News
 $250,000 Best Buy Teach Award Goes To San Diego Unified School District
June 1, 2007

Best Buy Teach Award Reception The San Diego Unified School District is the 2007 recipient of the $250,000 Best Buy Teach Award for demonstrating exceptional creative use of interactive technology to help make learning fun for its K-12 students.

The district was selected for the top honor based on the strength of its Unsung Heroes program, a district-wide initiative to deliver more authentic learning experiences for students. Through the use of consumer electronics, students celebrate community heroes by interviewing them and then digitally documenting their stories of heroism and courage. The $250,000 Teach Award will fund the initial implementation of Unsung Heroes at five schools.

"We are encouraged by this Best Buy investment in our students," said Superintendent Carl Cohn. "Using the latest multimedia digital tools for interactive learning will give them a huge advantage. Mastering these excellent 21st-century skills will prepare our students to add value to their community."

La Jolla High School’s $15,000 Teach Award in February 2007 made the district eligible for the $250,000 grant. La Jolla’s initiative merged lessons taught in automotive shop, physics, arts and photography classes to enhance students' understanding of electrical and solar power conversion. Through its two Teach Awards, totaling $17,500, La Jolla High School has incorporated a full spectrum of digital technologies and has successfully combined curriculums to foster comprehensive learning.

"The Teach Award allows teachers across the nation the opportunity to implement technology in their classrooms that will ultimately contribute to the success of their students academically, and to make learning more fun and interactive," said Paula Prahl, vice president, public affairs, Best Buy. "We are extremely proud to offer this year's award to the San Diego Unified School District, as they continuously make strides as a district to create a more interactive learning environment."

Since 2003, the Teach program has awarded nearly $14 million in awards to almost 5,000 K-12 schools across the U.S., and serves as the cornerstone of the community and philanthropic work of Best Buy. Winning schools may use their Teach Awards to purchase additional consumer technology at Best Buy to extend, expand, or enhance current and future classroom curricula.