SMARTer Kids Foundation Sponsors the 2002 U.S. State Teachers of the Year
US$486,000 in innovative classroom technology to be awarded to outstanding teachers

Calgary, AB --- September 25, 2001 --- The SMARTer Kids Foundation announces its sponsorship of the 2002 U.S. State Teachers of the Year. Sixty-two recognized teachers will receive the latest in educational technology from the supporting partners of the Foundation. The award packages include a SMART Board and Floor Stand from SMART Technologies Inc., an NEC VT lightweight projector from NEC Technologies, Visual Systems Division, and an AlphaSmart 3000 portable keyboard from AlphaSmart, Inc. Together these companies will donate US$486,000 in educational technology to U.S. teachers in 2002. This is the second year that the Foundation has sponsored the U.S. State Teachers of the Year.

This national sponsorship is an initiative of the SMARTer Kids Foundation's Teaching Excellence Award program. Working with existing teacher-recognition programs, the Teaching Excellence Award recognizes instructors who have had a positive effect on their students, schools and communities.

"By recognizing the value of quality education in today's classrooms, this program encourages all teachers to strive for excellence," says Michele Forman, 2001 National Teacher of the Year. "Through the support of these organizations, we are able to increase public awareness of the great teachers this country has and the difference they make."

"The SMARTer Kids Foundation is committed to recognizing outstanding teachers across the United States," says Nancy Knowlton, executive director of the SMARTer Kids Foundation. "Through the Teaching Excellence Award program, we acknowledge their commitment to excellence by providing them with classroom tools to create interactive learning environments for their students."

Supporting Partners
The Teaching Excellence Award program is made possible through the generosity of the Foundation's supporting partners. SMART Technologies Inc. will donate US$195,000 in product to the program this year. SMART has committed to the program through 2005, making US$976,000 in technology products available to recognized teachers over the five-year period. NEC Technologies, Visual Systems Division, and AlphaSmart, Inc. have also extended their support for a second year and will provide US$279,000 and US$12,000 respectively in product donations to the 2002 U.S. State Teachers of the Year.

Honoring the Teachers
Recognized teachers will receive their Teaching Excellence Awards during their states' annual teacher-recognition ceremonies and will also be featured online. In April 2002, the teachers will be joined by Foundation representatives at the National Teacher of the Year Awards in Washington, DC. Events will include a Presidential ceremony at the White House, a recognition gala hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic Inc., and a technology training session hosted by the Foundation. The training session will offer the teachers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the technologies they will receive as part of their award package.

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For more information, contact:
Public Relations
SMARTer Kids Foundation
403.228.8559
pr@smarterkids.org

Please note that SMART is in all capital letters.