SMARTer Kids Foundation congratulates Jason Kamras, 2005 National Teacher of the Year

President George W. Bush presents award to nation's top educator

WASHINGTON --- April 21, 2005 --- The SMARTer Kids™ Foundation congratulates Jason Kamras, 2005 National Teacher of the Year. Yesterday, President George W. Bush presented Jason with this prestigious award during a ceremony at the White House. In his remarks, the President said, “Teaching is more than a job; it is a calling....All who answer the call to teach deserve our support, our respect and our affection.” The National Teacher of the Year is selected by a committee of representatives from 15 leading national education organizations. The committee makes its selection from the list of State Teacher of the Year winners in 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As 2005 National Teacher of the Year, Jason will travel nationally and internationally to speak about the teaching profession.

State Teacher of the Year winners are selected on the basis of nominations by students, teachers, principals and school district administrators in their home states. Once selected, each state winner becomes eligible for the national title and receives a Teaching Excellence Award (TEA) from the SMARTer Kids Foundation. The TEA recognizes teachers who have had a positive effect on their students, schools and communities, and provides them with a classroom technology package that improves student engagement and learning, and makes lesson planning and delivery easier. The SMARTer Kids Foundation also hosts a technology-champions workshop and a celebration dinner for award recipients, guests and sponsors. The workshop provides teachers with the opportunity to develop their skills in a hands-on, small-group setting.

“As a classroom teacher, I have personally experienced how powerful technology can be in helping educators motivate students, meet diverse learning styles and enhance instruction,” says Jason Kamras, also 2005 District of Columbia Teacher of the Year. “The generosity of the SMARTer Kids Foundation demonstrates its commitment to expanding access to cutting-edge technology in classrooms across the nation.”

“Great teachers lay the foundation for the future success of their students and make significant contributions not just to the lives of their students, but also to the larger community,” says Nancy Knowlton, executive director of the SMARTer Kids Foundation. “Jason Kamras is a great educator who is sure to inspire many in the profession.”

“I congratulate the SMARTer Kids Foundation on its continuing commitment to making the highest-quality educational technology available to America’s great teachers through their sponsorship of the National and State Teacher of the Year programs,” says Jon Quam, director, National Teacher of the Year program. “Teachers need to have the best tools possible to do the best for their students, and the foundation makes that a reality.”

Product donations to State Teachers of the Year
The SMARTer Kids Foundation sponsorship of the State and National Teacher of the Year programs, including classroom technology packages, training and cash donations, is worth more than US$1 million this year. Each of the recognized teachers (or their schools) receives a classroom technology package valued at more than US$14,000 from the SMARTer Kids Foundation. The award package includes a SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard, floor stand and 25 copies of SMART Ideas® concept-mapping software from SMART Technologies; an NEC VT470 portable projector from NEC Solutions (America), Visual Systems Division; a Dana™ by AlphaSmart® Palm™ OS laptop alternative from AlphaSmart, Inc.; Kar2ouche® and Krucible® creative-learning software from Immersive Education Ltd.; and a 32-pad Classroom Performance System (CPS) from eInstruction Corporation. Approximately 500 state finalists receive a free copy of SMART Ideas software.

Teaching Excellence Award supporting sponsors
The Teaching Excellence Award is made possible through the generosity of its SMARTer Kids Foundation cosponsors. SMART Technologies is the founding and funding partner of the SMARTer Kids Foundation, which has donated US$597,184 in technology products to teachers recognized by U.S. State Teacher of the Year programs this year. Other funding partners include NEC Solutions America, Visual Systems Division, AlphaSmart, Inc., Immersive Education and eInstruction Corporation. The Foundation underscores its commitment to bringing technology to the classroom by extending its sponsorship to each state program through 2010. More than US$5 million in cash, training and technology products will be donated to the program over the next five years.

2005 National Teacher of the Year finalists

• California - Stanley W. Murphy, San Diego High School, San Diego, CA
• District of Columbia - Jason Kamras, John Philip Sousa Middle School, Washington, DC
• Iowa - Vicki Lynn Goldsmith, Roosevelt High School, Des Moines, IA
• Washington - Tamara Steen, Mabton Junior-Senior High School, Mabton, WA

2005 State Teachers of the Year and Teaching Excellence Award recipients
For a complete list of winners, visit http://www.ccsso.org/projects/National_Teacher_of_the_Year/State_Teachers/2005/.

Comments from partners and sponsors

SMART Technologies – www.smarttech.com
“As the founding partner of the SMARTer Kids Foundation, SMART Technologies is proud to sponsor the Teacher of the Year program commending these exceptional teachers,” says David Martin, SMART’s Chairman and co-CEO. “The positive effect these exceptional teachers have on students, schools and communities is a benefit to everyone.”

NEC Solutions America, Visual Systems Division – www.necsam.com
“NEC commends Jason Kamras and all of the U.S. State Teachers of the Year for their inspirational work and dedication to the teaching profession,” says Pierre Richer, senior vice president for the Visual Systems Division of NEC Solutions America. “They are truly making a difference in their students’ lives.”

Immersive Education Ltd. – www.immersiveeducation.com
“Immersive Education believes the work, example and extraordinary creativity of all the State Teachers of the Year make an incredible difference across the whole education system, inspiring both teachers and learners to reach beyond themselves,” says Chris Lloyd, CEO of Immersive Education. “It is through their powerful example that positive change happens to affect the lives of both students and teachers.”

eInstruction Corporation – www.eInstruction.com
“eInstruction is truly honored to work with each and every Teacher of the Year as they endeavor to provide world-class instruction to the children of this country,” says Dr. Darrell Ward, CEO of eInstruction. “Our organization is enthusiastic and supportive of these wonderful individuals and marvelous teachers – it is very humbling, yet extremely satisfying to see and understand their commitment to teaching and kids.”

AlphaSmart, Inc. – www.alphasmart.com
“At AlphaSmart, we know that student achievement starts with a teacher who has a passion for knowledge and learning,” said Manish Kothari, president of AlphaSmart, Inc. “The State Teachers of the Year have demonstrated this by fostering the success of the students in their classrooms. Now, by their example, they are inspiring other teachers across the country to greater accomplishments, as well.”

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