SMARTer Kids Foundation sponsors 2006 State Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year Programs

Outstanding teacher from every state to be awarded leading-edge classroom technology

CALGARY, Alberta --- October 13, 2005 --- The SMARTer Kids™ Foundation of Canada announces its sponsorship of the 2006 U.S. National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) and the U.S. State Teacher of the Year programs. Through the foundation's Teaching Excellence Award (TEA) program, the 62 State Teachers of the Year1 will receive the latest in education technology, and, of these, 57 will be nominated for the 2006 National Teacher of the Year. The SMARTer Kids Foundation and its supporting sponsors are the only National Teacher of the Year sponsors to award technology products and training to all of the U.S. National Teacher of the Year nominees.

Each award package is valued at US$17,000 and includes a SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard, a floor stand and 25 copies of SMART Ideas® concept-mapping software from SMART Technologies Inc.; an NEC portable projector from NEC Solutions (America), Visual Systems Division; a 32-pad Classroom Performance System (CPS) from eInstruction Corp.; and Kar2ouche® and Krucible® creative-learning software from Immersive Education Ltd. In addition to the award packages, the TEA program will contribute US$55,000 to support the National Teacher of the Year program and to provide award recipients with hands-on product training during the NTOY events in the 2006 award year. The SMARTer Kids Foundation will also award a copy of SMART Ideas software to more than 500 state finalists. In total, sponsors will donate more than US$1.2 million in education technology products and training to the 2006 State Teachers of the Year and state finalists.

"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, 2005 National Teacher of the Year and 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."

"Providing state-of-the-art technology tools for these exceptional teachers is one way the SMARTer Kids Foundation is committed to helping educate today's youth," says Nancy Knowlton, executive director of the SMARTer Kids Foundation. "Placing the right tools in the right hands can make all the difference."

Honoring the Teachers
Teaching Excellence Awards will be presented at each state's annual teacher-recognition ceremony. In January 2006, the teachers will be joined by SMARTer Kids Foundation representatives and sponsors at the National Teacher of the Year Award conference in Dallas, Texas, where each will receive training on the awarded products. The National Teacher of the Year Award ceremony will take place in Washington DC in April 2006. There, the SMARTer Kids Foundation will host a technology-champions workshop and a celebration dinner for award recipients, guests and sponsors. The workshop will provide teachers the opportunity to develop their skills in a hands-on, small group setting. Other events will include a presidential ceremony at the White House and a recognition gala hosted by the Counsel of Chief State School Officers, Scholastic Inc. and ING. Award winners will also be featured on the SMARTer Kids Foundation website at www.smarterkids.org/excellence.