Plato Learning Technology Award
Plato Learning, Inc., a Bloomington-Minn.- based education software company that offers e-learning instruction, recently honored Sleepy Eye Elementary School in Sleepy Eye, Minn., with its inaugural William R. Roach Learning Technology Center Award Program.
The award, named for the company’s former chairman and president, honors financially-challenged schools that are committed to developing technology programs to improve student success.
Sleepy Eye Elementary School will receive a educational technology lab, Plato Learning software, professional development, and technology support.
Although this year’s award was confined to schools in Minnesota, Plato officials intend to expand the award to other states next year.
Catholic Education Award
The National Catholic Educational Association recently honored five individuals with its Elizabeth Seton Award for service to Catholic education. The award, which is the organization’s highest honor, recognizes individuals who impact Catholic education in the United States either through educational leadership, partnerships, or philanthropic contributions. Each recipient names a student from their community to receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The recipients are listed below alphabetically.
John A. Krol, Wilmington, Del; Arthur Modell, Baltimore; Thomas and Maureen O’Brien, Pittsburgh; Rev. John P. Smyth, Chicago.
Other Honors and Awards
The National Education Association’s Foundation for the Improvement of Education recently announced that former NEA president Mary Hatwood Futrell will receive its 2003 Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education.
The award recognizes an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to public education. Ms. Futrell will be honored at the NEA Foundation’s annual gala in Washington, DC, on Dec. 11, 2003.
Barbara Bryd-Bennett, the chief executive officier of the 73,000- student Cleveland Public Schools, recently received the Tree of Life Award from the New York-based Jewish National Fund.
The humanitarian award recognizes individuals from industry, government and education for leadership roles in community involvement, dedication to community service, and efforts to promote peace. A project in Isreal involving children will be funded in Ms. Byrd- Bennett’s name.
The Disney Corporation recently named John Passarini, a phyiscal education teacher in the 3,000-student Wayland Public Schools in Wayland, Mass., its Outstanding Teacher of the Year.
Mr. Passarini, who was named a DisneyHand Honoree in July, was chosen from 32 honorees. He received a $15,000 prize, and his school district was given $5,000.
