St. Paul, Minn. and Charlotte, NC. – 3M (@3M) and Discovery Education (@DiscoveryEd) today announced the 10 recipients of the inaugural 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network Alumni Grants Program. Launched in 2023, the program supports past participants and future scientists as part of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge ( #YoungScientist).  

As the nation’s premier middle school science competition, the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for a mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” The new Alumni Network and Alumni Grants Program offers previous participants networking opportunities, resources, events, and funding for existing science projects. Former finalists must be registered members of the 3M Young Scientist Alumni Network to apply. 

The Alumni Grants Program awarded a total of $25,000 in funding to ten 3M Young Scientist Challenge alumni. The 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Grants Program recipients across three funding areas are as follows:  

• Braeden Benedict is a 26-year-old from Missouri and a 2011 finalist. Braeden received $1,000 for the project The Health Career Collaborative at Washington University in St. Louis that provides mentorship, engaging health curriculum, and exposure to health careers to high school students from low-income, underrepresented minority communities.  
• Leanne Fan is a 15-year-old from California and 2022 America’s Top Young Scientist & Grand Prize winner. Leanne received $1,000 for the project Teaching Science to Kids Through Expos! that introduces young students to science.  
• Reshma Kosaraju is a 17-year-old from California and a 2019 finalist & Improving Lives Award Winner. Reshma received $1,000 for the project Eco Quest: An environmental conservation board game that teaches students about climate change. 
• Kathryn Lampo is a 20-year-old from Colorado and a 2017 finalist. Kathryn received $1,000 for the project NYC Model Rocketry Initiative that makes space science and engineering accessible to underserved middle schoolers across New York City through engaging STEM resources. 
• Viraj Pandey is a 14-year-old from California and a 2021 finalist. Viraj received $2,500 for the project Enhancing Crop Yields and Minimizing Crop Diseases Using Graphene Quantum Dots to Combat Overpopulation and Adverse Climate Changes that will help sustainably increase crop yield. 
• Sarah Park is a 15-year-old from Florida and a 2021 America’s Top Young Scientist & Grand Prize winner. Sarah received $5,000 for the project Spark Care+: Personalized Music Therapy App using a Mobile and AI that provides accessible and affordable music therapy for emotional wellbeing. 
• Samvrit Rao is a 15-year-old from Virginia and a 2020 finalist. Samvrit received $1,000 for the project STEMForU Innovation Bootcamps that inspires underrepresented minorities to pursue STEM by providing innovative learning experiences and resources to help develop STEM critical thinking skills. 
• Moitri Santra is a 13-year-old from Florida and a 2021 finalist. Harini received $2,500 for the project Novel Phyto-Nano Drug Delivery System that investigates the potential of medicinal phytochemicals at the nano-scale for reducing adverse drug reactions. 
• Daniel Thomas is a 15-year-old from Texas and a 2022 finalist. Daniel received $5,000 for the project ClearWTR Portable: A Novel Water Disinfection and Purification Device that creates safe and clean drinking water. 
• Harini Venkatesh is a 15-year-old from New Hampshire and a 2022 Improving Lives Award Winner & finalist. Harini received $5,000 for the project The Comptometrist: A Novel Method to Efficiently and Effectively Calculate Optical Power Current that calculates eye prescriptions. 

Learn more about the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network Alumni Grants Program recipients here.  

 “It’s incredibly inspiring to see how the 3M Young Scientist Challenge alumni have continued their scientific innovations,” said John P. Banovetz, Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Environmental Responsibility at 3M. “Congratulations to each of the recipients of the inaugural alumni grants program! 3M is proud to support these inspiring students as they apply their passion for science to make the world a better place.” 

The 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network brings together a growing community of former Challenge finalists and mentors to connect over shared experiences, celebrate, and promote innovations and STEM as a whole. America’s Top Young Scientists have gone on to give TED Talks, file patents, found nonprofits, make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, and exhibit at the White House Science Fair. These young innovators have also been named Time Magazine’s first Kid of the Year, featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, and Business Insider, and have appeared on national television programs such as Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and more.  

“The new Alumni program is designed to nurture growth and support ongoing science opportunities for prior participants as they tap into a network of innovators. These are innovative ideas that will change the world and we could not be prouder,” said Amy Nakamoto, General Manager of Social Impact at Discovery Education.  

The award-winning 3M Young Scientist Challenge supplements the 3M and Discovery Education program – Young Scientist Lab – which provides no-cost dynamic digital resources for students, teachers, and families to explore, transform, and innovate the world around them. All the resources are also available through the Young Scientist Lab Channel and in the Social Impact Partnerships channel on Discovery Education’s recently enhanced K-12 learning platform.  

About 3M 
3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what’s possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we’re working to improve lives and make what’s next at 3M.com/news or on Twitter at  @3M or @3MNews. 

About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. 

MINNEAPOLIS (PRWEB) — Reflection Sciences, the executive function company, has appointed  Isaac Van Wesep as Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1. The appointment will drive innovation, growth and the pursuit of the company’s mission to ensure every child gets the executive function support they need to achieve academic, career and personal success.

Van Wesep has a deep understanding of education technology and a passion for improving educational outcomes for all children. His expertise will be instrumental in guiding Reflection Sciences as it continues to lead the growth of cognitive science tools to enhance learning, curriculum and child development.

“After working closely with Isaac over the last two years, it’s clear he has the vision, energy and executive function skills to build on Reflection Sciences’ leadership in executive function,” said Co-Founder and Board Director Stephanie Carlson, Ph.D. “The science is now very clear that executive function skills significantly predict student achievement in core areas such as math, literacy and social-emotional skills. Measuring and improving executive function skills is the way forward to support student success.”

Executive function—or “EF” for short—is the set of brain skills that allows people to hold information in mind, control impulses and think flexibly. These skills allow people to pursue their goals, make better decisions and prioritize actions. Scientific research has shown that EF skills are essential to academic success in children, and also critical building blocks for social-emotional skills that are important success factors throughout life. EF skills are malleable and develop rapidly during childhood. EF skills can be undermined by trauma, such as pandemic isolation and poverty, but they also can be improved with practice.    

Reflection Sciences was founded by Drs. Stephanie Carlson and Phil Zelazo, distinguished faculty at the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. The company’s Minnesota Executive Function Scale (the  MEFS), developed through a research collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the first objective and normed measure of executive function skills for the commercial market. The tool has been used by educators, clinicians and researchers to support growth and development in 100,000 individuals.

“Measuring and developing young learners’ executive function skills holds tremendous potential for improving academic, career and life outcomes,” Van Wesep said. “The research around executive function is clear: it is the essence of human decision-making and the foundation for success in school and at work. The education community is now beginning to understand the science of EF, paving the way for a decade of EF advancement in preK–12.”

To learn more about Reflection Sciences, visit  https://www.reflectionsciences.com.

About Reflection Sciences
Reflection Sciences, Inc. provides the Minnesota Executive Function Scale (the MEFS) to schools, early-childhood centers, ADHD treatment providers and other learning institutions to help them quickly and objectively measure executive function and learning differences. The MEFS is the first objective, scientifically based and normed direct assessment that validly and reliably measures executive function skills in children as young as two years old. The MEFS App is an engaging, five-minute game for students, and it provides vital data for educators and parents on a learner’s executive function skills. Find out more at  https://www.reflectionsciences.com.

PHILADELPHIA (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI), a division of FullBloom, a premier provider of education services for K-12 students who require additional educational and positive behavioral supports to overcome challenges that impede success in a traditional school setting, today announced Kristi Hoffman as its 2023 Teacher of the Year (TOY) and Ashanti Brooks as its 2023 Staff of the Year (STOY). The designations were officially made last week as SESI celebrated Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week.

SESI’s second annual STOY designation honors teachers who exemplify high-quality, evidence-based instruction and the importance of equitable education for all SESI students. New for 2023, full-time employees including social workers, behavior specialists and paraprofessionals, were eligible for nomination. The STOY program recognizes exemplary staff who demonstrate unparalleled dedication to supporting all students.

