WASHINGTON, July 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SETDA, the principal membership association representing U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders, announced St. Albans City School of St. Albans, Vermont, as the 2018 Student Voices Award Winner .  SETDA recognized St. Albans City School for leveraging technology to dramatically improve educational experiences and achievement for their students. Students at St. Albans City School (SACS) are immersed in digital learning environments to support equitable learning opportunities for all students. Students participated in a schoolwide, project-based learning unit around Economics, Community, and Business which incorporated multiple content areas and provided the opportunity to collaborate with community leaders and non-profit organizations. Each team in the school was in charge of creating their own business, utilizing digital tools to plan and execute their project. In addition to this honor, SETDA awarded St. Albans City School the Elsie Brumback Scholarship, which supports sending a delegation of students & staff to present during the Education Forum at the annual SETDA Leadership Summit on November 5 in Washington, DC.

For the past eleven years, SETDA has honored one school annually across the U.S.; this is the first time a Vermont school has received the award and the first PreK-8 school to win the award. Five finalists were selected from a large slate of innovative programs from across the country including:

  • Armorel High School, Arkansas (1st Runner Up)
  • Effingham County CEO Program, Illinois
  • Noblesville High School, Indiana
  • Meadow Park Middle School, Oregon
  • St. Albans City School, Vermont (Winner)

“Congratulations to St. Albans City School for being recognized by SETDA as a leader in impact technology,” shared Heather Bouchey, Acting Secretary of Education, Vermont Agency of Education. “Their whole school, multi-team project-based learning model gives students the opportunity to have a say in what they study and how they master it through digital learning. This is a great example of innovative pedagogy in the context of personalization and flexible pathways,” Bouchey continued.

“SETDA is proud to celebrate school and student successes,” stated Dr. Tracy Weeks, Executive Director, SETDA. “We look forward to learning more about St. Albans City School at the Education Forum and to hearing directly from students about their project-based learning experiences.”

“St. Albans City School is thrilled to be recognized for the impact that technology, specifically our maker-inspired project, has brought to our students’ education. The opportunity to present our story at the SETDA Leadership Summit will provide our students with an authentic audience where they can demonstrate the transferable skills that are the focus of our learning and share their knowledge and inspiration for the School Mall, a project that has opened many new doors,” said Joan Cavallo, Principal, St. Albans City School.

Learn more about the Student Voices Award and past winners here: http://www.setda.org/outreach/awards/student-voices/ and Press Release link here: http://www.setda.org/outreach/press-releases/...entvoices/

Support Thank you to AT&T Aspire for supporting the Student Voices 2018. AT&T invests in education and job training to create a skilled and diverse workforce that powers our country for the future. Technology is making it easier for everyone – regardless of age, gender, income or geography – to learn anytime, anywhere. Through the AT&T Aspire initiative, AT&T brings together the power of its network – its employees, its technology and organizations – to connect people to opportunities through education and job training. Since 2008, AT&T has committed $400 million to programs to help millions of students in all 50 states and around the world. Learn more at att.com/aspire .

About SETDA The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), founded in 2001, is the national non-profit association representing the interests of U.S. state and territorial educational technology leadership. SETDA’s mission is to build and increase the capacity of state and national leaders to improve education through technology policy and practice.

CONTACT Tracy S. Weeks, Ph.D. Executive Director SETDA 202-715-6636 x700