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Our Innovation Story

Tara's Innovation Story

Tara's Technology Story

At Tara Oaks, we want every student to feel inspired to succeed.  We believe that through collaboration, communication, and creation, we are preparing students to become critical thinkers and active participants in their communities. Being 1:1 with iPad devices allows us to support our teachers and students.  Whether it’s collaborating on a digital project, participating in interactive lessons, or communicating with a guest speaker from across the globe, we are using Apple products and technology to transform our classrooms into innovative learning spaces.

Five people pose smiling in front of a screen displaying "Apple Distinguished School" text, framed by red balloons.

 

 

 

Tara Oaks Elementary School is pleased to announce it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for the 2026-2029 program term. Schools apply and are selected for this distinction based on their commitment to continuous innovation in education and using Apple products to inspire, imagine, and impact teaching and learning. 

 

This is Tara Oaks Elementary’s first time being recognized as an Apple Distinguished School.

 

"Earning recognition as an Apple Distinguished School is a significant achievement for Tara Oaks Elementary," said Director of Schools Dr. Russell Dyer. "This designation reflects the thoughtful work of the school's educators and leadership team to create meaningful learning experiences that engage and inspire students. We are proud of the culture of innovation that has been built at Tara Oaks and look forward to seeing that work continue to grow in the years ahead."

 

Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of leadership and educational excellence, with a clear vision for how technology-rich environment support learning goals. In Apple Distinguished Schools, forward-thinking leaders and their communities work to inspire, imagine, and impact teaching and learning, and they have documented results of academic accomplishments. 

 

Schools all over the world are using iPad and Mac to transform learning. As teachers incorporate technology into their lessons, they empower students to lead, learn, and thrive, to discover new opportunities, and to make their world a better place. 

AT A

GLANCE

 

32

Certified Apple Teachers

1

Certified Apple Learning Coach

615

iPad devices for 1:1 with students since 2017

150

iPad and MacBook Air devices for faculty and staff

70

Apple TV devices - one in every classroom and hallway

Apple

Classroom for all faculty
Kids w/iPad recordings

What Our Students Say...

"As a Tara Oaks student, I get to have choice in my learning. I can choose what apps I want to use to complete projects and the teachers here support us and help us along the way."

student w/iPad

What Our Parents Say...

"As a parent at Tara Oaks, I know that our staff is committed to meeting diverse needs through differentiated instruction, supportive learning environments, encouraging collaboration, and actively engaging with technology. Our iPad devices provide vital accessibility features and tools to those students who may need additional learning supports."

teachers in a PD sessions

What Our Teachers Say...

"Using technology in our classrooms has transformed teaching and learning. Whether it's annotating on a digital whiteboard in Freeform, creating an animation in Keynote, or exporting an EPUB from Pages, we are able to provide our students with the knowledge and tools to thrive in the 21st century."

Student Artifacts

  • An advertisement for the California Gold Rush, featuring text and imagery.

  • Two students work together at a round table, one using a tablet.

  • A child draws on a tablet at a desk, using a stylus.

  • Children in a classroom use tablets while watching a screen displaying a landscape.

  • Children gather outdoors, each holding a tablet and looking at the screens.A young student uses a stylus to draw on a tablet at a desk.students using iPadsTwo students work on tablets at a desk in a classroom setting.Students work on tablets at desks in a classroom setting.Two students work on tablets at their desks in a classroom setting.students using iPads

    A young child sits at a wooden table, interacting with an educational app on a tablet.A student sits at a desk in a classroom, typing on a tablet with an attached keyboard.A teacher stands in front of a classroom as students sit on a colorful rug facing a large interactive screen.

  • A colorful collage featuring the text 'Tara Oaks Elementary School' alongside various school-themed graphics, photos, and informational text blocks.