Throughout the years, Fort Thomas Schools have been known for being ahead of the curve on a number of things – but none more memorably than its attention and commitment to technology and its use in the classroom. Who among us (with children of a certain age) will ever forget the first day our children brought home their first Apple iPad or MacBook, or how crucial those devices became to a generation of students whose classrooms shut down due to the Covid-19 virus?

Technology has always played a massive role in the education of Fort Thomas’ children, with the school district consistently being invested in using tech in innovative ways. And alongside it, the Fort Thomas Education Foundation has continued to bolster and build upon that tech base in ways which take our students to new heights.

Smart boards, Google Glasses, assistance with the iPad and MacBook programs and countless other technological updates have been aided over the years through funds and assistance from the Fort Thomas Education Foundation. “Fort Thomas Schools’ former Superintendent Gene Kirchner believed in changing the landscape of education and that going to a ‘lab’ to do computers was outdated,” explains current Assistant Superintendent Keith Faust. “Rather, we needed to equip our teachers and students with the tools to transform learning and how our students experienced education.”

For Faust, the support provided by the Fort Thomas Education Foundation helps to make the difference that places the school system in a higher echelon. “The foundation has been with us the entire time – you cannot take on an initiative like this without partnerships,” says Faust of continuing grants which have brought higher technology advancements to the district, from poster printers to help students supplement work and projects to 3-D printers for engineering classes and state-of-the-art broadcasting cameras.

“Through the continuation of Education Foundation grants, our teachers are on the cutting edge of what we can offer our students,” Faust continues, “so when those requests come in, they are looking to prepare our students for their future and provide them experiences that they will see in whatever professional setting they pursue.”