FRANKFORT, KY – This school year the Frankfort Independent Board of Education approved a partnership with Dataseam, a Louisville- based education and workforce development organization providing instructional technology as part of upskilling K- 12 IT professionals, currently in 53 school districts statewide.
“With this new Dataseam partnership, we will be able to offer some unique opportunities for students and staff that otherwise would not have been available,” said Jonathan Jones, Director of Technology. “In addition this opportunity will further provide Frankfort Independent additional resources to keep up with a rapidly changing learning landscape and better equip our future workforce of Kentucky through the educational initiatives and student scholarship opportunities available through Dataseam”.
Participating public schools earn high-end Apple workstations addressing curriculum needs reflective of a knowledge-based workforce. These computers comprise the statewide DataseamGrid supporting the Commonwealth’s research and commercialization efforts at the University of Louisville’s Brown Cancer Center.
Brian Gupton, CEO of Dataseam, stated “We are glad to have Frankfort Independent Schools join the statewide Dataseam partnership. Our previous work with Mr. Jones is a sure signal this will be a good experience for all of us. We know the workstations earned through the program funded by the Kentucky General Assembly will be well- supported not only for the research, but also the needs of the students.”
Digital Art Class at Frankfort HS
Julia Harmon, a Frankfort High teacher will be utilizing the new iMacs for computer graphic design, photo editing, and animation. The school’s broadcasting course will use the devices for video creation, editing, animation graphics and still graphic creation. Additionally, the High School yearbook team will use them for photo editing and yearbook page design, while some of the Advanced / Studio students will use the lab for their portfolio creations. The school will also utilize the lab for 3-D printer technology, poster makers, as well as other STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) related technology.
Michelle Elam, the High School’s Technology Specialist, commented, “I am so excited about our new Mac lab and being able to open up new opportunities to our students. Getting to see how excited they are to have this technology at their hands has been incredible. Most of our students have never seen an iMac before we opened our lab.” Elam, who will be attending an upcoming Dataseam technical training, which is part of the partnership’s mission to improve Kentucky’s IT workforce, also went on to say “I am pretty new to the technology side at my school and I am trying to take advantage of every opportunity possible to learn more and bring more to our schools.”
Jonathan Jones continues, “For a school District such as Frankfort Independent, relying on just local school funds, grants, and the limited amount of Federal and State funding, it has been challenging for Frankfort Independent which is also in a unique position in that we are exempt from 75% of taxable property, which places our students and our technology initiatives at a greater disadvantage. With Dataseam’s offerings, we can make a greater impact in bridging the digital divide.”
We would like to thank Dataseam and the Frankfort Independent Board of Education for allowing us this opportunity.
Download the full press release HERE.
