On Dec. 19, South Berwyn School District 100 Superintendent Stan Fields congratulated staff members for receiving the Apple Distinguished Program Award.

As he was announcing the award, I couldn’t help but wipe proud tears from my eyes. Who would have thought that a conversation of me piloting a 1:1 classroom almost three years ago would have turned into the entire district being a 1:1 program and honored with such a distinguished award?

In February 2010, the Board of Education committed to piloting 10 fourth- and seventh- grade 1:1 classrooms. With seed money from the South Berwyn Education Foundation, 201 MacBooks arrived in April and the 1:1 learning, engagement and excitement began.