Posted: Saturday, September 19, 2009 6:23 am

Rutherford LEAP founders Sara and Ira Brody will meet Kittrell School seventh graders presented with new Lenovo IdeaPad S10e netbooks in a program at the school’s media center at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21.

After an introduction by Principal Sherry Chaffin, students will hear remarks by Rutherford County Schools Director Harry Gill Jr., as well as the Brodys.

Immediately after the program, attendees will be allowed to observe students as they use the new netbooks in their classrooms. With the Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system and a six-hour battery life, the IdeaPad S10e netbook is intended for regular, daily use throughout the school day.

“The use of technology on a regular basis in the classroom is key to the professional and personal success of students’ futures,” the Brodys said. “We are very excited to be an integral part of working towards establishing a one-to-one laptop program in the Rutherford County school system.”

To coincide with the Rutherford LEAP/Lenovo laptop presentation, Rutherford LEAP Director Sara Brody will answer questions about the pilot program in an interview with Mike Schmedlen, Lenovo’s Director of Worldwide Education, in an article on the Lenovo Web site. The interview can be view at lenovoblogs.com/education on Monday.

Rutherford LEAP was created with the vision of providing each student in Rutherford County with a laptop computer for daily use in the classroom, in order to help students acquire the technological skills necessary for their successful futures. Kittrell School is the site of LEAP’s two-year pilot program, which began in 2008.

To learn more about Rutherford LEAP, or to contribute to the program, visit www.rutherfordleap.org.

Sara Brody can also be contacted at 615-823-1433 or sara@rutherfordleap.org.