From Our Schools to You
By Rich Hanson, Le Sueur – Henderson Superintendent of Schools
Another Step Toward Education of the Future
Learning and instruction for the Le Sueur – Henderson School District’s future took another step forward at our May 7th school board meeting.
The board formally approved the implementation of iPads for all 4th and 5th grade STEM students at Hilltop Elementary beginning in the fall.
We have been researching and planning a proposal to implement a 1:1 program (one electronic device, (iPad) for each student) over the last several months.
With the use of the iPads, instruction will have a significant change. We will be able to individualize our teaching to better meet the needs of all of our students. Multiple students will be able to work on multiple projects and assignments at the same time. Individual students will be able to better work at their particular level and thus learn what it is they need to learn.
Even though the iPads were just approved, the planning has been taking place for some time. Our teaching staff has not only been preparing for the iPads in their classrooms, but they have been learning how to adjust their instruction to ensure we will be using the iPads to the best of our abilities.
Much more work is still ahead.
Trainings will continue to take place over the summer months. These trainings will not be limited to iPad use, but will include broadening our understandings of inquiry based instruction through STEM as well as individualized instruction to meet all children’s needs.
For right now, the 1:1 initiative is only approved for the fourth and fifth grades. We fully understand that children in the fourth and fifth grades next year will move onto middle school and eventually high school. As students become familiar and immersed in this instructional model, we will need to continue expand our initiative to meet their needs as they grow. We are continuing to plan for this.
We are also very aware of the importance of preparing our younger students for an inquiry based instructional model. As we move forward, we will implement strategies at the younger grade levels.
This will all factor into our goal of having a comprehensive and cohesive educational program for all of our children, preschool all the way through high school graduation.
One of the key factors to building a strong foundation of instruction is preparation. Our teachers are diligently working to prepare both curriculum and instructional strategies so each student’s experience will be as successful as it can be. This necessitates a great deal of groundwork being done before hand. Some of this planning has been taking place for the last three to four years.
One very important principle we have centered our work around is that we will make sure our teachers are ready and prepared to use the devices (iPads) before we give them to the students. If we did not do this, our instruction would not be nearly as meaningful and useful.
The changes we are working toward are very forward thinking from the traditional school model most of us grew up with.
Some might ask why we need to make these changes. The answer is really quite simple. Our children today have different needs than they did ten, 20 or30 years ago. We need to stay current and look ahead so our children and we will be prepared.
I welcome your comments or questions. You can contact me at or 665-4600.