Other Highlights
Office of the Mayor
City of Los Angeles
ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2009
CONTACT:
Nadia Gonzalez
(213) 300-9987
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA CELEBRATES NEW TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL LEARNING SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
New Computers and Innovative Education Programming to Help Propel Student Achievement at Partnership Schools
LOS ANGELES – Mayor Villaraigosa joined students and staff at Gompers Middle School today to celebrate the generous contribution of a new computer lab from Time Warner Cable and digital media resources from Discovery Education.
Their contributions to Gompers and Markham Middle Schools will grant both Partnership campus communities new access to technology that will empower educators to engage students in learning and improve academic achievement.
“A quality education requires that our schools have the very best in technology,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “Thanks to these contributions from Time Warner Cable and Discovery Education, our teachers will have more tools and resources to enhance instruction and engage our students in innovative ways.”
In addition to the new computer labs at Gompers and Markham, Time Warner Cable donated mobile media carts with laptops, digital projectors and screens that will enable teachers to bring high tech curriculum into any classroom in the school. Additionally, teachers at both campuses will receive flashdrives to develop and store curriculum, and each school library will be equipped with digital video recorders and flat screen televisions that instructional staff can utilize to enhance the educational experience of their students.
"Time Warner Cable is thrilled to once again partner with the Mayor's office and to be an active partner in Mayor Villaraigosa's Partnership for Los Angeles Schools," said Time Warner Cable's Executive Vice President Stephen Pagano.
"Establishing technology centers is part of our ongoing effort and commitment to bring technology and educational resources into the communities that need it most. Offering the technology needed to deliver the Discovery Education and Cable in the Classroom resources to schools will ensure that technology becomes an asset to all the students and teachers."
To compliment and maximize the use of this new hardware, Discovery Education, will supply both schools standards-based digital resources that feature an expansive online library of educational content and interactive media in all core subject areas. Discovery Education experts will also offer teachers multiple comprehensive professional development sessions aimed at helping educators integrate these new digital resources, such as content-specific video clips and assessment components, into classroom activities.
“The compelling digital media found in Discovery Education’s services can truly engage today’s students in the curriculum beyond traditional methods,” said Discovery Education’s Western Region Director Michael Botte. “We are pleased to partner with Mayor Villaraigosa, Time Warner Cable, and the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools on our shared goal of improving student achievement.”
With twelve schools, 18,000 students and 1,500 employees, The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is the largest non-district school operator in the City of Los Angeles. In recent California Standards Test Results, 9 out of our 10 Partnership schools improved their English-proficiency rates, and 8 out of 10 schools improved in math. Half of all schools out-paced LAUSD schools in 1-year proficiency growth in English Language Arts, and three schools outpaced the district in 1-year proficiency growth in Mathematics.
The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools mission is to transform teaching and learning so all students have a foundation for academic excellence and personal success.