Microsoft Awards 16 Educators in the Partners in Learning U.S. Forum

On Thursday, Microsoft announced that it had selected 16 educators from California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Texas and Washington to be awarded as winners of the Partners in Learning U.S. Forum.

This is an annual event that recognizes innovative teachers and school leaders for their creativity and effectiveness in the use of technology in their curriculum.

By means of technology, these educators bring improvements to the manner in which children learn, and also increase the rate of success of their students.

Thousands of educators applied for the event, but only 100 educators from 25 states attended. They competed for the opportunity to represent US at the Partners in Learning Global Forum this November, Microsoft added.

“These winning educators are catalysts for change and are the best in the nation at embracing technology to inspire and engage students and help transform education in their local communities,” said Andrew Ko, general manager, U.S. Partners in Learning, Microsoft.

“They all are incredibly passionate and driven to make an impact on each and every student they teach. Their creative project-based-learning classroom activities show real impact on student learning and success and should be scaled out as best practices in their own school districts and across the country.”

The Redmond-based software giant explains that winning projects are those who immerse students in active, hands-on learning, and that they also guide them to employ collaboration and creative problem-solving skills.

There have been 11 outstanding projects awarded in this competition, each focused on different learning methods, creativity, encouraging entrepreneurial thinking and the like.

Jamie Ewing, Mount View Elementary, Seattle, Wash., won the first prize for collaboration; Jennifer Bevill, LSU Laboratory School, Baton Rouge, La., won for Knowledge Building & Critical Thinking; while Pauline Roberts and Rick Joseph, Birmingham Covington School, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., came up in front for Extended Learning Beyond the Classroom.

Moreover, Microsoft announced that Robin Lowell and Sherry Hahn, Washington State School for the Blind, Vancouver, Wash., received the first prize for Cutting-Edge Use of Technology for Learning; Gregg Witkin, Boynton Continuation High School, San Jose, Calif., won for Educator as Innovator and Change Agent, and Todd LaVogue, Roosevelt Community Middle School, West Palm Beach, Fla., won in Educator’s Choice category.

The complete list of winners can be seen on Microsoft's website on this page.