McKinley County schools earn Apple grant

Posted by Rima Krisst | Jun 2, 2016 | Education |

Navajo Times | Adron Gardner
Ferissa Ramon, left, and Karen Cayaditto setup an iPad as principal George Staples looks on during an Apple Inc. and ConnectED technology rollout at Tse’ Yi’ Gai High School on May 18.

WINDOW ROCK

Navajo Times | Adron Gardner
Kaitlyn Morgan, left, assists vocational teacher Maurice John transfer a self-portrait wirelessly during an Apple Inc. and ConnectED technology rollout at Tse’ Yi’ Gai High School on May 18.

The art of a good selfie was an unexpected and personal technology lesson as the roles of student and teacher briefly reversed during an Apple Inc. technology rollout at Tse’ Yi’ Gai High School on May 18.

Three Gallup McKinley Schools – including Thoreau Middle School, Tohatchi Elementary and Tse’ Yi’ Gai High School – were awarded an Apple Inc. and White House ConnectED grant.

Laptop computers and iPad tablets unboxed at Tse’ Yi’ Gai brought into the fold of 114 other schools in 29 states across the country to participate in the Apple Grant tied to the Obama White House ConnectED initiative. ConnectED supplies federal funds for improving school broadband Internet access and professional development for teachers to use the newest technologies in the classroom. In conjunction with ConnectED, Apple Inc. supplies $100 million to the grant program.

“This has been a journey for us technology-wise,” said Tse’ Yi’ Gai’ Principal George Staples.

More than a year ago, Staples said the school was interested in purchasing iPads, but cost limitations pointed them to the less expensive Google Chromebook laptop. However, the Apple and White House ConnectED grant initiative changed the cost equation immediately.