LIBERTY — Liberty Elementary School students received a surprise Dec. 7 as the school was presented with a $10,000 check intended to make its technology more robust and aid students in computer knowledge and programming as well.

With a full gymnasium, students and faculty alike, Dawn Miller, instructional coach over technology, received the check from State Department of Education Associate Michael Cosenza.

According to principal Lowell Haynes, Miller was instrumental in the school being considered for the prize much less becoming the only school in South Carolina to be a recipient in 2014.

According to Haynes, Miller suggested the school submit paperwork for the award and Haynes agreed since coding and programming was already a priority during the school year.

Bryan Lee of Clemson University’s computer science department was also on hand to give the students an idea of what programming and coding is about.

Using comical applications, Lee entertained the students while relaying the message of the importance of technology and the prominent role programming and coding will play moving forward.

“Keep in mind, this is paving the way of the future and learning all you can about technology and programming is important because there aren’t many jobs out there you don’t need some technical know-how to perform,” Lee told the students during his presentation. “So, study all of your subjects because you will need them all as you get older and join the workforce.”

Haynes stressed the prize would be used to enhance the technology already available in the classrooms, including possibly more Chromebooks for students. He also recognized the efforts on Miller’s part in making the award happen.

“Dawn (Miller) was the real driving force and took the lead role in helping us win this award. She came to me and I agreed we were already going to be doing coding and programming, so why not put in for it,” Haynes said. “We’re going to put this to good use with technology for our students. We are a Title I school, so that means we have technology money available and along with this we should be able to provide some technology and do it efficiently.”

Cosenza was proud for Liberty Elementary School as well.

“This is a big deal. There are very few fields our students can be preparing for that don’t require some sort of working knowledge of technology and even programming to a degree,” Cosenza said. “This is going to give these teachers and students and opportunity to do so much more than before. I want to congratulate everyone, especially the students as they are the ones who will benefit the most.”

The check presentation was held as a part of Tech-Know Week, more specifically Hour of Code, when each student will spend time actually writing code and programming as part of the lesson plan for the week.

Through video games and applications geared toward specific age groups, Liberty Elementary School students will spend an hour this week learning about writing code and programming for computers, the purpose of Code.org and one of the reasons the school received an early Christmas gift.

Liberty Elementary School received a $10,000 windfall to kick off Tech-Know week. The funds were presented by Code.org as a part of its drive to expose more students to programming and coding of computers.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_IMG_0263.jpgLiberty Elementary School received a $10,000 windfall to kick off Tech-Know week. The funds were presented by Code.org as a part of its drive to expose more students to programming and coding of computers. D. C. Moody | The Pickens Sentinel

Dawn Miller of Liberty Elementary School displays the check awarded to the school by Code.org. The funds will be used toward technology in the classroom.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_IMG_0312.jpgDawn Miller of Liberty Elementary School displays the check awarded to the school by Code.org. The funds will be used toward technology in the classroom. D. C. Moody | The Pickens Sentinel

By D. C. Moody

dmoody@civitasmedia.com

Reach D. C. Moody at 864-855-0355.