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IV Elementary Receives Best Buy Award for SGNP

Eric Jurkovic, Principal at Indian Valley’s Tuscarawas Elementary, announced today that Best Buy has granted a total of $17,500 in ‘Best Buy Teach Awards’ to the school as a reward for integrating technology into student curriculum. The funds will be used in conjunction with the Tuscarawas County Port Authority’s Southern Gateway Nature Park project in Gnadenhutten.

“We are grateful to Best Buy for these awards – and for recognizing the hard work of our teachers and students. Everyone is excited to receive the equipment that will be purchased for use at the nature park,” said Jurkovic.

Best Buy started the Teach Award program in October 2003 to reward schools that creatively integrate interactive technology into their curricula. All accredited, public and private nonprofit elementary, middle and secondary schools located within 50 miles of a Best Buy store were eligible to apply. Awards of $2,500 were given to 1,300 schools to sustain or enhance existing educational programs. Out of that group, 250 schools were selected to compete for a $15,000 award. Tuscarawas Elementary was one of just 50 schools to receive both levels of Teach Awards. The district is now eligible to compete with the $15,000 winners for a nationwide $250,000 prize to be announced on May 15 that will go to one school district that uses interactive technology to make learning fun.

Representatives from the Best Buy Canton store will make the formal presentation of the Teach Awards at the March 19, 2007 Indian Valley School Board meeting.

“Today, teachers across the country are using technology in new and exciting ways; we want to support and recognize their efforts to engage students and make learning fun,” said Paula Prahl, VP of Public Affairs for Best Buy. “The Teach Award program helps creative educators enhance their curricula. By committing dollars to the communities in which we work and live, we can more fully support our employees, our customers, and their families,”

Funds awarded will purchase handhelds, digital cameras, binoculars, two-way radios and other technology pieces from Best Buy, to be utilized at the recently-renovated seven-acre Southern Gateway Nature Park located in Gnadenhutten. Students will collect data by conducting on-site experiments, documenting population patterns and much more in the outdoor classroom, returning detailed information to their indoor classes for further review. The handhelds allow students to effortlessly transform their findings into full-color graphics and presentations to be shared with peers and parents.

“This is a tremendous step in the journey to create an interactive experience at the Southern Gateway Nature Park,” said Harry Eadon, Executive Director of the Tuscarawas County Port Authority. “The port authority is incredibly pleased with the efforts of the Indian Valley schools and the generosity of Best Buy.”

Janis Hunter, Indian Valley Curriculum Director and grant writer, added, “With the active involvement of numerous business, government and education partners, including Best Buy, we can provide an exceptional outdoor learning experience for our most valuable resource — the students.”

For additional information on the Southern Gateway Nature Park or the Tuscarawas County Port Authority, visit them online at www.tuscport.com. For more information on Indian Valley Local School, visit them online at www.ivschools.org.