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Contact: Alan Richard
(404) 879-5544
Released: 4/25/2011

2011 National Online Teacher of Year to Appear with U.S. Education Technology Official in Nation's Capital

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kristin Kipp of Colorado, the 2011 National Online Teacher of the Year, is visiting the U.S. Department of Education today to meet with Karen Cator, the director of the Office of Educational Technology, and to meet with reporters and corporate sponsors of the national award.

Kipp, an English teacher and instructional leader for Jefferson County’s 21st Century Virtual Academy and a mother of two who lives in Evergreen, Colorado, won the top national award in March from the two nonprofit sponsoring organizations, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and the International Association for Online Learning (iNACOL).

A reception for Kipp, Cator, journalists, sponsors and others who have pre-registered begins at 9:30 a.m. at the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, in Washington. Kipp, Cator and other national education technology leaders will be available for interviews. Coffee and morning snacks will be served.

After the hour-long reception, Kipp will join Cator for meetings at the Department of Education and will share with federal officials her experiences as a leading online teacher.

"This event in Washington celebrates Kristin Kipp’s exemplary work to serve her students well through high-quality online learning," said Myk Garn, the director of the SREB Educational Technology Cooperative, who will attend the Washington event. "SREB is proud to recognize Kristin and other outstanding educators who expand learning opportunities for students and to work with them, ensuring that online learning meets high levels of quality as it continues to expand."

Kipp has noted that she loves online teaching because it often reaches kids that were untouched by the traditional classroom. "I teach at-risk students, gifted and talented students, elite student-athletes, pregnant teens and teen moms. For all of these students, online education opens up opportunities that would otherwise not exist," she said.

Sponsors of the National Online Teacher of the Year award include Connections Academy LLC, Blackboard Collaborate, the Florida Virtual School, Pearson Foundation, SAS, and emantras.

For more details, contact SREB Communications or visit: National Online Teacher of the Year Award.

SREB, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, advises state education leaders on ways to improve education. SREB was created in 1948 by Southern governors and legislatures to help leaders in education and government to advance education and improve the region. SREB has 16 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Each is represented by its governor and four gubernatorial appointees. Visit www.sreb.org.



Southern Regional Education Board
592 10th Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30318-5776
(404) 875-9211


For additional information, please e-mail communications@sreb.org