“SESI is delighted to celebrate Kristi and Ashanti, regional and campus level winners, and all nominees on the heels of this important week devoted to honoring the exceptional professionals in education,” said Dawn Thomas, president of SESI. “Our compassionate staff and teachers work tirelessly to unlock the potential of every student, a mission that has become increasingly crucial as the number of students receiving special education has grown over the past decade. Their passion for fostering student growth is evident in every classroom, therapy session and special activity.”

A teacher at Missouri’s High Road School of Wright City since 2019, Hoffman has made a significant difference in the lives of numerous students. Her dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment and emphasis on collaboration with colleagues and families have helped distinguish Hoffman as an outstanding special education teacher. Her unwavering commitment to students serves as a testament to the exceptional work happening within the SESI community of schools. Hoffman’s colleagues call her the “the light of the school.”

“I am so humbled to receive this honor,” said Hoffman. “My philosophy of learning and education is that once the foundation of a trusting relationship is built, then vulnerabilities can be expressed. Real learning and life lessons take place in everyday conversations.”

Marking over a decade of service as a key founding member of the Excel Academies of Chicago community, Brooks demonstrates exceptional dedication and skill in her multifaceted role as regional enrollment and recruiter coordinator. A familiar face known by students and staff, Brooks said the impact she makes on young people keeps her motivated year after year. Her reach extends far beyond the classroom, going out of her way to answer texts from students after hours and weekends, ensuring she is a continuous source of support. Brooks even coaches the boys basketball team.

In describing her personal philosophy, Brooks said: “Your story may be their story.”

“You never know what someone may be going through, or what may be hindering them from making the academic gains we know they can,” she said.

With more than 2,800 educators and staff members at almost 200 private day schools and in-district classrooms for students with diverse academic, behavioral and social-emotional learning needs, SESI is one of the largest employers of teachers nationwide. Hoffman and Brooks were selected, along with campus, regional and divisional winners, by a SESI leadership panel.

The program’s goals include enhancing the visibility and importance of supporting teachers, promoting the value of quality education and learning for the future, recognizing and honoring educators and staff who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence, and building an effective professional learning community.

To learn more about SESI’s Staff and Teacher of the Year program and see the full list of divisional, regional and campus winners, visit: www.sesischools.com/teacher-and-staff-of-the-year.

About Specialized Education Services, Inc.
Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI), a division of FullBloom, is a premier provider of education services for K-12 students who require additional educational and behavioral supports to overcome challenges that impede success in a traditional school setting. SESI partners with school districts to run classrooms, on-site, within district boundaries and standalone schools that meet the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of special education students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Emotional Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and other challenges. Partnering with over 600 school districts nationwide, SESI serves more than 7,000 students in day schools and in-district classrooms. SESI is accredited by Cognia.

Boulder, Colo. – Being one of the best was the goal of each of the 80 teams while competing at the 2023 National KidWind Challenge in Boulder. Over the course of the three-day event, these highly skilled students were tested on their knowledge of renewable energy, their design and problem-solving skills, and their wind turbines’ energy output by a team of renewable energy educators and industry professionals. The top-performing teams are:

High School Division (Grades 9-12)

• THS Wind Breakers from Tabb High School in Yorktown, Va.
• Mauston Gummy Bears from Mauston High School in Mauston, Wis.
• The Quilt Blockers from Darlington High School in Darlington, Wis.

Middle School Division (Grades 6-8)

• The 2 Dominators from Sand Creek Middle School in Albany, N.Y.
• J.A.M.S from Smithfield Middle School in Smithfield, Va.
• W Squared from Oakley Middle School in Oakley, Kan.

Elementary School Division (Grades 4-5)

• Hutch STEM Blue from STEM Magnet School at Allen in Hutchinson, Kan.
• Montgomery Windbreakers from Montgomery Area School District in Montgomery, Pa.
• Slack Attack form St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, Va.

Team scores were based on their performance on three tasks. Teams tested their wind turbine’s performance and energy output in four KidWind wind tunnels each operating at different speeds. They then presented their design choices, challenges, and successes to the judges. To further test their knowledge and skill, each grade-level division also participated in a renewable energy quizbowl and instant challenges.

Additionally, students competed in the first-ever National Solar Challenge. Students created solar powered objects, art, or mini cities for this new event. Teams were scored on their creativity, knowledge, and the performance of their device. The two top-performing teams are:

• Hungry Chickens from Smithfield High School in Smithfield, Va.
• Solar Baby from J. Frank Hillyard Middle School in Broadway, Va.

This national hands-on engineering competition took place at the Balch Fieldhouse at the University of Colorado – Boulder. This year’s event was co-located with the Collegiate Wind Competition on May 14-17, 2023. It was the culminating event for the KidWind Challenge season, which consisted of 50 local challenges happening across the U.S. and Mexico over the course of six months. Student teams competed in their local event to qualify for the 2023 National KidWind Challenge.

Since the first competition in 2009, the KidWind Challenge and its partners have successfully implemented events in 42 states, with roughly 50,000 students competing in 400 events across the country. The 2023 KidWind Challenge was made possible with the help of many volunteers and the generous contributions from national sponsors, including National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Invenergy, EDP Renewables North America, Enel, Orsted, Pattern Energy, Trane, and Vernier Software & Technology.

For more information about the KidWind Challenge, visit www.kidwind.org/challenge.

About the KidWind Challenge:
The KidWind Challenge is the ultimate wind energy learning experience. Students discover the promise and limitations of wind energy technology while designing, building, and testing a functional wind turbine and competing with their peers in a supportive environment. The KidWind Challenge was developed in 2009 by the KidWind Project, an international leader in clean energy education, and has been embraced and supported by leading energy industry companies since its start. For information on how to get involved, go to www.kidwind.org/challenge.

Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Learning, a leader in AI-driven technology, curriculum, and professional learning solutions for K-12 education, today announced that Chris Hedrick is joining the company as Chief Revenue Officer. Chris will sit on the new Carnegie Learning Executive Leadership Team reporting to CEO Barry Malkin.

Chris joins Carnegie Learning from Scholastic, where he served as the Senior Vice President of Sales. He brings nearly thirty years of experience in sales and revenue management in K-12 education, working with some of the most respected companies in the field. 

Prior to his tenure at Scholastic, Chris worked with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Cambium Learning, where he held various sales leadership roles and contributed significantly to the growth and success of those organizations. With this experience, Chris brings a deep understanding of the needs and challenges of educators and school districts.

According to CEO Barry Malkin, “the creation of the Chief Revenue Officer position reflects Carnegie Learning’s expanding business and our commitment to bringing on top talent. In his role, Chris will be responsible for developing and executing our revenue strategy, overseeing all revenue-generating activities, and ensuring that we continue to grow and thrive in the dynamic and exciting edtech market. With his breadth and depth of experience – from classroom teacher to highly-successful sales leader – Chris will accelerate our positive impact across more and more school districts.”

“I was drawn to Carnegie Learning’s fast-paced and innovative environment,” said Hedrick. “It’s an exciting opportunity to build growth at a company with tremendous potential to transform K-12 education. Carnegie Learning is uniquely positioned to deliver exactly what the market demands with high-quality products driven by research and data. The product differentiation supported by the latest science and AI is like nothing else out there.” 

About Carnegie Learning, Inc.

Carnegie Learning is the leading provider of K-12 education technology, curriculum, and professional learning solutions. With award-winning offerings for K-12 math, literacy, world languages, professional learning, high-dosage tutoring, and more, Carnegie Learning is delivering real and lasting results for teachers and students. Born from more than 30 years of learning science research at Carnegie Mellon University, we are known for using the power of data to improve student performance. Our range of products allows us to support more than 2 million students and educators in all 50 states and Canada. Named a Top Place to Work for six years in a row, our 700+ employees across North America are passionate about partnering with educators in the classroom. For more information, visit carnegielearning.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

QUINCY, Mass. (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Breezeline, the nation’s eighth-largest cable operator, has partnered with CyberSecurity NonProfit (CSNP) to create a series of blogs, videos and social posts to inform and educate the public on ways to protect against cybercrime and to promote online safety.

Recent educational materials created by CSNP staff and experts from the cyber security profession include ways to keep children safe in public online spaces, the benefits and concerns with authentication methods like two-factor and facial recognition, the benefits and risks of location services, identifying cryptocurrency scams, password tips, and Internet of Things (IoT) safety.

