Smart Board Teacher Grant Application

The District currently has 23 SMARTBoards in classrooms.  The SMARTBoard is an interactive whiteboard that turns your computer and data projector into a powerful tool for teaching and presenting.  With the computer image projected on the board, you can use your finger and press on the large touch-sensitive surface to control the computer.  This allows the teacher and students to do presentations from the front of the room instead of being at the computer.  Using pens from the SMART Pen Tray, you can write on the board and the touch-sensitive screen tells the computer what color pen you are using and your notes are projected onto the screen in the correct color.  You can save these notes on the computer or give them out as a study aid. 

The SMART Boards are used on a daily basis to show videos, present notes or projects, play educational games, and provide an interactive learning environment.  This technology has proven effective in reaching students with a variety of learning styles, including those with special needs.  It has also proven itself in many different departments, including Mathematics, History, English, Spanish, Music, Science, Computer Instruction, and Athletics.

It began in 2005-2006 when the River Bend Educational Foundation purchased three SMART Boards for use in each of the schools.  Then, in the spring of 2006, the technology committee purchased nine more SMART Boards for use in our district.  The money to purchase these came from the River Bend Educational Foundation, District funds, Music Boosters and Athletic Boosters.

In the spring of 2007, the River Bend Educational Foundation showcased the SMART technology to local businesses and members of the community in an effort to raise funds to purchase additional units.  The foundation matched over six thousand dollars donated by businesses and community members. With additional District and Music Booster funds, we purchased 11 more SMARTBoards. 

The placement of the new SMART Boards was determined solely by the grant applications that the teachers submitted.  These applications were reviewed by all of the Administrators, the technology coordinator, and a member of the River Bend Educational Foundation.  Thanks to all of you who have contributed funding to allow the teachers of River Bend to provide an interactive learning environment for their students!  Any one interested in donating to help purchase more SMARTBoards for the district may make a tax deductible donation through the RBEF.  

Those teachers now having SMARTBoards in their rooms are: