Bellevue School District Puts SMART Board Interactive Whiteboards in Every School
Teachers' praise for interactive whiteboards spurs district-wide installation
Calgary, AB – April 13, 2004 – SMART Technologies Inc. announces the installation of SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards in every school in Bellevue School District, WA, to help teachers save administrative time and enhance lesson delivery for improved student outcomes. A minimum of five classrooms in each of the district's 28 schools are equipped with this award-winning educational product. Three schools have one in every classroom. With this recent installation, nearly 200 SMART Board interactive whiteboards serve the Bellevue School District’s 15,210 students.
Powerful testimonials from teachers played a major role in the decision to install SMART products throughout the district. Phantom Lake Elementary School was the first district school to use a SMART Board interactive whiteboard. Every classroom was equipped with an interactive whiteboard, and teachers soon learned how the easy-to-use products could improve student learning and retention. The speedy, enthusiastic adoption of SMART Board interactive whiteboards by teachers and the positive effect they had on students made the decision to install the products across the district a simple one.
"We were very impressed with the ease of use, durability and functionality of SMART Board interactive whiteboards," says Jack McLeod, director of Bellevue School District’s facilities and information services. "Teachers at Phantom Lake Elementary School reported that they saved at least two hours daily by using SMART Board interactive whiteboards. Time freed up by using the interactive whiteboards was then put into making lesson plans even better. Interaction between teachers and students increased and SMART Ideas® concept-mapping software and free resources from SMART's EDCompass™ website further improved teaching. We want teachers and students throughout our school district to enjoy these benefits."
"It is very rewarding to know that SMART products are inspiring young learners and helping teachers in the Bellevue School District,” says Nancy Knowlton, president and co-CEO of SMART. “Research shows that SMART Board interactive whiteboards have proven benefits in education, and we know they are in more than 100,000 classrooms worldwide, but it’s feedback from our customers that confirms that we’re on the right track.”
About Bellevue School District
Bellevue School District serves more than 15,000 students in Bellevue and the smaller outlying communities of Clyde Hill, Medina, Hunts Point, Yarrow Point and Beaux Arts, plus portions of Renton, Issaquah, Redmond and unincorporated King County. The district has sixteen elementary schools, five middle schools, two alternative middle schools, four high schools and two alternative high schools.
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For more information, please contact:
Public Relations
SMART Technologies Inc.
300, 1207 - 11th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB CANADA T3C 0M5
Phone +1.403.802.3337 Fax +1.403.228.2500
pr@smarttech.com
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.