“Easy access to online content provides tremendous benefits to society for learning, work, and keeping connected to the world around us,” said Andrew Walton, a spokesperson for Breezeline. “Awareness of online best practices will help reduce risk and ensure that content can be enjoyed safely.”  

In addition to increasing cyber safety knowledge and awareness in the general population, the non-profit organization works to address the diversity gap in the cybersecurity profession.

 “Support from partners like Breezeline is crucial to our efforts to promote cyber safety knowledge and awareness,” said Emily Stamm, President and Cofounder of CSNP. “The support also helps us address the diversity gap in the cybersecurity profession by providing accessible education, resources, and career development opportunities.”

The initiative is one of several steps Breezeline is taking to promote online safety and to foster the responsible use of technology in its communities, including digital literacy training for older adults, anti-cyberbullying resources for schools, coding programs for young female coders, and other initiatives to promote technology careers.

For more information on online security, please visit csnp.org/cyber-safety.

Dexter, Michigan — Dexter Community School, a mid-size school district located in Dexter, Michigan, has implemented Rise Vision’s digital signage solution to encourage student expression and creativity.

Rise Vision, the #1 digital signage solution for K12 schools, has helped schools across the country enhance communication and foster a positive school culture.

With a high school population of approximately 1,200 students and a total district enrollment of over 3,500 students, Dexter Community School is committed to supporting the new generation of digital natives. The district has found a creative way to provide students with a platform to showcase their work and ideas through the use of digital displays.

“Rise Vision has provided our students an opportunity to display their creativity and be held publicly accountable for their work.” says Jason Elmy, a long-term teacher at Mill Creek Middle School, part of the Dexter Community Schools district and the teacher who championed getting students involved in digital signage. “Our staff and students use Rise Vision as a resource to share information with the student body. Updating our displays daily keeps things fresh and the students interested in upcoming events and daily occurrences.”

Rise Vision’s digital signage solution has allowed Dexter Community School to engage students in a new way. The solution provides the school with a dynamic way to display student work, announcements, and upcoming events, in addition to fostering engagement and a community feeling. The solution also helps to streamline communication across the district and ensures that students, staff, and faculty are always in the loop.

“We are thrilled to see how Dexter Community School is using our solution to support their students and staff,” said Shea Darlison, Head of Marketing of Rise Vision. “We believe that our solution provides schools with a powerful tool to improve communication and create a positive school culture. We are proud to be a part of Dexter Community School’s efforts to support the new generation of digital natives.”

Rise Vision’s digital signage solution is designed specifically for K12 schools and is easy to use, allowing schools to display a variety of content, including videos, graphics, and images. The solution is also highly customizable, allowing schools to tailor their displays to meet their specific needs.

“Mill Creek Middle School will continue to use Rise Vision in the years to come.” says Jason Elmy.

To learn more about how Mill Creek Middle School is using Rise Vision digital signage software, visit the company’s website.

ABOUT RISE VISION

Rise Vision is the #1 digital signage software solution for schools. Rise Vision helps schools improve communication, increase student involvement, celebrate student achievements, and create a positive school culture

Santa Barbara, CA — ParentSquare Inc., the leading provider of school-home community engagement solutions for K-12, today announced the members of its 2023-24 ParentSquare Advisory Council. The Advisory Council members help inform the company’s future development plans for the ParentSquare platform and serve as a peer-to-peer forum for discussing best practices and pressing issues in school communications and family engagement.

The ParentSquare Advisory Council is an invitation-only group, comprised of K-12 communications, technology, and administrative leaders who use ParentSquare. The size of the council has grown from 14 members in the 2022-23 academic year to 18 members for the coming year. New and returning members include:

●      Jason Borgen, Chief Technology Officer for Santa Cruz County Office of Education (Calif.)

●      Brian C. Burke, Executive Director of Communications, Community Partnerships, and Strategic Planning (Conn.)

●      Joanne Chan, Education Services Coordinator for Hacienda la Puente (Calif.)

●      Ron Cone, Executive Director of Information Technology for Kennewick School District (Wash.)

●      Leah Davis, Executive Director of the Exceptional Children’s Department for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (N.C.)

●      Kirsten Fitterer, Chief Communications Officer for Yakima School District #7 (Wash.)

●      Michael Garcia, Director of Family and Community Engagement for Fontana Unified School District (Calif.)

●      Kris Hagel, Executive Director of Digital Learning for Peninsula School District (Wash.)

●      Katie Harmon, Director of Educational Technology for Westhill Central School District (N.Y.)

●      Dr. Christine Jordan, Assistant to the Superintendent for Wyandanch Union Free School District (N.Y.)

●      Steven Langford, Chief Information Officer for Beaverton School District (Ore.)

●      Erin Lindsey, Director of Communication for Cupertino Union (Calif.)

●      Emily Mejia, Associate Director of Student Data for Achievement First (N.Y.)

●      Noelle Newton, Executive Director of Communications & Community Relations for Hutto Independent School District (Texas)

●      Brad Orth, Executive Director of District Data Management, Business Information Systems, and Data Reporting for Cherokee County School District (Ga.)

●      Rod Russeau, Director of Technology & Information Services for Community High School District 99 (Ill.)

●      Steve Smith, Chief Information Officer for Cambridge Public Schools (Mass.)

●      Krista Stockman, Director of Communication & Marketing for Fort Wayne Community Schools (Ind.)

“When Fort Wayne Community Schools switched to ParentSquare in August 2022, we saw immediate improvement in our ability to communicate directly with families. Buy-in from the majority of staff members and parents was quick. I have already learned that while ParentSquare is great, it just keeps getting better,” Fort Wayne Community Schools Director of Communication & Marketing Krista Stockman, APR, said. “I appreciate the opportunity to learn about new tools being developed and the chance to give feedback from the field. I am looking forward to getting to know other members of the PAC and hearing how other districts are using ParentSquare to improve family engagement.”

The ParentSquare Advisory Council was formed and began meeting in summer 2020. It is led by Dr. Chad Stevens, Chief Strategy Officer of ParentSquare, who is a former school administrator and district chief technology officer. Members of the 2023-24 council will meet quarterly online and once a year in person.

“We are very grateful that these council members have committed their time to helping us identify and address key communication needs and priorities in K-12 districts,” Stevens said. “Our council members’ diverse expertise and advice have been of immeasurable value to our mission of enhancing school-home communication, and I am looking forward to seeing what we’ll achieve in the new school year.”

About ParentSquare

ParentSquare is the leading provider of modern family and community engagement solutions for K-12 schools. Millions of educators and families in 49 states rely on the multipurpose unified platform that includes mass notifications, classroom communications, school websites, and other communication-based services, all supported by visual dashboards. ParentSquare’s technology platform features comprehensive integrations with school administrative systems, translation to more than 100 languages, and app, email, text, voice, and web portal access for equitable communication. Founded in 2011, the company is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA. Learn more at https://www.parentsquare.com.

Charlotte, NC — Georgia’s Glynn County Schools (GCS) today announced the renewal of its multiyear partnership with Discovery Education supporting the district’s youngest learners. The renewal of this partnership ensures students and teachers in the district’s K-5 classrooms will continue to use the company’s award-winning Mystery Science service to explore the natural world and more deeply engage in science instruction. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports instruction wherever it takes place. 

Located in Southeastern Georgia, Glynn County Schools’ dedicated staff of more than 3,600 professionals serves more than 12,000 students in 21 schools. Driven by their vision to create 21st century learning environments that offer opportunities for all students to pursue higher education and develop skills that meet workforce needs while producing informed, conscientious, and productive citizens who give back to their community, GCSS fosters a culture of continuous assessment and improvement.  

This year, following a careful review of the district’s usage and success with the Mystery Science service, school administrators elected to renew the partnership with Discovery Education that brings Mystery Science to GCSS’s K-5 students. By doing so, the district will continue to create hands-on instructional experiences that engage students and build their capacity for success for both the remainder of their career at GCSS and beyond. 

