Funding, Grants & Awards

Classroom Refresh Contest Finalists Named

• By Michael Hart
• 11/04/14

Compass Learning has selected the finalists in the Compass Learning Classroom Refresh Contest that will "refresh" three classrooms with $185,000 worth of technology.

Earlier in the fall, the company asked classes in grades K-12 to create music videos that demonstrate the value of educational technology. More than 120 entries were submitted and the top 15 finalists have been identified.

The finalists will be narrowed down to grand-prize winners in three grade categories by a panel of guest judges and through votes submitted by the public on the contest site, classroomrefreshcontest.com, through December 1.

Winning classrooms will receive an entire technology makeover that will include:

• Compass Learning's learning acceleration software, along with the necessary professional development services;
• Education elements that include Launchpad and virtual Launchpad training;
• Smartboards and projectors; and
• All the necessary licenses and subscriptions for one year.

"These videos indicate how passionate educators are about the use of technology to meet the individual needs of each student in their classrooms," said Compass Learning Vice President Eileen Shihadeh.

Grand prizes in each grade category will be announced sometime around December 10.

The public, including classes that have submitted videos, can follow the contest on Facebook and Twitter at @compasslearning and #ClassroomRefresh.

The Compass Learning Classroom Refresh Contest finalists are:

Kindergarten - 5^th grade:

• Doug Valentine's class from Jess Harben Elementary in Richardson, TX;
• Joe Giner's class from St. Marys Intermediate School in St. Marys, OH;
• Shelley Patterson's class from Pick Elementary School in Auburn, AL;
• Jessica Holmes and Cari Hamlin's class from Westridge Elementary School in Frankfort, KY; and
• Jennifer Dragotta's class from Conway Elementary School in Conway, SC.

6^th – 8^th grade:

• Dorothy Henson's class from Algonquin Middle School in Des Plaines, IL;
• Vanessa Colon-Payan's class from Paso del Norte School in El Paso, TX;
• Sherry Teson's and Mallory Duncan's 3^rd hour students from Selvidge Middle School in Ballwin, MO;
• Sherry Teson's and Mallory Duncan's 4^th hour students from Selvidge Middle School in Ballwin, MO; and
• Shannon Goerke's classroom from Leonardo da Vinci School in Green Bay, WI.

9^th – 12^th grade:

• Kristina Acevedo's class from Alternative Learning Center in Rosenberg, TX;
• Max Ormond's class from Tenor High School in Milwaukee, WI;
• Gina McCarley's class from Lawrence County High School in Moulton, AL;
• Julia Coots' class from Portland High School in Portland, TN; and
• Debra Desmond's class from Robert Morgan Educational Center in Miami, FL.