A three year, public/private partnership designed to transform teaching and learning through the effective use of technology in all Winchester classrooms

Through the public budget, the Winchester school system contributed $500,000 to the plan. WFEE, a private non-profit, 501(c) 3 organization, raised $850,000 to fund the plan

In July of 2017 WFEE met its $850,000 fundraising goal. $800,000 has been donated to WPS, leaving money in reserve for the 2017 school year and beyond.

The money was used to update and expand the school system’s wireless infrastructure, purchase student devices, support extensive professional development, fund management software that is allowing  students to bring and use their own smart phones, tablets, laptops and iPads in the classroom.

powerED UP! has:

• Created uniform access to a robust, wireless infrastructure

• Purchased well over a thousand student devices such as iPads and Chromebooks

• Expanded a pilot to allow students to safely bring their own devices to school, harnessing technology to learn, not play

• Partnered with the Rotary Club of Winchester, funding a WHS Creative Technology Center for student collaboration designed to solve real world problems

• Begun working with elementary educators to create "maker spaces" at each school

• Launched a new Student Innovation Grant

WPS utilizes management software to monitor student internet use and block access to selected sites. Equally important, educators are teaching the concept of responsible digital citizenship. Curious what that means? Start with a review of this article by Marc Ribble.

As funds become available, the school district is accepting teacher grant applications to purchase devices. Teachers outline how the technology will support student learning and also commit to provide professional development to fellow Winchester educators. Teachers at all schools and all grade levels are participating in this project.

It is a new world! Teachers have classrooms that are well-equipped with student devices. 

Prior to the start of the powerED UP! campaign Winchester Public Schools were falling behind comparable school districts in the use of technology to prepare our students for competitive college and work environments. While not yet a leader in the field of educational technology, Winchester is striving to meet that goal.

The gateway to becoming a “bring your own device” district, funding for students who cannot afford their own devices, creation of a maker space, called the Rotary Club Center for Creative Technology.  

The CTC opend in September of 2015, allowing students and teachers to collaborate on solving real world problems. The space is equipped with a three d printer, computers, green screen and video cameras. Students have now launched a CTC Speaker Series, exploring the intersection between technology and the arts.

The district gives WFEE specific invoices for both professional development and student devices. WFEE then donates funds to the district to cover the cost of the invoices

Yes. The Winchester public school budget will contain funding each year for software, hardware and necessary updates to school infrastructure. The powerED UP! plan is meant to give Winchester a boost, putting it on equal footing with other high preforming school districts.

The expansion of the "BYOD" pilot means that the district will buy fewer student devices at the middle and high school level, freeing funds for the elementary grades.

The International Society for Technology in Education sets the following guideline: “Effective integration of technology is achieved when students are able to select technology tools to help them obtain information in a timely manner, analyze and synthesize the information, and present it professionally. The technology should become an integral part of how the classroom functions -- as accessible as all other classroom tools."

Yes! Both the Winchester Co-operative Bank and the Winchester Savings Bank committed $30,000 apiece to the initiative.  Waterfield Sotheby's International Realty, WFEE's Business Partner, has directed all of its donations to powerED UP! The Cummings Foundation donated $100,000 in support of the project. The Rotary Club of Winchester gave $50,000. The John and Mary Murphy Educational Foundation and the En Ka Society each pledged and donated $30,000 to powerED UP!

Make a donation to WFEE either on line at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/poweredup or with a check to WFEE, PO Box 1005, Winchester, MA 01890.

Yes. WFEE’s EIN number is 04-3138413. Any matching gift paperwork from your company should be directed to Caren Connelly at info@wfee.org or PO Box 1005, Winchester, MA 01890