They make remote software that can do things with a Mac - i.e. open Front Row, use the DVD player application, adjust volume, etc. but I haven't seen a more "universal" remote. You might be out of luck as far as that goes. Unless you luck out and the place you're teaching has a really excellent A/V setup and the IT staff with the knowledge to set it up.
Now, most of this depends on what environment you're going to be in. If you were in, say, a situation where you were projecting a movie on to a surface - like a wall - then the projector would have either a VGA or DVI input, in which case you can connect it directly to (I think) the iPad and run a DVD/video/what have you from that. Given that's probably all high schools would have for A/V, then cool. But at that point, you'd also need good stereo speaker output too. So iPad as a media player works, but you lose the remote-ness of it. You could possibly use it as a paperwork reducer - taking roll call, etc.
My only warning is that it'd be even easier to steal, so bringing it on campus is something you'd want to keep your eye on at all times.
no subject
Now, most of this depends on what environment you're going to be in. If you were in, say, a situation where you were projecting a movie on to a surface - like a wall - then the projector would have either a VGA or DVI input, in which case you can connect it directly to (I think) the iPad and run a DVD/video/what have you from that. Given that's probably all high schools would have for A/V, then cool. But at that point, you'd also need good stereo speaker output too. So iPad as a media player works, but you lose the remote-ness of it. You could possibly use it as a paperwork reducer - taking roll call, etc.
My only warning is that it'd be even easier to steal, so bringing it on campus is something you'd want to keep your eye on at all times.