BHHS Interns to Help Refresh Elementary Technology

This September, developmental kindergarten through grade 5 students across Bloomfield Hills Schools will return to classrooms equipped with new technology devices. Originally purchased in 2020, the current fleet of iPads and Chromebooks are nearing the end of their useful life, and will be replaced as part of a comprehensive technology refresh initiative. What makes this upgrade especially exciting is that much of the work will be done by student interns from Bloomfield Hills High School, who will gain valuable real-world experience in the process.

Elementary students depend on iPads (DK-grade 1) and Chromebooks (grades 2-5) for state and district assessments, as well as for age-appropriate classroom activities such as online research, interactive presentations, and coding lessons. Maintaining this technology is essential for student success, but with nearly 2,000 BHS students at the elementary level, replacing devices is resource-intensive.

To assist with the project and ensure the new devices are deployed by September, the BHS Technology Services team is currently in the process of securing three interns for the summer of 2026. The interns will be current BHHS students who are passionate about technology and interested in pursuing careers in the field. “Applicants are currently moving through the district’s formal hiring process, including both first- and second-round interviews,” said Samer Alsayed Suliman, Director of Technology Services at Bloomfield Hills Schools. “While these interns will help support key timelines, our goal is to provide them with meaningful, real-world experience and exposure to how a professional technology team operates.”

Alsayed Suliman also emphasized the district’s strategic approach to technology use across all grade levels. “At the elementary level, in particular, screen time is an important consideration as we evaluate and implement technology,” he said. “We approach this through both an instructional and operational lens, ensuring that technology supports learning in meaningful ways. Our goal is to maintain a balance where students build essential technology skills while continuing to prioritize hands-on, interactive learning experiences.”

Funding for device upgrades comes from the BHS Sinking Fund, which voters renewed last fall. Thanks to this renewal, the Technology Services team planned a replacement cycle of devices across the district over a 3-year period, starting with high school devices in 2025 (for students who do not bring a laptop from home), and continuing with elementary devices in 2026. Middle school devices are planned for replacement in 2027.