$2,000 grant awarded to Teresa Morgan and her class
by Teresa Morgan
Thomas County Academy
Receives $2,000 Best Buy Teach Award
2009 Best Buy Teach Awards Program Gives $2 Million Schools
Nationwide for Integrating Interactive Technology into the
Classroom
Colby, Kansas March 3, 2009 announced today that it has received a
$2,000 Teach Award from Best Buy Co. Inc. for integrating
interactive technology into its classroom curriculum.
Thomas County Academy (TCA) offers educational opportunities
through technology integration in a project based learning
environment. Students demonstrate an understanding of skills and
concepts through presentations of learning with multimedia support.
Additionally, we seek out collaborative opportunities to broaden
the scope of learning by connecting with other schools throughout
the state via video conferencing systems. With the technology grant
awarded through Best Buy we will be seeking additional
opportunities to broaden their knowledge and application of
technological tools with an emphasis on educational purpose and
future business practices.
Our classroom recently wrote a constitution for the classroom based
on the U.S. Constitution with connections to how we interact with
others and technology, this is our second amendment:
Amendment II Right to bear arms and militia.
While we can’t bear arms given our learning environment we do
reserve the right to bear electronic devices in order to succeed in
our learning and it is our duty and honor to protect the technology
and learning environment we share with each other.
“I’m proud of my students achievements and enjoy working with the
technology tools, right now we are eager to expand our technology
to include the iTouch which we feel could be the computer in a
pocket for our future.” Said Teresa Morgan, classroom
facilitator.
This year, Best Buy Teach Awards, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000,
have been given to more than 460 schools to sustain or enhance
existing educational programs. Building on its connection with @15,
Best Buy’s platform to connect with teens, 15 9th-grade programs
were awarded $10,000 for technology-based programs they’ve
successfully implemented.
“Teachers are finding creative ways to engage students by using
technology hands-on we want to support their efforts by helping
them enhance or expand these programs,” said Paula Prahl, senior
vice president public affairs, communications, public affairs, and
corporate responsibility, Best Buy Co. Inc. “We know that schools
are the cornerstones of these communities where our employees,
customers, and their families live and work.”
Since 2003, the Best Buy Teach Awards Program has rewarded schools
that creatively integrate interactive technology into their
curricula. Over the past five years nearly 6,000 schools nationwide
have received $17 million in Teach Awards in Teach Awards, reaching
1.5 million K-12 students. All accredited, public and private
nonprofit elementary, middle and secondary schools are
eligible.
Visit www.BestBuy.com/CommunityRelations for more information about
how Best Buy supports communities and the education and
technology-based partnerships and programs.
About @15
Best Buy believes in the power of teens, and @15 is a new platform
to connect with them, give voice to their perspectives, and invest
our resources – including the energy and talents of our employees –
to turn their ideas into action and support their efforts to lead
social change. Teens bring passion and enthusiasm to tackling tough
issues. They’re also important to our business – they shop in our
stores, and they’re our future employees. There’s a real
opportunity to listen to – and learn from – what teens have to say.
And through the Change Exchange, we’ll put the philanthropic power
of @15 directly into their hands. To learn more, visit
www.at15.org.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) operates a global portfolio of brands
with a commitment to growth and innovation. Our employees strive to
provide customers around the world with superior experiences by
responding to their unique needs and aspirations. We sell consumer
electronics, home-office products, entertainment software,
appliances and related services through nearly 1,300 retail stores
across the United States, throughout Canada and in China. Our
multi-channel operations include: Best Buy (BestBuy.com, BestBuy.ca
and BestBuy.com.cn), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad
(GeekSquad.com and GeekSquad.ca), Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath
Centers (PacificSales.com), Magnolia Audio Video (Magnoliaav.com),
Jiangsu Five Star Appliance Co. (Five-Star.cn) and Speakeasy
(Speakeasy.net). Best Buy supports the communities in which its
employees work and live through volunteerism and grants that
benefit children and education.
