La Jolla High School is getting its 2007 off to a good start, as it was recently presented with a 2007 Best Buy Teach Award, worth $15,000, for demonstrating innovative use of technology to improve students’ classroom experience.
La Jolla High was one of 50 schools across the nation to receive this award. Each district of the winning schools has been invited to apply for a $250,000 Teach Award that will be announced in May 2007.
Additionally, 1,300 classrooms across the U.S. have received $2,500 Teach Awards for demonstrating how interactive technology makes learning fun for students, including 137 schools in California. Each winning school may use the Teach Award to purchase additional consumer electronics technology at Best Buy to extend, expand or enhance current and future classroom curricula.
La Jolla High Principal Dana Shelburne learned about the initial $2,500 award from Martin Teachworth, the recipient.
“He keeps me in the loop on all grant/award applications,” Shelburne said. “Subsequently, I received an e-mail from the Best Buy people announcing the award. The same thing happened with the $15,000 award. The district is now eligible to apply for a $250,000 award as a result of Martin’s efforts. That is being handled by the office of Geno Flores at the district level.”
Shelburne said he believes this award reflects the extraordinary effort teachers at La Jolla High devote to their students. “Awards of this nature require a good deal of paperwork and consume many hours of preparatory time,” Shelburne remarked. “That work is all done voluntarily and in addition to the many hours needed to prepare properly for classroom instruction.
“I am simultaneously impressed and inspired by the dedication of the teachers at this school; they are tireless in their attempts to find newer and better ways to teach,” Shelburne continued. “Mr. Teachworth is a fine example of a professional who leaves no stone unturned in his desire to keep students connected to the ideas and technology of the 21st century.”
Paula Prahl, vice president of public affairs for Best Buy, feels that technology can excite and engage students in the learning process, creating more valuable education experiences over time.
“The applications we receive year after year demonstrate that teachers and schools have such wonderful, technologically creative ideas, but needed funds aren’t available,” Prahl said. “Best Buy Teach Awards help to bridge that gap by helping schools access the interactive technology to make learning fun.”
Since 2004, the Best Buy Teach Award program has donated more than $13.5 million to 4,800 U.S. schools, serving as the cornerstone of its community and philanthropic work. Teach Awards for 2007 total more than $4 million to date.