Mystery Science, which joined the family of Discovery Education services in 2020 and has won SIIA’s Best Science Instructional Solution CODiE award for Grades PK – 8, provides K-5 educators simple to use, open-and-go, hands-on lessons that inspire students to love science. Each lesson begins by posing a question commonly asked by young students. Students then explore these questions through interactive videos featuring real-world visuals fostering a sense of wonder and actively supporting student engagement in the accompanying discussion prompts.  

Then, students participate in easy to prepare hands-on labs that use simple science supplies commonly found in classrooms or at home.  Mystery Science contains everything teachers need to get students engaged in hands-on science and make that subject the best class of the day.  

Mystery Science simplifies prep for teachers, making the integration of this resource into classroom instruction simple. Plus, all K-5 science lessons are now available in Spanish, with accompanying videos featuring authentic Spanish narration and Spanish text-on-screen (for discussion questions, vocabulary words, and step-by-step instructions). Editable, ready-to-use worksheets and assessments are also available in both English and Spanish. In addition to Mystery Science, GCS’ educators will continue using Discovery Education’s Science Techbooks to support science instruction. 

“We recognize and value the importance of cultivating curiosity and discovery in our students from the moment they step into our schools,” said GCS K-12 Science Coordinator Kristen Lipthratt, Ed.S. “We are thrilled to continue partnering with Mystery Science to ensure our teachers’ ability to create access to powerful digital learning experiences that engage students in the wonderful world of science.” 

Also, all GCSS educators enjoy access to the Discovery Education Community. A global network of education professionals, the Discovery Education Community connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration. 

“Discovery Education is proud to renew its collaboration with Glynn County Schools,” said Leketa Schilling, Discovery Education’s Mystery Science District Partnership Manager. “Glynn County’s Science teachers are creating innovative learning environments that excite young learners about the natural world and we are excited to be supporting their work.” 

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources—which can be purchased with federal stimulus funds—and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.  

About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.   

SAN DIEGO (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ClassIn, a world leader in hybrid, blended, and remote learning solutions, today announced the launch of its globally recognized platform in the United States. The ClassIn platform has been purpose-built for education and based on nearly a decade of research, development, and in-market experience. Through its software and hardware solutions, ClassIn provides the digital infrastructure for the hybrid future of education by building classrooms in both the virtual and physical worlds. ClassIn is the only end-to-end education platform with a full suite of innovative tools and features, all designed with hybrid-first pedagogy at its core. It supports active learning, student flexibility, and various teaching and learning methods.

While schools have worked to embrace technology for decades, innovation has been slow and fragmented, and most new technologies have been designed to solve a singular problem. Today, the average US teacher uses 148 different EdTech products and the average US school district uses over 1,400 EdTech solutions. The pandemic exacerbated this issue, as most schools implemented “emergency remote teaching” instead of pedagogically aligned instruction, cobbling together many disparate technologies that were not built or designed for education.

“Remote and hybrid teaching brought long-touted but previously out-of-reach, student-centric instruction to life, making room for self-guided learning, flexible schedules, and additional time to explore volunteer, hobby, and work opportunities,” said Sara Gu, Co-Founder, and COO at ClassIn. “We’re at an inflection point. The classroom of the future will be networked, digitized, and intelligent, which means our learning solutions must be built on a solid foundation: based on hybrid-first pedagogy and backed by learning science. With over 50 million students using our solution in 160+ countries, our hardware and software solutions reduce districts’ need for the patchwork of over 1,400 different technologies by combining many of those capabilities seamlessly.”

ClassIn’s comprehensive suite of tools helps educators and administrators address multiple challenges by:

• Helping School Districts Address Teacher Shortages: According to the National Education Association, there is a shortage of roughly 300,000 teachers and staff across the U.S. The teacher shortage is particularly pronounced in rural school districts, where the need for special education teachers and STEM teachers is high. ClassIn allows schools to expand the reach of instruction from more experienced faculties to locations where those resources are scarce.
• Encouraging Equitable Learning by Leveling the Playing Field for Virtual and In-Person Learning Modalities: From two-way interactive blackboards to breakout rooms, class polling, real-time interaction, and personalized learning, ClassIn encourages student engagement and interaction and allows teachers to design a classroom that goes beyond successful lectures, incorporating other modalities of instruction and teamwork.
• Offering Strategic Hardware Solutions: ClassIn X transforms traditional classrooms into outcome-driven hybrid learning spaces through an IoT hardware package that digitizes the physical classroom. It offers a 110’’ smart board that comes with ClassIn software, an AI-enabled multi-directional microphone that clearly captures the sound in an 800-square-foot classroom, and a stationary face-tracking camera, which makes it easy for remote students to see the teacher’s face and gestures.
• Providing Fast, Seamless Technology: Built to handle virtual, hybrid, and blended learning, ClassIn’s technology allows up to 2,000 students to interact in a single classroom, with millions more learners able to view and listen to the livestream in real-time.
• Streamlining School & District Administrative Tools: The administration dashboard streamlines school management, enabling batch lesson planning for the entire semester and generating data-rich reports that reflect student participation during and after class. The wide variety of functionality allows schools to handle hybrid and blended learning on their terms in a way that works best for their school district and classrooms. Administrators can also easily review and analyze teacher and student performance through over 40 metrics, including attendance, classroom activity, and test and homework data.

ClassIn makes it easy to teach, learn, and build learning communities with minimal friction, freeing up teachers to do their best work, and students to do their best learning—all in an active, supportive, and flexible environment.

About ClassIn
A world leader in learning environment solutions, ClassIn has pioneered the digital and physical infrastructure for the hybrid future of education. Purpose-built for education based on nearly a decade of research, development, and in-market experience, ClassIn is the only end-to-end education platform with a full suite of tools designed with hybrid-first pedagogy at its core. ClassIn serves over 50 million students across 160+ countries. ClassIn has partnered with more than 80,000+ educational institutions including Oxford University Press, Sony Education, EF, The British Council, Pearson, and Udacity. The Series D company has raised more than $500 million and is backed by Hillhouse and Tencent, among others.

INDIANAPOLIS (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Poptential, a family of free social studies course packages from Certell, provides rich content to teach the importance of Memorial Day, including material on the U.S. involvement in 21st-century wars. Click to tweet.

“While today’s high school students weren’t yet born when the United States was attacked on 9/11, the War on Terror resulting from that day has been in the news for most of their lives,” said Julie Smitherman, a former social studies teacher and director of content at Certell, Inc. “More than 7,000 U.S. service men and women lost their lives during this protracted war, so it’s important to understand how it came about.”

The Memorial Day holiday honors American soldiers who have died in combat and has been observed annually since 1971 on the last Monday of May. Poptential’s American History curriculum features bell ringers, mini-lessons, and multimedia content to engage and teach students about the U.S. involvement in 21st-century wars, including the attack on the World Trade Center in New York, the resulting War on Terrorism, the occupation of Afghanistan and the Iraq war. Lessons include:

• The human toll of war—The Poptential May 30 bell ringer features a video clip tribute to soldiers who pay the ultimate price. Composed of scenes from the 2009 historical drama “The Taking of Chance,” the film follows Colonel Michael Strobel, played by Kevin Bacon, a military officer who volunteers to escort the body of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, who was killed in Iraq, back to his hometown in Wyoming for burial.
• 9/11 shocked the world—The Poptential September 11 bell ringer highlights why 9/11 remains one of the most important events in recent history. It features a video clip of President George W. Bush’s reaction to receiving the news of the attack on the World Trade Center as he reads to school children. A History Channel video clip shows the timeline of the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11.
• The War on Terror begins—Determining that the Afghanistan-based terrorist group Al-Qaeda was responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attack, President Bush and his administration vowed to wage a “War on Terrorism.” A Poptential mini-lesson focuses on the flight paths of the hijacked planes and highlights the October 2001 U.S. and NATO forces’ invasion of Afghanistan.
• Iraq War of 2003 Explained—Believing that Iraq was amassing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) that could be used in future terrorist attacks, the United States and the United Kingdom joined forces to invade Iraq. This video shows why these allies mistakenly thought Iraq possessed WMDs and the role Iraqi President Saddam Hussein played in perpetuating that belief in order to project strength and instill fear in his enemies.
• The War on Terror Ends—The United States’ chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 brought an end to the 20-year War on Terror. A mini-lesson includes a video clip of U.S. presidents addressing the American people regarding the war. It also includes a video clip illustrating a concise history lesson of the complicated conditions and conflicts that have existed in the area since 1978.

