By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Sue Miller and Maria Zeledon are just two of the River Region’s first-grade teachers excited about last week’s announcement that the Supriya Jindal Foundation for Louisiana’s Children, with charter partner Marathon Petroleum Corporation, was awarding 160 LearnPad 2 tablets to 40 classrooms in St. John the Baptist and St. James Parishes.

Through the award, every public first-grade classroom in the two parishes will receive four tablets.

“I plan to use (the tablets) in stations to help with my small groups,” Zeledon said. “Each student can be working at their own level of achievement, having fun and feeling successful.”

Miller said she plans to use the tablets for her students who finish their work early.

“There are science and math games already loaded onto the tablets that will help my early finishers stay focused,” Miller said.

Both women are first-grade teachers at John L. Ory Communications Magnet School in LaPlace.

“On behalf of Ory Magnet School, I would like to thank the Supriya Jindal foundation for investing in our students,” JLO Principal Christal Sylvain said.

“Our students are no longer competing with only students across our state and nation, but with students globally. The use of the academic tablets will take them one step closer to learning the skills that they will need to be successful in the future.”

St. John Schools Superintendent Kevin George said The Supriya Jindal Foundation has been extremely generous with donations to the district, including the tablets and previous donations of electronic teaching boards, all of which “enhance education for our kids.”

Eight St. John Parish schools received tablet donations, including East St. John Elementary, Emily C. Watkins Elementary, Fifth Ward Elementary, Garyville/Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet, John L. Ory Magnet, Lake Pontchartrain Elementary, LaPlace Elementary and West St. John Elementary.

Fifth Ward Elementary School, Gramercy Elementary School, Lutcher Elementary School, Paulina Elementary School, Sixth Ward Elementary School and Vacherie Elementary School were the St. James Parish schools awarded tablets.

“Establishing a strong foundation for our students to build upon is so very important — we all want to ensure all our students master the basics of reading, writing, math and science,” Supriya Jindal said.

“With hard work, we believe we have the opportunity to make a lasting and positive difference in education.

Aspen Steib, community relations coordinator at MPC, said Marathon was extremely proud to partner with The Supriya Jindal Foundation to boost learning in local classrooms.

“As a native of the River Parishes, I’m excited to be able to give back to the classrooms that helped me get to where I am in life,” Steib said.