Ojai Valley News • Friday, Dec. 24, 2010

OEF donates $37K to valley classrooms School District hopes to expand the new interactive enVisionMath program

Joanna Iwata

OVN contributor

  For the 2010-2011 academic year, the Ojai Education Foundation has provided the Ojai Unified School District with an initial three-year grant of $37,500 to equip 26 classrooms with new technology that includes laptop computers, digital projectors and document cameras.

This project reaches more than 1,100 students in fourth to eighth grades for this year. Next year OEF and the OUSD will roll out programs targeted for grades two and three, and the year after that, to kindergarten and first grade classrooms.

Hank Bangser, OUSD superintendent, said, "We are extremely grateful to the Ojai Education Foundation for their substantial grant support, recognizing the most urgent and important needs related to the launch of a new math curriculum."

California education law mandates that school districts adopt new kindergarten through eighth-grade textbooks and programs every seven years. After two years of careful research about the value of a more interactive mathematics program which engages and motivates students through not only creative instructional strategies but also activities and technology, OUSD chose to adopt enVisionMath and new algebra programs to launch in six schools throughout the Ojai Valley.

This year presented a unique opportunity for the Ojai Education Foundation to help modernize the classroom through the use of new technologies that not only enhanced the learning experience for many students, but for teachers as well.

"As a teacher I am able to access the publishers' website and I literally have every component of the math program immediately available!" said teacher Heather Ramsey of Summit Elementary. "Teaching and learning have reached a new engaging level of interactivity thanks to the technology that OEF is generously supporting in the OUSD."

 Meiners Oaks students, along with kids across the Ojai School District, have new math programs that are more interactive and fun.

 Susan Dvortcsak, who teaches pre-algebra and special education at Matilija Junior High School, also noted the importance of the daily use of the new technology within all of her classrooms (especially with the new math adoption), which engages students in the classroom. She emphasized that the online tutorials are helpful to students and their parents for daily lessons and test preparation as well.

For fourth-grade students at San Antonio, Sandra Hansen said, "Our new technology brings enVisionMath to life, with colorful video enhanced with music and song. Math is actually a fun and engaging experience."

Fifth-grade students at Meiners Oaks Elementary School are noticing the positive differences as well. One student commented, "I used to have my parents help me with math, and now I don't, and I also think that I've been doing better." Another said, "It's a lot more fun on the screen than in the book because there are more things that keep my attention such as movement and sound, instead of just reading a book or hearing the teacher talk."

This also echoes the sentiments of fifth- and sixth-grade teachers at Mira Monte, Vicki Hughart and Kent Houston. Both describe the new technology as exciting, as it raises their students' attention and interest levels — not only due to the quality of the presentation but also through the new projectors, which they say allow teachers to show both a fun and colorful animated version of the math lesson and more.

Some of the more immediate and positive results in launching the new enVisionMath programs are also reflected in the comments of the elementary principals. "There is a renewed sense of excitement in the voices of teachers when talking about the new technology with which they can teach," said Theresa Dutter, principal of Summit and San Antonio Elementary schools. "We are deeply appreciative of the support of the Ojai Education Foundation and the community for making this possible."

John LeSuer, principal at Topa Topa Elementary, agrees. "This technology has been very helpful not only for math, but for all subject areas. I have observed teachers using it for science experiments, writing assignments, art, and social studies projects."

But the Ojai Education Foundation isn't done yet. Thayne Whipple, OEF president, said, "One of our immediate goals is to now raise $52,000 to complete the math technology project for the remaining classrooms in grades kindergarten through third. We want this technology to be available to more students in the school system that goes beyond just the enVision program to include other subjects."

Whipple added, "We also recognize that, as the cost continues to rise to support innovative programs like this in our public school system — along with state budget funding decreasing — support from our donors, local businesses and family sponsors is critical. We have to rise to the occasion. And we hope that many others will join us in this important valleywide fund-raising and OEF Annual Appeal effort."

The mission of OEF is to provide distinctive educational opportunities that support students with the resources they need to excel in their education goals. For more information on how you can contribute to this important community project go to Ojaief.org, call 669-3075, or write to: Ojai Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1769, Ojai, CA 93024.