Quaker Valley School District is pleased to announce that Quaker Valley Middle School has once again been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School, earning the designation for the 2026–2029 program term. QVMS previously earned the designation for the 2023–2026 term. Quaker Valley Middle School was selected for this distinction based on its commitment to continuous innovation in education and using Apple products to create exemplary learning practices through technology integration in the classroom.
Dr. Anthony Mooney, Quaker Valley Middle School Principal, expressed his excitement, saying, "Being recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for a second time is not simply recognition of the technology we use—it is recognition of the way our teachers and students continue to innovate, collaborate, and reimagine what learning can look like. It isn’t about using technology every day; it is about using technology in meaningful ways."
Apple Distinguished Schools are recognized as centers of leadership and educational excellence, with a clear vision for how technology-rich environments can support teaching and learning. Schools earning the designation demonstrate innovative practices and documented results in advancing student learning.
QVMS Instructional Technology Specialist Kieran Vora led the renewal process after also coordinating the school’s 2023 application. QVMS’s history with Apple recognition, however, stretches back more than two decades.
“Since our first Apple recognition in 2001, our use of technology has continued to evolve. The focus is no longer simply on access to devices or using technology in the classroom, but on creating meaningful learning experiences grounded in what we want students to know, do, and understand,” he said. “Technology is one of the tools that helps us support those goals, increase student agency, and give students new ways to engage, create, and demonstrate their learning.”
“Being recognized as an Apple Distinguished School again is an honor and a reflection of the innovation, collaboration, and commitment of our entire school community,” said QVMS Assistant Principal Katy Chapman. “Our teachers and students continue to embrace technology as a powerful tool for creativity, connection, and meaningful learning, and we are proud to celebrate this achievement with them!”
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.
As an Apple Distinguished School, Quaker Valley School District will have the opportunity to collaborate with other exceptional schools and districts around the world. This partnership will foster the sharing of best practices and innovative ideas to further enhance the educational experience for students.
“I’m proud of the way our middle school continues to keep people and learning at the center of how we use instructional technology,”said Director of Innovation, Brett Slezak. “Our renewed Apple Distinguished designation reflects that approach. The focus is not on adding more technology, but on being thoughtful about when, where, and how instructional tech can catalyze learning. We must also recognize when it does not.”
For more information about Quaker Valley School District and the Apple Distinguished Schools program, please visit www.qvsd.org/appledistinguished.