Partnership with Digital Promise will Supplement Classroom Initiatives for Next Two School Years
HUDSON, N.Y., March 12, 2024 – Hudson Senior High School and Hudson Junior High School students and faculty will receive free Chromebooks, and the Hudson City School District will benefit from enhanced internet access, funding to hire instructional technology coaches, and innovative science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning programs that advance students’ education and opportunities.
The initiatives are being provided through a partnership with nonprofit Digital Promise to participate in the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program for up to four years.
The partnership covers the next two school years, starting in September 2024 and concluding June 30, 2026. Hudson was selected for participation by Digital Promise after a rigorous, competitive process. Overall, the program provides extensive training, support and opportunities to engage in powerful teaching and learning that leverages technology inside and outside of classrooms.
The program, which addresses barriers to digital inclusion, will provide at no cost to the school district:
- – Approximately 993 Google Chromebooks and additional Chromebook chargers.
- – Faster high-speed internet access data plans of at least 30 gigabytes per month for every student and teacher at Hudson Senior and Junior High Schools, a benefit that will increase efficiency and load capacity and strengthen opportunities for 24/7 learning.
- – Funding for each of the two school years to equip each school with a technology coach and provide robust professional development support for teachers to effectively integrate technology into the classroom. The District has active job postings for two instructional technology coach positions, one at each building.
- – Stipends each year to provide a school-based point of contact that will serve as a lead for technology support and device management at the school level.
“By leveraging technology innovations through the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program,” said Hudson City School District Superintendent Dr. Juliette Pennyman, “we can revolutionize how we approach our daily instructional delivery and enable every student to access high-quality learning experiences, irrespective of their learning styles or socio-economic status.”
“We are deeply appreciative of Digital Promise and the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program’s generous investment in our students’ academic success,” said Board of Education President Willette Jones. “Technology, along with the Hudson City School District’s dedicated teachers and staff, are vital to our students’ life and career goals, and we thank and commend Digital Promise and Verizon for their foresight in creating and implementing such a supportive program in Hudson and nationwide.”
Hudson Senior and Junior High Schools are among the 34 new schools joining the 11th cohort of Verizon Innovative Learning Schools, bringing the program to 626 middle and high schools nationwide. 82% of teachers in school districts where the program has been implemented have said that Verizon Innovative Learning enhanced their ability to differentiate instruction, and 77% said the program enhanced student engagement.
“At Verizon, we all know how critical access to technology and skills development are in today’s digital world,” said Mario Acosta-Velez, Regional Director, Verizon Local Engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility. “That’s why we are proud to work with Digital Promise to bring Verizon Innovative Learning Schools to the Hudson City School District and enable students to develop the skills, knowledge and capabilities to be successful and become the next generation of STEM leaders.”
To prepare for implementation of the partnership, the Hudson City School District Instructional Technology (IT) Department is working with Digital Promise by attending weekly planning meetings every Friday, and attended the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Spring Virtual Conference March 5-6. Hudson IT staff will learn from and alongside fellow Verizon Innovative Learning community members from the 10 nationwide cohorts in the network. At the conference, unique experiences, strategies and research-based practices for meaningful leveraging of technology will be shared to establish and sustain a culture of powerful learning in classrooms, campuses and districts.
Hudson’s IT Department will continue working with building and district leaders to make recommendations for updating District technology policies, regulations and exhibits, and also develop a Student Handbook. Using funds provided by the partnership, Dr. Pennyman, Instructional Technology Manager Cheryl Rabinowitz, Hudson Senior High School Principal Derek Reardon and Junior High School Principal Rhode Cooper will attend the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Leader Summit alongside other leaders from the program’s 11th cohort in Kansas City, Missouri, May 14-17.
Verizon Innovative Learning, which addresses barriers to digital inclusion, is part of Citizen Verizon, Verizon’s business plan to move the world forward for all. Learn more about the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program and how to apply at verizon.digitalpromise.org.
