Digital Promise and Verizon Innovative Learning Schools

With master’s and doctorate degrees from Harvard University, Dr. Christine Johns serves as superintendent of Utica Community Schools in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Alongside her activities as superintendent, Dr. Christine Johns has worked closely with education groups such as Digital Promise. 

In its efforts to accelerate innovation in education, Digital Promise engages educators, researchers, and entrepreneurs in activities that support and advance teaching strategies and technologies to improve student outcomes. The organization oversees a variety of people-driven projects and networks, including Verizon Innovative Learning Schools (VILS). 

Supported by the Verizon Foundation and Verizon Wireless, the VILS initiative aims to close the digital learning gap by improving access to technology for students and teachers. The initiative currently serves 28 school districts across the country. In addition to working directly with participating schools, the program provides a variety of resources and tools to help other schools better use technology for learning. 

Based on insight from participating educators, VILS has a created a guidebook for implementing schoolwide technology initiatives. The guidebook features chapters on technology management, digital literacy and responsibility, and progress monitoring. VILS also has compiled a number of online resources for teachers interesting in using mobile technology to support and advance classroom activities. More information about VILS and other Digital Promise projects is available at www.digitalpromise.org.