Naperville Central High School in Illinois is 100th SMART Showcase School
CALGARY, Alberta --- May 5, 2008 --- SMART Technologies announces that Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois, is the 100th SMART Showcase School. The high school, part of Naperville Community Unit School District 203, exemplifies the qualities of all SMART Showcase Schools. Each school demonstrates the benefits of using SMART education solutions to create an engaging 21st-century learning environment, and staff is committed to sharing results with the education community. SMART Showcase Schools act as host sites for other school or district stakeholders interested in learning how SMART’s education solutions can improve teaching and learning. Educators at Naperville Central further demonstrate their commitment by providing teachers throughout the Chicago-area with training on how technology can be used to engage students.
Four years ago, Naperville Central High School’s administration radically changed the way it used educational technology to support its 3,000 students. Naperville Central’s proactive leadership plan is to assist teachers in implementing technology in order to improve instruction, student engagement, communication with parents and learning opportunities for students. Technology coordinators were hired for each department, which increased teachers’ proficiency and confidence. Naperville Central also provides educators in the Chicago area with extensive professional development on SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards.
“At Naperville Central we encourage our students to be resourceful learners who use technology in transformational ways throughout the learning process,” says Jackie Pfeiffer, Naperville Central High School’s assistant principal. “Our experience has shown us that when students use SMART products, they are more engaged in their learning, and their retention and understanding increase.”
“We welcome Naperville Central High School into our SMART Showcase School family,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO. “As the 100th school to receive this accreditation, accrediting Naperville Central marks an important milestone for SMART and represents the rapidly growing community of schools that are maximizing the use of our solutions to improve student outcomes.”
About Naperville Community Unit School District 203
The vision of District 203 high schools is to produce graduates who are self-directed learners, collaborative workers, complex thinkers, community contributors and quality producers. The last aspect – quality producers – focuses on technology. District 203 educators hope their students will create products that achieve an authentic purpose; are appropriate for audience and context; reflect confidence, objectivity and craftsmanship; and use relevant computer technology wisely, ethically and efficiently. To learn more about Naperville Community Unit School District 203 visit www.naperville203.org/schools/.
About SMART Showcase Schools
SMART Showcase Schools use classroom technology in outstanding ways. These schools have become resources for other educators who want to learn more about the benefits of implementing SMART products in the classroom. SMART hand selects schools and districts with demonstrated commitments to creating 21st-century learning environments. Visitors to a SMART Showcase School can expect to see how SMART products are used to engage students and enhance lessons every day. SMART Showcase Schools and Districts are located throughout the United States and Canada, and plans are in place to establish Showcase Schools in other countries in the near future. To learn more about SMART Showcase Schools visit www.education.smarttech.com/showcase.
