Folks from across the University began gathering early Wednesday in the Davis Student Center’s Sugar Maple ballroom in anticipation of a special announcement to be made at a press conference called by the University of Vermont Foundation. After greetings and introductions by Rich Bundy, President and CEO of the UVM Foundation, Tom Sullivan, UVM President stepped to the podium to say, “I am honored to announce that the Richard and Deborah Tarrant Foundation is making a five million gift to the University’s Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education.”
The Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education, housed in the University’s College of Education and Social Services, has gained national stature for its innovative programs to integrate technology into the classroom.
“This generous gift comes just five years after the Tarrant Foundation launched the Institute with its first $5 million commitment,” President Sullivan said, “and will allow for the dramatic expansion across Vermont’s middle schools of a promising initiative that creates better trained teachers and produces students who are excited about learning in a world where new technology is everywhere.” The President thanked the Tarrants for their wise and generous support in “making it possible to bring innovation and innovative UVM tested programs into the middle schools and more broadly across the classrooms in Vermont.” In conclusion, he praised the Tarrants for their vision and commitment to young people as matching that of the University’s “for targeted investments that support talent and reward success. And for this generous gift which strengthens a partnership that is vital to the economic future of Vermont.”
President Sullivan introduced Rich Tarrant, the co-trustee with his wife Deborah of the Tarrant Foundation, who was seated on the dais. “It seemed like just yesterday,” Rich began, “that we were up here at the same podium and Deb had a #2 pencil in her hand and a remote device in the other saying we have to move away from the pencil and more toward technology. And all of a sudden here we are, five years later.” Rich explained that his and his wife’s commitment to education grew out of this ‘pencil/device’ moment and their belief that “technology could individualize learning because we know that all kids learn differently.” What started as a small pilot program in Milton, he said, “has now morphed into what is now becoming almost transformative in middle schools.”
Rich spoke briefly about the impact of the Institute’s initiatives on boys, that one “unintended consequence of the program,” he said, proudly, “has been its success with boys, which to me is the best part.” Thanking UVM and Penny Bishop and her team at the Tarrant Institute of Innovative Education, Rich said “I’ve never been associated with anything more rewarding than this, and Deb and I couldn’t be more happy with what is going on. The success of we’re having is beyond my wildest expectations,” he concluded.
Rich introduced Fayneese Miller, the Dean of UVM’s College of Education and Social Services. Dean Miller opened her remarks of appreciation to the Tarrants with a timely reference to a Langston Hughes poem, entitled, “To You.” Hughes wrote in his poem, Dean Miller said, “’I dared all my hopes and dreams to you.’ With your gift,” she continued, turning to the Tarrants, “you dared your hopes and dreams for the future of Vermont children and youth. And we thank you.”
Moreover, she said, “It is because of the Tarrants passion and commitment to Vermont that we are able to successfully impact innovation and learning in the classrooms across the state.” In addition, “Their commitment fits nicely with our belief that as a land grant institution our research should generate new knowledge and provide opportunities for growth and development in ways that benefit Vermont, the nation, and the world. And that the nearly decade old partnership we have embarked upon through the Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education is a perfect example of how we are fulfilling our obligation to make a difference in Vermont.”
Next up on the podium was Penny Bishop, Professor of Education and Director of the Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education. Professor Bishop began her remarks with some background on the affiliation with the Tarrant Foundation, one that it grew out of a perceived need to partner with Vermont schools to improve the education of adolescents by integrating technology rich teaching and learning into the classroom.
“Our journey” with the Tarrants, she said, “began eight years ago when we were so grateful for the opportunity to tackle one of education’s thorniest problems, how to keep middle school students engaged and motivated to learn.” No small task, she stressed, for “adolescence can be a vulnerable time, and we can predict half of all potential high school drop outs as early as the sixth grade. So the stakes are high.
“We have been privileged,” she continued, “now to work with more than 15 Vermont schools helping them to implement one or one programs in a way that insures the effective and engaging use of technology for learning.” Citing Institute research, “our studies have shown that teachers who partner with the Tarrant Institute significantly increase their ability to work with digital tools and the degree to which they integrate technology rich innovative teaching into their classrooms.” This has had enormous benefits as “teachers, parents, and students report improved student engagement, participation, attendance, and behavior.” Thanking the Tarrants for their continued support, Professor Bishop announced that the Institute was “poised to reach up to 60 schools in the next five years.”
The press conference concluded with comments from Alex Bacheller, a teacher at Peoples Academy, middle level, in Morrisville, Vermont, and Ben Craig, a 7th grader at the school, who each spoke of the impact the association with the Tarrant Institute has had on the former’s teaching and latter’s learning.
All in all, a proud day for both the Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education and the College of Education and Social Service. And for the young people of Vermont who stand to benefit most from the generous gift of the Tarrant Foundation.