Poptential course packages include everything instructors need to teach a subject, including lessons, e-books, bell ringers, quizzes, and tests. The lessons use a variety of pop culture media to illustrate concepts, including those taken from sitcoms, movies, animations, cartoons, late-night shows, and other sources. The curriculum is standards-based and developed by teachers.

Poptential is available via a digital platform that allows students to access lessons even in poor bandwidth environments. Course packages in American History, World History, U.S. Government/Civics, and Economics are available free at www.poptential.org.

About Certell, Inc.
Certell is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to foster a generation of independent thinkers. More than 100,000 users from throughout the United States have signed up for Certell’s Poptential family of free social studies courses. Certell course packages have won a number of awards, including EdTech Digest Awards for Curriculum and Instruction Solution, Tech&Learning Best Tool for Back to School, Tech Edvocate Awards, Bronze Award of Excellence from the National Association of Economics Educators, and Civvys Awards. More information is available at poptential.org.

WASHINGTON (PRWEB) — In celebration of the 38th annual SIIA CODiE Awards, the  Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announced Education Technology finalists. Finalists, selected by expert reviewers, represent the most innovative and impactful products from education technology developers, online learning services and related learning-focused technologies.

“The 2023 CODiE Award finalists are some of the most inspiring products, services and leaders who are blazing a trail in the education technology space,” said SIIA President Chris Mohr. “Their innovations stand to improve the teaching and learning experience for teachers and students here in the U.S. and globally. Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists.”

The SIIA CODiE Awards are the industry’s only peer-reviewed awards program. Educators and administrators serve as judges for the first-round review of all nominees. Their scores determine the SIIA CODiE Award finalists and account for 80 percent of the overall score. SIIA members then vote on the finalist products. The scores from both rounds are tabulated to select the winners. Details about each finalist are listed at  https://www.siia.net/codie/codie-finalists/. The category winners will be announced June.

2023 CODiE AWARD EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY FINALISTS

Best Administrative Solution

• Lightspeed Digital Insight, Lightspeed Systems
• Qwickly Attendance, Qwickly, Inc.
• Scholastic Administrator Dashboard, Scholastic Education Solutions

Best Continuing Education Solution

• uCertify LEARN, uCertify – *

Best Coding & Computational Thinking Solution

• CoderZ, CoderZ
• uCertify COURSE, uCertify

Best Collaborative Solution for Teachers

• Branching Minds, Branching Minds
• edWeb.net, edWeb.net

Best College & Career Readiness Solution

• eDynamic Learning CTE and Career Catalog, eDynamic Learning
• PowerSchool Unified Classroom® Naviance, PowerSchool
• uCertify COURSE, uCertify

Best Content Authoring Development or Curation Solution

• Gale In Context: For Educators, Gale, part of Cengage Group
• DnA by Renaissance, Renaissance
• uCertify CREATE, uCertify

Best Digital Citizenship Solution

• Respons-Able Educator Certificate Program, Digital Respons-Ability – *

Best Evidence Management Solution

• Branching Minds, Branching Minds
• LearnPlatform by Instructure, Instructure
• MobyMax, MobyMax

Best Educational Game

• Zorbit’s Math Adventure, Carnegie Learning
• Math Basecamp, Legends of Learning

Best Education Platform

• The Talent X Platform, Coding Dojo
• MagicBox, Magic EdTech
• uCertify LEARN, uCertify

Best Elective Curriculum Solution

• eDynamic Learning Elective Course Catalog, eDynamic Learning – *

Best Emerging Education Technology Solution for Administrators

• AllHere, AllHere
• EveryDay Pro, EveryDay Labs
• Frontline Human Capital Management, Frontline Education

Best Emerging Instructional Technology Solution

• Lightbox Subscription, Lightbox Learning Inc.
• Logitech Pen, Logitech
• MobyMax, MobyMax

Best English Language Arts Instructional Solution for Grades PK–8

• Writing A-Z, Learning A-Z
• MobyMax, MobyMax

Best Formative Assessment Solution

• Learnosity Assessment Engine, Learnosity
• Otus, Otus
• uCertify LEARN, uCertify

Best Gamification in Learning

• CoderZ, CoderZ
• ExploreLearning Frax, ExploreLearning
• Waggle®, HMH

Best Higher Education Humanities Instructional Solution

• Gale Digital Scholar Lab, Gale, part of Cengage Group
• Revel, Pearson Education

Best Higher Education Remote Learning Partner

• CYPHER LEARNING NEO LMS, CYPHER LEARNING
• uCertify LEARN, uCertify

Best K–12 Remote Learning Partner

• ExploreLearning, ExploreLearning
• MobyMax, MobyMax
• TCI, TCI

Best Learning Management System (LMS)

• Blackboard Learn Ultra, Anthology
• comproDLS Engage, Compro Technologies
• uCertify LEARN, uCertify

Best Learning Recovery Tool

• IXL, IXL Learning
• ST Math, MIND Research Institute
• PLUS – Personalized Learning Squared, PLUS – Personalized Learning Squared

Best Mathematics Instructional Solution for Grades PK–8

• My Math Academy, Age of Learning
• IXL Math, IXL Learning
• ST Math, MIND Research Institute

Best Mathematics Instructional Solution for Grades 9–12

• IXL Math, IXL Learning – *

Best Personalized Learning Solution

• Alef Pathways, Alef Education
• i-Ready, Curriculum Associates
• MobyMax, MobyMax

Best PreK/Early Childhood Learning Solution

• Bouncy’s You Can Learn Resilience Program, Ripple Effects
• Teaching Strategies Ecosystem: The Only Connected Ecosystem in Early Childhood Education, Teaching Strategies

Best Professional Learning Solution for Educators

• Brightspace, D2L
• Teacher Success Pathways + Teacher’s Corner®, HMH
• PowerSchool Unified Talent, PowerSchool

Best Reading/Writing/Literature Instructional Solution for Grade 9–12

• Writable, HMH
• Advanced Placement English Language and Composition by AMSCO Interactive Edition, Perfection Learning

Best Research Database Solution

• Decolonization: Politics and Independence in former Colonial and Commonwealth Territories, Gale, part of Cengage Group
• GetEdFunding.com, Marketing Projects, Inc. on behalf of CDWG

Best Science Instructional Solution for Grades PK–8

• STEMscopes Science, Accelerate Learning Inc.
• BrainPOP Science, BrainPOP
• MobyMax, MobyMax

Best Science Instructional Solution for Grades 9–12

• Pivot Interactives, Discovery Education
• ExploreLearning Gizmos, ExploreLearning
• Experience Physics, Savvas Learning Company

Best Science of Reading/Foundational Skills Solution

• Benchmark Phonics, Benchmark Education Company
• Amira Learning, HMH
• IXL English Language Arts, IXL Learning
• MobyMax, MobyMax

Best Social Sciences/Studies Instructional Solution

• U.S. History Collection, GBH Education/PBS LearningMedia
• Revel, Pearson Education

Best Solution for English Language Learners

• The Alef Platform, Alef Education
• Rosetta Stone for Schools, Rosetta Stone

Best Solution for Students with Special Needs

• Inclusive Stories, Inclusive Technology
• BuddyBooks, ObjectiveEd
• Vizzle Interactive Learning Platform, RethinkEd

Best STEM Instructional Solution for Grades PK–8

• The Alef Platform, Alef Education
• MobyMax, MobyMax

Best STEM Instructional Solution for Grades 9–12

• ExploreLearning Gizmos, ExploreLearning – *

Best Student Learning Capacity-Building Solution

• Positivity, n2y
• Panorama for SEL, Panorama Education

Best Summative Assessment Solution

• MobyMax, MobyMax
• Otus, Otus

Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in Ed Tech

• Merlyn Mind, Merlyn
• Bookshelf + Bookshelf CoachMe, VitalSource

Best Virtual Lab

• McGraw Hill Virtual Labs, McGraw Hill Education
• uCertify LAB, uCertify

Best Virtual Learning Solution

• Imagine Edgenuity, Imagine Learning
• Clinical Nursing Skills: Practice for Mastery, Pearson
• uCertify LEARN, uCertify

Best Wellness Platform for School Districts and Educational Communities

• Abre Student Well-Being, Abre
• Clayful, Clayful Health

2023 CODiE AWARD EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP FINALISTS

Best Customer Experience in Ed Tech

• Curriculum Associates, Curriculum Associates
• LineLeader by ChildcareCRM, LineLeader by ChildcareCRM
• Tutor.com, Tutor.com

Best Ed Tech Company to Watch

• Glean, Glean (formerly Sonocent)
• Paper, PAPER
• Teaching Strategies, Teaching Strategies, Inc.

Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in Ed Tech

• Lumen Learning, Lumen Learning
• Renaissance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Renaissance Learning

Most Influential Thought Leader in Ed Tech

• Ashley Andersen Zantop, Cambium Learning Group
• PowerSchool CEO Hardeep Gulati, PowerSchool
• Timothy G. Freitas, Timothy G. Freitas (Garden of English, LLC)

Most Innovative Ed Tech Company

• Age of Learning, Age of Learning, Inc.
• Shift iQ, InSite Information Systems
• PowerSchool, PowerSchool
• Realityworks, Inc., Realityworks, Inc.

Best Student Experience

• Along, Gradient Learning
• MobyMax, MobyMax

Best Suite of Connected/Integrated Solutions

• HMH ELA K–12 Connected Curriculum, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• MobyMax, MobyMax

*The Judging process is a rigorous one that honors only the truly stand-out nominations; in this case, the Judges selected just one submission to qualify in the Finals.

About the SIIA CODiE Awards

The SIIA CODiE Awards is the only peer-reviewed program to celebrate the vision, talent and advances in building quality products in the tech industry. Since 1986, thousands of products, services and solutions have been recognized for leading innovation and achieving excellence. For more information, visit  https://www.siia.net/CODiE.

About Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA)

SIIA is the only professional organization connecting more than 700 data, financial information, education technology, specialized content and publishing, and connects learners and educators. Our diverse members manage the global financial markets, develop software that solves today’s challenges through technology, provide critical information that helps inform global businesses large and small, and innovate for better communication across the information ecosystem.

ITASCA, Ill. – Riverside Insights®, a leading developer of research-based assessments and analytics, today announced a partnership with Thrively, a personalized learning platform for K-12 students aimed at helping children everywhere discover their inner genius. The partnership will enable educators to discover students’ unique strengths, interests and aspirations to build the skills they need for success in the classroom and beyond.

Adding Thrively to Riverside Insights’ offerings provides educators engaging resources to complement Riverside’s researched-backed assessments and insights. The Riverside Insights’ CogAT(R) (Cognitive Abilities Test^TM ) measures verbal, quantitative and nonverbal reasoning skills, providing multiple perspectives on cognitive abilities and student potential for learning. The Thrively assessments, also research-based, help students develop self-efficacy and confidence to unlock their strengths, learning styles, habits and personality. Riverside and Thrively assessments, used in combination, maximize student understanding and engagement and create a comprehensive strengths-based profile for students K-12.

“Riverside Insights and Thrively share the same goal of giving all students the tools and confidence they need to thrive in the classroom and succeed in life after graduation,” said Matt Tebbe, Group General Manager, Riverside Insights. “Our research-based assessments empower educators with the knowledge to help each learner, while the Thrively platform helps to unlock the students’ potential and increase overall classroom engagement.”

With the Thrively assessments, students gain self-awareness and learn about their unique strengths and interests. Students work through playlists, courses, projects and activities designed to help them find purpose, build skills and create personal impact. Journal entries follow each activity to capture student learning and growth. The student’s entire journey is captured in their digital portfolio, which they can refer to for self reflection and teachers can also monitor student progress.

“Thrively was founded on a core philosophy that every child has a genius and they deserve to thrive,” said Girish Venkat, founder and CEO, Thrively. “Students are 30 times more engaged when the school is committed to building on their strengths. We ensure that every learner is known, their well-being is supported and hope is instilled. By doing this, we create the conditions for positive and growth-oriented student engagement.”

For more information, visit https://info.riversideinsights.com/thrively.

About Thrively

Thrively, a personalized learning platform for K-12 students aimed at helping kids everywhere discover their inner genius, was founded on the core philosophy that every child deserves to thrive. The strengths-based learning platform unlocks each student’s potential and increases overall classroom engagement by ensuring every learner is known, their well-being supported, and hope instilled. For more information, visit www.thrively.com.

About Riverside Insights

Riverside Insights, one of the nation’s leading and most long-standing developers of research-based assessments, is led by a powerful mission: to provide insights that help elevate potential and enrich the lives of students, clinical patients, employees, and organizations globally. For more information, visit www.RiversideInsights.com.

SAN FRANCISCO – To kick off Teacher Appreciation Week, Edthena is announced Megan Schlagel of St. Vrain Valley Schools in Longmont, Colo. as the winner of its 2023 Teacher Leader Impact Award which recognizes standout teachers nationwide. Schlagel, a high school math teacher at Niwot High School, was nominated by an administrator at her school for having an impact in her classroom and beyond through her dedication to lifelong learning and the continuous improvement of her teaching practices. 

“Megan truly exemplifies what it means to be a teacher leader,” said Adam Geller, founder and CEO of Edthena. “In addition to the impact she has with her students, Megan is passionate about supporting her fellow high school teachers and continuing her own professional learning. We are proud to recognize her hard work and dedication.”

As part of the award’s nomination process, school-level administrators were asked to detail how a nominee continually improves as well as the positive impacts of the nominee’s teaching and lifelong learning. 

An administrator said of Schlagel, “She is a math teacher who is passionate about mentoring the next generation of teachers. She participates in district professional development courses, including an Edthena self-study, to continue growing in her own practice.” 

“In all things, especially education, I believe it is important to always stay curious,” said Schlagel. 

Schlagel will receive a school-wide subscription to the AI Coach by Edthena platform for the 2023-2024 school year to further support her – and her colleagues’ – professional learning. In the platform, teachers can engage in unlimited personalized coaching cycles to further their development. The AI-powered coaching cycles supplement existing professional development and enhance educator collaboration.

To learn more about the Teacher Leader Impact Award and this year’s winner, visit https://teacherleaderimpact.org/. 

About Edthena

Edthena is the leading provider of innovative technologies to support educator professional learning and streamline feedback to teachers. The companyoffers the AI Coach platform, an artificial intelligence-driven solution to guide teachers through coaching cycles; the Edthena Video Coaching platform, the classroom observation and collaboration platform for using videos as part of professional development; and Edthena Organization Libraries, a platform for schools and districts to curate and share best-practice teaching videos. Edthena is the recipient of numerous awards from organizations such as SIIA, District Administration, and Tech & Learning. For more information, visit www.edthena.com. For more news about Edthena, visit www.edthena.com/blog/. 

DALLAS (PRWEB) — Frog Street, an early childhood education company designed around the latest science in early brain development, has announced the results of a study conducted by the  Johns Hopkins School of Education evaluating the efficacy of the Frog Street Pre-K curriculum with students in Texas. The study found that using  Frog Street Pre-K curriculum was associated with positive gains in critical early learning domains and increased kindergarten readiness. Frog Street provides a bilingual pre-K curriculum organized into five subjects, five skill-content areas and supports for social-emotional development.

“Ensuring that children are prepared for kindergarten is crucial for their future academic success,” emphasized Jessica Bobo, Head of Product at Frog Street Press and a former Texas early childhood educator and leader. “The data speaks for itself: our students are developing a love for learning and building a strong academic foundation that will serve them well for years to come.”

