Nine Washington Teachers Win $10,000 Technology Integration Grants

SEATTLE — March 2, 2010 — The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) today announced the nine winners of this year’s Qwest Teachers and Technology grants.

The grants fund classroom projects ranging from designing a school building to educating the community on the ecosystems that are at risk in the Hood Canal to exhibiting a museum-quality photo gallery of Seattle’s Central District.

Qwest Foundation grants help teachers create 21st century learning environments that use technologies to solve real-world problems.

“Every year it becomes more critical that we lead our students to global literacy, turn them into expert problem-solvers and make sure they are fluent in technology,” State Superintendent Randy Dorn said. “These are the basic skills students will need in the future. Our partnership with the Qwest Foundation supports the development of these skills. It also addresses different learning styles and raises the bar on student achievement.”

Each of the nine winning teachers or teacher teams will receive $10,000 for learning projects that integrate digital technologies. Five of the projects are math- and science-based, four include learning goals in reading and writing, and three projects are designed with a focus on social studies. All the projects integrate Web 2.0 technologies and the state’s standards for educational technology.

“This grant program has been an excellent opportunity for Qwest to make a positive difference in the lives of Washington students and to help teachers,” Qwest Washington President Kirk Nelson said. “We have been honored to help dozens of teachers in our state with these creative classroom projects.”

Since 2007, Qwest Foundation support has made it possible to award grants to 60 Washington state educators (individual teachers and teacher teams) who use digital technologies to improve their instructional practice and engage and motivate their young learners. Informally, Qwest Foundation awardees participate in a professional learning community through which they network, share expertise and inspire each other’s creative development as teachers.

The winning projects were evaluated and selected by representatives from OSPI, the Governor’s Office, Qwest Foundation, Microsoft and several Washington educators.

For more information about the Qwest Teachers & Technology grant program, contact Julia Fallon at (360) 725-6246 or at julia.fallon@k12.wa.us.