SMARTer Kids™ Foundation sponsors 2004 U.S. State Teachers of the Year

More than US$540,000 worth of leading-edge classroom
technology to be awarded to outstanding teachers

Calgary, AB --- October 9, 2003 --- The SMARTer Kids Foundation of Canada announces its continuing sponsorship of all of the U.S. State Teacher of the Year programs for the fourth consecutive year through its Teaching Excellence Award program. Sixty-two recognized teachers will receive the latest in educational technology from sponsors of the SMARTer Kids Foundation’s Teaching Excellence Award program. The award packages, valued at approximately US$7,500 each, include a SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard, floor stand and SMART Ideas® concept-mapping software from SMART Technologies Inc., an NEC VT465 portable projector from NEC Solutions America, Visual Systems Division, a Dana™ by AlphaSmart® Palm OS® laptop alternative from AlphaSmart, Inc., and Kar2ouche® and Krucible® creative-learning software from Immersive Education Ltd. Approximately 270 state finalists will receive a copy of SMART Ideas software. In total, the sponsors will donate more than US$540,000 worth of educational technology to the 2004 State Teachers of the Year. Approximately US$1.2 million in technology has been awarded to date through the Teaching Excellence Award program.

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 program acknowledges teachers who have had a positive impact on their students, schools and communities.

"With the dramatic cutbacks in education spending, I never dreamed I would have such a high-tech classroom," says Dr. Betsy Rogers, 2003 U.S. National Teacher of the Year. "I commend the SMARTer Kids Foundation for making a commitment to education by providing such wonderful products and training for teachers. They are an example for other organizations to follow."

“The SMARTer Kids Foundation recognizes outstanding educators who make a difference in the lives of their students,” says Nancy Knowlton, executive director of the SMARTer Kids Foundation. “Placing these leading-edge products in the hands of such skilled educators is our way of recognizing the tremendous contributions that they make everyday.”

Program Sponsors
The Teaching Excellence Award program is made possible through the generosity of the SMARTer Kids Foundation’s supporting sponsors. SMART Technologies Inc. will donate US$230,000 in technology products. AlphaSmart, Inc. and NEC Solutions America, Visual Systems Division will provide US$23,500 and US$111,500, respectively, in product donations. New to the program this year, Immersive Education Ltd. will donate US$162,500 in product.

Honoring the Teachers
Teaching Excellence Awards will be presented at each state’s annual teacher-recognition ceremony. In April 2004, the teachers will be joined by SMARTer Kids 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 SMARTer Kids Foundation. The training session offers the teachers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the technologies they receive as part of their award package.

Award winners will also be featured on the SMARTer Kids Foundation Web site at www.smarterkids.org/excellence.

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