From left to right are Bush teachers Vicky Connor, Katie Meadows, Sophia Walter, Annie Berg, Principal Kate Benson, and Phil Cammarata, and Matt Brooks, a representative from Apple Education.
C.V. Bush Elementary School is one of two Jamestown Public Schools to receive national
recognition for their innovative use of technology in classrooms.
Bush has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School by the multinational technology giant, a distinction awarded to a select group of institutions worldwide that exemplify innovation, leadership, and educational excellence through technology. Jamestown’s C.C. Ring Elementary School also received this recognition.
Bush joins a global network of just over 1,000 Apple Distinguished Schools — including only 500 in the United States — recognized for their efforts to make learning more personal, creative, and connected. The recognition celebrates how Bush educators have used technology not simply as a tool, but as an integral part of how students learn, think, and collaborate.
“This honor reflects the dedication of their teachers, principals, students, and staff to using technology not only as a tool but also as a means to personalized learning,” said Jason Kathman, JPS technology instructional coach. “It showcases their innovative spirit and their belief in the potential of our students to achieve at the highest levels.”
Across Jamestown Public Schools, all students have access to iPads — receiving this honor recognizes the way that district teachers have optimized that tool in the best interest of student learning.
“This recognition is a testament to the dedication to best practice demonstrated by our staff but also emphasizes the innovation they show along the way,” said Kate Benson, Bush Elementary School Principal. “We believe that learning should be as unique as each student who walks through our doors. By leveraging iPads and innovating teaching, we empower students to take ownership of their learning, explore new possibilities, and develop skills they need for a dynamic world.”
Veteran kindergarten teacher Vicky Connor has used technology as a way to innovate her instructional practices and called the honor “validating for all of the teachers that have worked so hard to incorporate technology into the classroom.”
“It provides me with the encouragement to keep trying new ideas to engage students, to meet students where they’re at and to give students an opportunity to think outside of the box,” said Connor.
Connor has infused technology into her teaching to help students build skills during English Language Arts. During the 2024-25 school year, she recorded 75 different ELA activities.
“This allows the students to watch the directions as often as they need to complete the activity, and it allows me to be in several places at once,” she said. “My time is freed up to help students with misunderstandings, pull students aside for a reteach or to have a discussion with students about their work.”
The integration of technology also reinforces Bush’s emphasis on personalized instruction. In Katie Meadows’ first-grade classroom, students can demonstrate their understanding of a lesson in a variety of ways — and many choose to use their iPads to do it.
“It’s so cool to see how creative they get,” Meadows said. “One of the ways they can demonstrate their understanding is by drawing their favorite part of the story. While some of the students use paper and pencil, many of them choose to complete this drawing on their iPads.”
The Apple Distinguished School recognition also reflects a collective effort across grade levels, teachers, and leadership at Bush to make technology a constructive part of student learning.
“As exciting as this recognition is, what means the most is knowing it reflects the work happening in every classroom as we work to see every child learning every day,” Benson said. “Our staff continues to push forward, collaborate, and imagine what learning can look like for our students. This honor motivates us to keep growing and to continue giving our children the very best.”
