NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Jared Stearns
Technology & Learning 650-513-4424
jstearns@cmp.com
www.techLEARNING.com

Top Educators Honored

2006 LEADERS OF THE YEAR
ANNOUNCED BY TECHNOLOGY & LEARNING MAGAZINE

SAN MATEO, December 1, 2006 — 26-year industry veteran Technology & Learning magazine today named four Winners in its 2006 Leader of the Year program. The visionaries being saluted in the 19th year of the program represent "the best of the best" in education technology leadership. Each of the four winners will be profiled in detail in a feature article in Technology & Learning's December Awards Issue. Winners will also receive a spot on the magazine's Advisory Board; a one-year subscription to the magazine; and a personalized award certificate.

"We're proud to recognize educators whose strategic leadership and ability to inspire change is reshaping the role technology plays in education," said Executive Editor/Associate Publisher Amy Poftak.

Technology & Learning's 2006 Leaders of the Year are:

Don Hall
Chief Information Officer, Kent Independent School District
Kent, WA

A tireless advocate for bridging the digital divide, Don Hall forged partnerships with community centers to provide after-school tech tutoring, and enabled the passage of two levies to increase the student-to-computer ratio across all classrooms, with a focus on building skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and digital literacy. Under his leadership, more than 3,000 low-income families have received free computers.

Lehman Marks
Head of Science, Winston School
Dallas, TX

Lehman Marks has inspired students at his school—and across the globe—to embrace science and technology through innovative projects that include a pioneering solar car design contest and a hands-on twist on the traditional science fair. Marks also motivates students with real-world activities, from computerizing archaeology digs to developing spaceship blueprints, though his weekend and summer science academies.

Kim Rice
Chief Information Officer, Boston Public Schools
Boston, MA

Since she took the top technology spot at BPS in 2005, Kim Rice's laser-like focus on customer service; her ability to inspire different constituencies; and her unswerving eye on teaching and learning have earned the respect of the entire community. Among her many accomplishments: launching a new strategic technology plan and spurring her department to establish service-level agreements with the district's 145 schools.

Cindy Wilson-Hyde
Curriculum Technology Integrator, Gulliver Schools
Coral Gables, FL

Through her knack for relating to teachers, Cindy Wilson-Hyde has transformed her school's relationship with technology, from developing a one-to-one training model to engage staff with new technologies to rolling out an online communication system. One area where Wilson-Hyde’s training has paid off is with Gulliver's 1st grade teachers, who are using laptops and Webcams to document student reading fluency.

The following exemplary educators were chosen as Finalists in the program:

Mechelle De Craene
Exceptional Student Education Teacher
James Buchanan Middle School, Tampa, Florida

Edward Foote
Special Education Teacher
Fairport Central School District, Fairport, New York

David Hickey
Chief Information Officer
Mason City Schools, Mason, Ohio

Shannon Hudson
Science and Health Teacher
Tuttle Middle School, Crawfordsville, Indiana

Donna Taylor
Technology Coordinator/Teacher
Brownsville Independent School District, Brownsville, Texas

Charles Kenneth Woody
Program Specialist II
Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, North Carolina

Technology & Learning's Leader of the Year Program annually recognizes teachers, technology specialists, and administrators who demonstrate leadership, vision, and creativity in implementing technology in schools and districts.

Technology & Learning (www.techLEARNING.com), published by NewBay Media LLC, is the leading publication in the K-12 educational technology market. In 2006, Technology & Learning was recognized for its commitment to excellence, receiving several of the industry's top media accolades, including an ASBPE Award (Silver) for Best How-To Article, three Maggie Finalist awards, including Best Computer Magazine/Trade, and a Web Marketing Association WebAward Education Standard of Excellence for techLEARNING.com.

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