issue a Chromebook to each student in grades 5-8 next year. The pilot program will also be extended to freshman and sophomores and students in grades 3-4 next year, Moorhead said.