The study analyzed approximately 78,000 Pre-K students from 316 school districts in Texas who were instructed using Frog Street Pre-K curriculum as their primary curriculum during the 2021-2022 academic year, compared to students who used a different Pre-K curriculum. The researchers assessed the performance of both sets of students in areas like reading, writing, language, health, and mathematics domains using the CIRCLE assessment from fall 2021 to spring 2022. Key findings include:

• Frog Street Pre-K Students Experience Positive Learning Gains. Frog Street’s Pre-K curriculum produced significant learning gains in most subjects for English and Spanish-speaking students, especially in reading, compared to those using another curriculum.
• Frog Street Establishes a Foundation for Kindergarten Readiness. The study found that the Frog Street curriculum established a strong foundation for kindergarten readiness, with most students meeting the CIRCLE assessment benchmarks across various critical early learning domains.
• Access to Frog Street Curriculum Impacts Learning Gains for Spanish-Speaking Students. Spanish-speaking Pre-K students who used the Frog Street curriculum showed remarkable improvements in all domains, including reading, demonstrating the positive impact of the curriculum’s inclusive, multilingual approach to instruction.

“Transitioning to kindergarten is not simply a series of activities, but a comprehensive process that helps children and families build the knowledge, skills, and relationships necessary for success in a new educational environment,” said Lee Ramsayer, Chief Executive Officer at Frog Street. “The recent Johns Hopkins study demonstrates that the Frog Street curriculum effectively prepares English- and Spanish-speaking students for kindergarten. As a global leader in early childhood education, we will use these findings to continue to equip teachers across the nation with the resources they need to ensure every child sees success.”

Frog Street is used in over 40% of Texas public pre-K classrooms.

For additional insights into the Johns Hopkins study findings, download the full report  here.

To learn more about the research basis behind Frog Street curricula, visit  https://www.frogstreet.com/research/.

About Frog Street
Founded by early childhood educators and experts in 1989, Frog Street provides comprehensive early childhood education solutions to public schools, Head Start programs and early child-care centers. Frog Street’s curriculum programs for children from birth to age 5 are based on early brain research and provide intentional age-appropriate instruction that is aligned to both federal and state standards. The company also develops engaging and interactive professional development programs, including product training, conferences, continuing education, and quality assessment tools to measure students’ progress. Frog Street exists to empower connected learning communities and instill confidence and kindness in all children. To learn more, please visit  http://www.frogstreet.com.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Paycom Software Inc. (NYSE:PAYC), a leading provider of HR software, celebrates the end of the 2023 school year by awarding grants to four local public school foundations. These two-year commitments will provide Edmond, Millwood, Oklahoma City and Putnam City with funds needed to support ongoing and new educational programming specific to each district.

“Partnering with the public schools in the area is an important way Paycom supports our communities,” said Tiffany Gamblin, director of human resources business services at Paycom. “We know the power these programs can have on children and young adults. We’re grateful to play a part in helping tomorrow’s leaders shine.”

Each school district has a unique plan for the donations they received from Paycom.

Edmond Public Schools is using the funds to improve mental wellness for students. “With Paycom’s help, the foundation can continue championing the mental health and behavioral needs of Edmond children, from preschool to high school,” said Deanna Boston, chief executive officer of Edmond Public Schools Foundation.

Millwood Public Schools will enhance its budding marching band program. “We greatly appreciate this generous donation from Paycom,” said Milo Wilson, president of Millwood Enrichment Foundation. “The funding will help to provide ongoing support for programs at the district and further improve the quality of education in our schools.”

Oklahoma City Public Schools will use Paycom’s donation to increase and enhance literacy access for students across the district. “Our schools can’t do it alone, and we can’t do our work at the foundation without the help of our community partners. Paycom lives its values, and we sincerely appreciate their leadership and support,” said Mary Mélon-Tully, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation.

Putnam City Public Schools have earmarked the money to bolster its mentoring programs. “With Paycom’s support, the foundation continues to provide programs and resources to more than 17,000 students and their families that enhance and enrich educational opportunities for students and families of the Putnam City School District, including the award-winning CAST Initiative,” said Alyx Picard, executive director of Putnam City Schools Foundation.

Paycom regularly champions sustainable programs, including education causes that ensure basic needs are met and encourage a brighter future for all.

To learn more about Paycom’s giving, visit paycom.com/about-paycom/press-room/.

About Paycom

For nearly 25 years, Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE:PAYC) has simplified businesses and the lives of their employees through easy-to-use HR and payroll technology to empower transparency through direct access to their data. And thanks to its industry-first solution, Beti^®, U.S. employees now do their own payroll and are guided to find and fix costly errors before payroll submission. From onboarding and benefits enrollment to talent management and more, Paycom’s software streamlines processes, drives efficiencies and gives employees power over their own HR information, all in a single app. Recognized nationally for its technology and workplace culture, Paycom can now serve businesses of all sizes in the U.S. and internationally.

Charlotte, NC — Illinois’ Geneva School District 304 (Geneva CUSD 304) today announced it has renewed its multi-year partnership with Discovery Education supporting science education in grades K-5 through the year 2026. This continued collaboration ensures K-5 students and teachers districtwide will continue enjoying access to Discovery Education’s award-winning Mystery Science service, which is helping drive deeper engagement in science instruction. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports instruction wherever it takes place. 

Each day, Geneva CUSD 304’s teachers, administrators, and staff seek to educate the nearly 5,500 students they serve within an environment that encourages the desire to learn and meets the unique academic, personal, physical, and social needs of each child. In 2016, district educators selected Mystery Science to support hands-on elementary science instruction and foster within each student a love of science. Today, Mystery Science continues to fulfill that mission as it helps district students develop into complex, creative thinkers. 

Mystery Science, which joined the family of Discovery Education services in 2020 and is a winner of SIIA’s Best Science Instructional Solution CODiE Award for Grades PK-8, provides K-5 educators simple-to-use, open-and-go, hands-on lessons that inspire students to love science. Each lesson begins by posing a question commonly asked by young students. Students then explore these questions through interactive videos featuring real-world visuals fostering a sense of wonder and actively supporting student engagement in the accompanying discussion prompts.  

Then, students participate in easy-to-prepare hands-on labs that use simple science supplies commonly found in classrooms or at home. The NGSS-aligned Mystery Science contains everything teachers need to get students engaged in hands-on science and make that subject the best class of the day.  

Mystery Science simplifies prep for teachers, making the integration of this resource into classroom instruction simple. Plus, all K-5 science lessons are now available in Spanish, with the accompanying videos featuring authentic Spanish narration and Spanish text-on-screen (for discussion questions, vocabulary words, and step-by-step instructions). Editable ready-to-use worksheets and assessments are also available in both English and Spanish. 

“In reviewing the data for this digital service, we found that Mystery Science is popular with teachers,” said Geneva CUSD 304’s Learning & Teaching Facilitator Jill Marsh. “However, the data only tells part of the story. If you walk into a classroom using this service to teach a science lesson, you will see a room of engaged, smiling students who are learning to love science. We are pleased to continue this valuable, long-term partnership.” 

All Geneva CUSD 304 educators enjoy access to the Discovery Educator Network as they transform students’ learning experiences with dynamic digital media. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Educator Network connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing, and inspiration. 

“Discovery Education is proud to renew its relationship with Geneva School District 304,” said Sage Pintler, Discovery Education’s District Partnership Manager for Mystery Science. “As a long-term partner, the district’s feedback has helped shape our service and has led to innovations that have gone on to help educators and students nationwide, and we look forward to continuing this important collaboration.” 

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources—which can be purchased with federal stimulus funds—and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.       

About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. 

SAN MATEO, Calif.– Substitute teachers sourced via  Swing Education, a tech-enabled staffing marketplace that matches schools with qualified substitute teachers,  have filled more than one million hours of classroom instruction in the 2022-23 school year. 

Though Swing has been helping schools fill classroom vacancies since 2015, this is the first time the company has crossed the one million instructional hour mark in a single school year. 

“We never had an explicit goal to reach a million teaching hours, but knew we were going to get there and it kind of snuck up on us, to be honest,” said Mike Teng, CEO of Swing Education. “Reaching this number is significant and it feels extraordinary, especially as it lands during teacher appreciation week, which is this week. It also validates the real service we’re providing to schools and students since having a stable pool of substitutes is critical for maintaining instructional consistency and quality.”

Putting the million milestone into perspective, a baby born on the first hour of the first substitute day filled by Swing this school year, would be planning their 119^th birthday if they lived every hour of Swing-enabled classroom instruction.  

