The devices were purchased through a three-year grant from Apple.(Photo: Leigh Guidry/The Town Talk)Buy Photo

Six Alexandria schools are “stepping into the 21st century with style,” district officials said Monday as they celebrated a three-year ConnectED grant from Apple that will provide an iPad for every student and teacher at receiving schools.

“With over 2,000 proposals submitted, and 114 awarded grants, our district receiving six of those grants is nothing short of amazing,” Superintendent of Rapides schools Nason “Tony” Authement said. “We believe (the technology) will open up avenues these children would never be exposed to.”

District grant writer Bethanie Herrick wrote and submitted the grant proposals.

“This was a monumental task and without her efforts this would not have become a reality,” Authement said.

Faculty will receive training from Apple duringA 17 professional development days over the next year, Herrick said.A Each school has a plan for sustainability that includes a budget to replace devices as needed after the grant expires.

As technology and the needs of the district change, the grant could evolve, she said.

“It’s a living grant that will move and change as we need it to,” Herrick said.

Monday’s kickoff event was one way to encourage teachers to embrace the new technology and allow it to enhance their instruction, she said.

“The future is theirs to write,” Herrick said.

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