FOURTEEN MEMBERS OF THE DISCOVERY EDUCATOR NETWORK RECOGNIZED FOR COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION, ENHANCING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, AND IMPROVING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Elizabeth Hillman, Discovery Education
240-662-2664, Elizabeth_hillman@discovery.com

–‘Discovery Education Program Champions’ Selected Through Competitive Application Process —

Silver Spring, Md. (November 20, 2015) – Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, is pleased to announce that 14 distinguished members of the Discovery Educator Network have been named Discovery Education Program Champions for the 2015-2016 school year.

Chosen through a competitive application process, the 2015-2016 Program Champions were selected based on their demonstrated commitment and expertise in specific topic areas – including STEM, health and wellness, and social studies – and exemplary use of Discovery Education’s programs. The Program Champions will represent one or more subject areas and will share various resources and supporting programs – available at no cost from Discovery Education and its partners – with their colleagues and peers around the world. Champions will also represent Discovery Education and its partners at education events and virtual conferences, and help shape the development and implementation of future Discovery Education programs, to ensure optimal efficacy and classroom relevance. To kickoff this new initiative, the Program Champions recently attended a two-day launch event at Discovery Education’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Md.

These 14 Program Champions will advise on the following:

Financial Literacy: Jackie Prester, Business and Technology Teacher, Mansfield Public Schools, Massachusetts. Prester will share Econ Essentials, an initiative offered by Discovery Education and the CME Group, which features standards-aligned resources designed to introduce high school students to basic economic concepts that affect our global economy.

Health & Wellness: Andy Losik, Digital Learning Coordinator, Hamilton Community Schools, Michigan; and Francie Snyder, Educator of the Gifted, Manatee County Public Schools, Florida. To aid in health and wellness education, Losik and Snyder will share information about Discovery Education and the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation’s Together Counts program, which offers interactive curriculum, hands-on activities, and prizing incentives to encourage Pre-K-8 students to live active and healthy lifestyles.

Science: Monique Liles, Science Teacher, Clayton County Schools, Georgia; Cheryl Lykowski, Teacher, Bedford County Public Schools, Michigan; Kristen Davis, Teacher, Santa Rosa County School District, Florida; Dacia Jones, District Science Specialist and STEM Educator, Durham Public Schools, North Carolina; and Andy Losik, Digital Learning Coordinator, Hamilton Community Schools, Michigan. Liles will provide her expertise and support student engagement in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the premier national science competition for students in grades 5–8 that invites students to submit short videos describing a new innovation that could solve an everyday problem for a chance to win an exclusive summer mentorship with world-renowned 3M scientists, $25,000 and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” Lykowski will collaborate with the Discovery Education team on From the Ground Up: The Science of Soil, which offers middle school students, educators and families resources that engage students in the importance of soil science and nutrients in agriculture; Davis will share information on The Good Egg Project: Education Station, an online destination offered by the American Egg Board and Discovery Education that teaches elementary and middle school students about the production process of fresh foods as well as sustainability concepts used on a working farm; and Jones will share information with Discovery Education’s global teacher community on Siemens Science Day, an initiative created by the Siemens Foundation and Discovery Education to bring fun, hands-on learning techniques into the classroom to promote science literacy and reinvent the traditional science classroom. Losik will inform educators about Discovering FARMLAND, a comprehensive initiative designed to connect science and sustainability concepts to today’s agricultural practices, and showcase career paths available in this rapidly evolving industry.

Service-Learning: Patti Grammens, Computer Coding/Science Connections Teacher, Forsyth County Schools, Georgia. Grammens will share various resources with educators that integrate meaningful community service with instruction to enrich students’ learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities.

Social Studies: Karen Wells, Library Media Specialist and Journalism/English Teacher, Midland Public School District, Arkansas. Wells will inform educators worldwide about Discovery Education and the USC Shoah Foundation’s Auschwitz: The Past is Present initiative. A global education and communication initiative, this program provides students a deeper understanding of the Holocaust and the importance of its remembrance through survivor video testimonies, standards-aligned classroom activities, and a virtual experience featuring a Holocaust survivor.

STEM: Rob Lamb, Science Teacher, Pattonville School District, Missouri; Brandon Wislocki, Teacher, Irvine Unified School District, California; Cheryl Lykowski, Teacher, Bedford County Public Schools, Michigan; and Jessica Donaldson, Pre-Engineering Teacher, Berkeley County School District, South Carolina. Lamb will share information about Discovery Education and Siemens Foundation’s Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, the nation’s premier science research competition for high school students that seeks to promote excellence by offering students an opportunity to achieve national recognition for their science research projects. Additionally, Wislocki will inform educators about Madden NFL: Football by the Numbers, an all-new program launching on December 1, 2015, offered by Discovery Education, NFL Players Association and Electronic Arts to engage students in critical math and science concepts using the excitement of sports; Lykowski will share information on Dig Into Mining: The Story of Copper, an online destination that provides students an in-depth look into the earth’s natural resources and STEM-related career paths; and Donaldson will share information on Manufacture Your Future, a comprehensive program designed to inspire students grades 6-12 to understand and explore modern manufacturing careers.

Student Safety: Rob Lamb, Science Teacher, Pattonville School District, Missouri. Lamb will share information on Toyota and Discovery Education’s TeenDrive365 Video Challenge, which invites teens across the country to create short videos to inspire their friends to drive safely and avoid distractions for the chance to win a cash prize and have their PSA professional shot by a Discovery crew.

Additionally, Rex Ferguson-Baird, Principal of Brooklands School in St. James-Assiniboia School Division, and Terra-Lee Gratton, Teacher at St. Paul Education Regional Division No. 1 will serve as Program Champions for all programs in Canada.

“Discovery Education’s programs have provided my students and teachers with many unique and engaging learning opportunities, and I am incredibly honored to be selected as a Program Champion,” said Dacia Jones, District Science Specialist and STEM Educator, Durham Public Schools, N.C. “I am excited to spread the word about these fantastic resources to other teachers so that they might integrate them into their classroom instruction.”

The Discovery Educator Network (DEN) is a global community of education professionals who are passionate about transforming the learning experience with digital media. As one of the largest professional learning communities, the DEN has impacted more than one million educators worldwide, and connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing, and inspiration.

“Discovery Education is proud to recognize these 14 passionate and committed educators as Program Champions,” said Lance Rougeux, vice president of learning communities and instructional implementation for Discovery Education. “Each of these devoted Champions are experts on their chosen topic and have a wealth of experience using Discovery Education’s programs and resources. I look forward to continuing to work with these educators to support the success of all students.”

For more information about Discovery Education, please visit www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional development, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 3 million educators and over 30 million students, Discovery Education’s services are in half of U.S. classrooms, over 40 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries. Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

###