Swing, which connects schools and districts with classroom-ready substitute teachers via their online platform and mobile app, is already changing the way schools fill classroom vacancies as well as the way interested professionals can serve their communities in these rewarding roles.

“On our platform, finding a good substitute is fast and easy, whether the opening is planned or unexpected,” said Teng. “And on the other side, finding and accepting temporary teaching gigs is as easy as ordering food delivery on a mobile phone. That’s the unified experience we are building. And it’s gratifying to see it working at such a scale.”

With parts of the country in an  acute teacher shortage, simplifying and accelerating the substitute teacher placement process is an important part of ensuring classroom stability and success as well as teacher well-being.

Swing is unique in how it manages the substitute recruitment and management process. Prospective substitute teachers are guided through the registration pathway for their state. Swing’s assisted pathway model means that in some states, qualified applicants can go from curious to the classroom in just two weeks.

Swing also pays substitute teachers for their work every Friday. This offers substitute teachers seamless and immediate access to open positions and consistent compensation while serving their communities through teaching.

The company also announced that its education marketplace innovation was recently recognized and honored with a Silver  Stevie Award for Best in Business Solutions in Human Capital Management.  

About Swing Education
​Swing Education is an online staffing marketplace that connects substitute teachers with schools. Founded in 2015 by former K-12 educators and administrators, Swing makes it easier for schools and districts to find reliable, qualified substitute teachers when they need them most. With over 300,000 absence days filled to date, Swing is dedicated to improving the experience of finding substitute teachers, becoming a sub, and keeping student learning on track. Swing serves more than 2,800 partner schools across California, Arizona, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, New York, and Washington D.C. To learn more about Swing Education, visit  SwingEducation.com.

Phenix City, Ala.— South Girard School (SGS) entered and won Frontier Airlines’ national contest ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week. This year’s South Girard Teacher of the Year, Ms. Brooke Dosier, entered the contest and rallied her colleagues to support the entry. 

Out of 23,000 votes nationwide, they came out on top, and Frontier Airlines provided them with $250 vouchers (1 round-trip ticket) for every staff member. The 54 vouchers allow educators to enjoy some well-deserved time off and explore new destinations. Frontier Airlines also provided Frontier swag for educators. 

Tyri Squyres, Frontier Airlines’ vice president of marketing said, “In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Day, Frontier Airlines is proud to celebrate the educators at South Girard School. Out of 23,000 votes nationwide, the faculty and staff at South Girard came out on top. We’re thrilled to offer them free flights for their hard work and dedication.”

“We do amazing things here at South Girard and this opportunity, this voucher, this experience is exactly what we needed to wrap up our year and begin our countdown to summer. Thank you, Frontier Airlines, for hosting an outstanding teacher appreciation sweepstakes. We are forever grateful for this amazing prize and we do feel your appreciation,” said Ms. Dosier

One teacher, Mrs. LaTunya Carr, said, “In addition to serving as a teacher, I have been working towards getting my MA in History, which I look to complete this June. Needless to say, it has been a hectic year. I plan to use my Frontier voucher to go towards planning a much-deserved vacation this summer or to fly to New Hampshire for my graduation in November 2023. Thanks to Frontier for thinking of the teachers. Such a worthy tribute to the education profession!”

See the reaction video and access photos here.

About PCS

Phenix City Schools offers a complete, one-of-a-kind education for all students, preschool through 12th grade. Its goal is to prepare all students for a career and/or college through inquiry-based pedagogy, innovative resources, and a learning environment that will have immediate and future societal impact.

RICHFIELD, OHIO (PRWEB) — Navigate360, the nation’s leader in K–12 school safety and student wellness solutions, announces the appointment of Julia Goebel as chief marketing officer, Jami Timmons Klotz as chief product officer, and Dr. Joe McKenna as vice president of threat detection and prevention program development. All are passionate, innovative and experienced leaders poised to drive a new wave of meaningful impact in school safety and student wellness for the more than 50 million students in the United States.

“We are pleased to welcome these accomplished executives in SaaS technology and K–12 leadership to the Navigate360 team,” said JP Guilbault, chief executive officer of Navigate360. “Julia, Jami and Joe bring a wealth of valuable knowledge and experience which supports our mission of zero incidents of violence and harm.”

Year to date, the  Expert Insights data from Navigate360 show alerts related to self-harm are up 51 percent year-over-year and alerts related to weapons and harm to others are up 25 percent year-over-year. On average, the Navigate360 report also found more than 4,000 anonymous tips per week come into school tip lines powered by Navigate360 P3 School Tip Line solution, with the most common tips related to self-harm and weapons.

“The offering of Navigate360 is unmatched in the industry, from ALICE Training to PBIS Rewards, and I look forward to expanding the reach of the company as we strive to make an impact on safety and wellbeing,” said Julia Goebel, chief marketing officer at Navigate360. “Issues related to bullying, self-harm and acts of violence are becoming part of the daily national conversation and we must move toward a proactive—rather than reactive—approach to student safety and wellness.”

Before joining Navigate360, Goebel served in various leadership roles at software companies in the health IT and employee wellness space—including chief marketing officer roles at Halo Health, now part of symplr, and at BenefitExpress, now part of WEX. Her background in leading marketing teams at publicly traded and PE-backed organizations and her focus on developing high-performance marketers will enable Navigate360 to reach more schools and districts nationwide. She is also a public official.

Further enhancing the Executive Leadership team of Navigate360 is Jami Timmons Klotz, chief product officer, and an experienced technology leader.

“Navigate360 is already doing what no other company in the K–12 space can, and we are poised to continue that trajectory. Joining this mission-based organization at the helm of the product organization will allow me to further enhance Navigate360’s already impressive product offerings and make an even greater impact on society,” said Jami Timmons Klotz, chief product officer at Navigate360. “As a woman, mother and leader in tech, there is not a better opportunity to leverage technology to make a positive impact on the mental and physical safety of our youth. Data has power, and Navigate360 is uniquely positioned to drive positive short- and long-term results that impact all areas of society.”

A results-focused product champion, Klotz comes to Navigate360 with more than 20 years of experience in the product leadership space, driving strategic growth and cultivating a strong brand image for several PE-backed companies—including BigTime Software and Avionte Staffing Software. Klotz’s experience will ensure Navigate360’s solutions are built around educators’ needs and deliver the real-time data and information schools and districts need to create learning environments where students, staff and educators feel safe.

Complementing the executive appointments is Dr. Joe McKenna, who will be overseeing the creation and implementation of threat assessment programs for Navigate360 customers as Vice President of Threat Detection & Prevention Program Development.

“Research-based early detection and prevention measures are proven effective when implemented with fidelity,” said Dr. Joe McKenna, vice president of threat detection & prevention program development. “Ensuring that schools and districts who make the meaningful investment in behavioral threat assessment training, as well as case management, have the guidance and support needed to be proactive and successful is my ultimate goal.”

McKenna joins Navigate360 from WestEd’s Justice & Prevention Research Center where he served as their Director of School Safety. In this position, he led federally funded research projects, as well as supported schools and districts across the country in implementing various school safety strategies. With his Master of Science and PhD from Texas State University in Criminal Justice and his Bachelor of Science from Roger Williams University, McKenna also served as the Deputy Superintendent and Executive Director of Safety and Student Support for Comal Independent School District in New Braunfels, Texas, as the Associate Director of the Texas School Safety Center and as an Adjunct Professor at Texas State University.

With these new additions in key roles, Navigate360 is poised and ready to further their mission of helping schools and communities across the U.S. achieve “zero incidents” of violence and harm.

To learn more about Navigate360, please visit  https://www.navigate360.com.

About Navigate360
Navigate360 is the premier provider of safety solutions for schools, leading to enhanced student wellbeing. For more than 20 years, our multifaceted, layered approach—providing everything from curricula that support positive behavior and self-image to campus physical safety and personnel training—has focused on incident prevention. Empowering people, schools and communities to stay safe and thrive, Navigate360 serves more than 30,000 schools across the US and more than 14 million students. Recognized as a  Certified Great Place to Work, Navigate360 is mission-driven and founded on a data-driven approach to school safety and student wellness.