|
Qwest education technology grants awarded
Winners share $100,000
SPOKANE - March 8, 2007
- The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction today announced that $100,000 in Qwest Foundation grants will fund 10 unique projects led by 17 Washington teachers who are integrating technology into their classrooms. The winners were announced today at the annual Northwest Council for Computers in Education (NCCE) Conference, being held in Spokane this year on March 6-9.
The grants spotlight and recognize K-12 public school teachers who have found innovative ways to engage students with learning technologies and improve their academic performance within a standards-based curriculum. The grant recipients will share their experience and expertise with educators statewide over the next two years.
"Technology is an essential element of the 21st century learning environment," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson. "As students develop an understanding of our world, learning technologies have great potential to build equity among learners. We can deliver diverse and culturally relevant learning experiences that relate directly to the world in which students live."
OSPI staff will work closely with directors in the state’s Education Technology Support Center (ETSC) Program to manage the grant. ETSC directors say they see the Qwest funding as a way to support teachers who understand the role of technology in improving student achievement and who are ready to take this integration to the next level.
Learning technologies can customize instruction
Technology has a dual role in education. It is the network backbone for administration and data systems and it provides tools that allow teachers to shape the learning environment. Learning technologies make it possible for students and teachers to individualize the learning experience and give each child a voice. Technology literacy and fluency are fundamental for students entering the 21st Century workplace and create a real-life learning environment in the classroom.
"Technology plays a critical role in almost every aspect of our lives, especially in learning," said Kirk Nelson, Qwest president for Washington. "We want to help provide Washington teachers and students with opportunities to showcase how technology can be used more effectively in the classroom."
Winners of the Qwest grants, listed by Education Service Districts, are:
ESD 101
Spokane Public Schools
Bemiss Elementary School
Karen Bennie and Barbara Miller
ESD 105
Naches Valley School District
Naches Valley Intermediate School
Lani Black
ESD 112
Woodland School District
Woodland High School
Patty O’Flynn and Kash VanCleef
ESD 113
Olympia School District
Olympia High School
Brian Wright
Edward Basset
Caloway Kagan
ESD 114
Central Kitsap School District
Cottonwood Elementary School
Sydney Calliham
ESD 121
Seattle School District
Arbor Heights Elementary
Mark Ahlness
ESD 123
Richland School District
William Wiley Elementary School
Anne Walker
ESD171
Eastmont School District
Kenroy Elementary School
Veronique Paquette
ESD 189
Mount Vernon School District
Lincoln Elementary School
Martha Thornburgh
Teresa Vaughn
Michael Guelker-Cone
Mary Nowicki-Sullivan
At-Large
Bellingham School District (ESD 189)
Larrabee Elementary School
Elise Mueller
Editors and reporters: The Qwest Foundation grant will fund 10 projects. A fact sheet describing each project is available. Contact shasha.richardson@qwest.com
Contacts:
Thomas Shapley, OSPI Media Relations Manager, 360.725.6015, 360.481.3308 (cell), Thomas.Shapley@k12.wa.us
Shasha Richardson, Qwest, 206-271-2891 shasha.richardson@qwest.com
|