Delivering high-quality instruction that prepares students for
success in the 21st Century is a paramount priority in today�s
educational arena. PLATO Learning, Inc. (NASDAQ: TUTR), a leading
provider of K�adult e-learning solutions, is honoring educators for
taking on this challenge and making a difference in the lives of
their learners and communities.
The Inspired Educators Award distinguishes the inspired vision,
innovation, and leadership exemplified by educators within three
categories�Innovative Spirit, Corner Stone, and Efficacy
Advocate�and seeks to celebrate best practices and unique
implementations so they may be replicated across other schools and
districts. The Innovate Spirit category recognizes the breaking of
new ground to define, build, and implement a first-of-its-kind
program; Corner Stone honors implementation champions working as
change agents over time to expand and grow programs; and Efficacy
Advocate commends the use of data-driven decision making to
individualize programs and demonstrate positive academic
results.
This year�s winners include three exceptional educators�Michael
Albano of Pittsfield Public Schools, Mass. (Innovative Spirit),
Vicki Beaty of Bradley County School District, Tenn. (Corner
Stone), and Nancy Frink of Thompson School District, Colo.
(Efficacy Advocate).
�Our customers develop new and effective ways to help students
grow every day and the PLATO Learning Inspired Educators Award
allows us to honor and reward individuals who are making a
difference in education,� said Vin Riera, president and CEO for
PLATO Learning. �We are very proud of this year�s winners�
leadership efforts to create, expand, and sustain results-oriented
programs that integrate PLATO Learning technology-based
instruction.�
"I am incredibly honored to be recognized as an inspired
educator by PLATO Learning for the Secondary Options for
Achievement Resulting in Success (SOARS) program I was instrumental
in developing,� said Nancy Frink, coordinator of the SOARS program
at Thompson School District, Loveland, Colo., and winner of the
Efficacy Advocate category. �We used PLATO� Courses to develop a
first-of-its-kind dropout prevention program, which allows kids in
our area who have not thrived in the traditional school setting to
succeed. The program�s flexibility enables each classroom of 20
students to be in 20 different courses, each making progress at
their own individual pace�it�s differentiated learning at its
best.�
Michael Albano�Innovative
Spirit Winner
As a teacher in the Juvenile Resource Center at Pittsfield
Public Schools, Michael Albano led the creation of a vanguard
instruction, intervention, and credit recovery program designed to
accommodate the needs of students at risk of dropping out and
possibly entering the criminal justice system. The program runs in
collaboration with the sheriff�s office, Berkshire juvenile court,
the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, and Pittsfield
Public Schools. In the past year, 28 students graduated who
otherwise would have dropped out of school�halting the increasing
annual dropout rate the district was experiencing. As a result of
its success, this progressive program model is being replicated in
other communities across the commonwealth as a means to strengthen
the connection between public education and public safety.
Finalists in this category were Nerissa Linell Calub, Sheepshead
Bay High School, Brooklyn, N.Y. and Natalie Roberts, Celebration
High School, Kissimmee, Fla.
Vicki Beaty�Corner Stone
Winner
Until Vicki Beaty championed the creation of Bradley County
School District�s award-winning program, the district in Cleveland,
Tenn. never had a credit recovery system in place to help students
stay on track for graduation. Over the years, Beaty�s vision and
leadership helped expand the credit recovery program to include
alternative school replacement instruction, Tennessee Comprehension
Assessment Program (TCAP) remediation, and high school gateway
remediation. This year alone, the implementation is responsible for
the remediation of more than 85 special education students and has
enabled 421 students to recover credits.
Finalists in this category were Cindy Merlo, Ernest Righetti
High School, Santa Maria, Calif. and Mary Raymer, Winston-Salem
Forsyth County Schools, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Nancy Frink�Efficacy Advocate
Winner
Having led the efforts to establish a dropout retrieval and
credit recovery program at the Thompson School District, Nancy
Frink has since run the program for more than five years. The
program typically enrolls more than 200 dropouts and 250 credit
recovery students per year. This year, the program expanded to all
high schools in the district and has been a massive success, with
nearly 350 students completing more than 1,100 classes. As a
result, 156 seniors graduated instead of dropping out. Thanks to
Frink�s meticulous data collection and analysis, this year alone
the program retrieved $400,000 on an operating budget of only
$220,000, which is helping keep both students and funding in the
district.
Finalists in this category were Heidi Ballog, Roswell High
School, Roswell, Ga. and Clint Tyler, Elk Lake School District,
Dimock, Pa.
For more information about the PLATO Learning Inspired Educators
Award program, visit
http://www.plato.com/IM/2009/05/Inspired-Educators-Award-Main.aspx.
About PLATO Learning
PLATO Learning is a leading provider of e-learning instruction
for kindergarten through adult learners, offering curricula in
reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, and life
and job skills. The Company also offers innovative online
assessment and accountability solutions and standards-based
professional development services. With over 6,000 hours of
objective-based, problem-solving instructional content, plus
assessment, alignment, and curriculum management tools, we create
standards-based curricula that facilitates learning and school
improvement.
PLATO Learning is a publicly held company traded as TUTR on the
NASDAQ. PLATO Learning educational software, delivered via the
Internet, is primarily marketed to K�12 schools and colleges. The
Company also sells to job training programs, correctional
institutions, military education programs, and corporations.
PLATO Learning is headquartered at 10801 Nesbitt Avenue South,
Bloomington, Minnesota 55437, 952.832.1000 or 800.869.2000. The
Company has offices throughout the United States, Canada, and
Puerto Rico, as well as international distributors in the United
Kingdom and South Africa. For more information, please visit
http://www.plato.com.
Copyright � 2009. All rights reserved. PLATO�, Straight Curve�,
and Academic Systems� are registered trademarks of PLATO Learning,
Inc. PLATO Learning is a trademark of PLATO Learning, Inc. PLATO,
Inc. is a PLATO Learning, Inc. company. All other company and
product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.
Plato Learning (MM) (NASDAQ:TUTR)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Plato Learning (MM) (NASDAQ:TUTR)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024
