September Webinar Focuses on School Reform and P.O.V.’s
‘The Principal Story’ Documentary

PBS Teachers Releases Fall/Winter Webinar Schedule

Arlington, Va. (Aug. 13, 2009) – PBS Teachers^® (pbsteachers.org) and Classroom 2.0 host a series of free webinars for educators on digital media and technology in education. The new fall line up of PBS Teachers LIVE! webinars includes topics on science, digital storytelling, geography, social studies, education in the digital age, and online professional development and teaching resources. The series features leading education experts, authors, or PBS producers discussing timely and relevant curriculum-related topics, and sharing ways to use digital media to create rich learning experiences for students.

The full schedule is listed below and is available online. All webinars start at 8 p.m. ET and are moderated by Steve Hargadon, founder of Classroom 2.0. Teachers can participate in the webinars after signing up for free membership in PBS Teachers. Membership provides preK-12 educators with access to the PBS Teachers online community, all of PBS’s educational services, and a searchable library of more than 9,000 free local and national standards-based teaching activities, lesson plans, on-demand video assets, and interactive games and simulations. PBS Teachers was recently named a “Landmark Website for Teaching and Learning” by the American Association of School Libraries for exemplary dynamic content and curricular relevance. For more information on PBS Teachers LIVE!, visit www.pbs.org/teachers/webinar.

Transforming Schools Webinar
The first fall webinar is “Transforming Schools: P.O.V.’s ‘The Principal Story’” on Sept. 1, 2009, at 8 p.m. with special guests: Kerry Purcell, one of the principals featured in the film; David Mrazek, one of the filmmakers; and Eliza Licht, director of community engagement and education for P.O.V./American Documentary. “The Principal Story,” airing on Sept. 15, paints two dramatic portraits of the challenges facing America's public schools—and the great difference a dedicated principal can make. The film takes the viewer along for an emotional ride and examines what effective educational leadership looks like in the 21st century. The speakers will discuss the making of the film, the critical work involved in transforming schools, and the wide array of high-quality educational resources available from P.O.V. to support educational leadership and reform.

About the Speakers
David Mrazek is an award-winning producer, director, and writer of numerous prime-time PBS history and science documentary series, as well as documentaries for The History Channel and Travel Channel. Mrazek's work includes “The Great War” series, “The Kingdom of David,” “The Duel,” and “Woodrow Wilson,” among many other films.

During her six years as principal of Harvard Park Elementary School (PreK-5) in Springfield, Ill., Kerry Purcell was instrumental in supporting the school's successful move off the state watch list. The school made approximately a 45 percent gain in reading and a 50 percent gain in math test scores. Most notable is Purcell's work around data interpretation and analysis, building and sustaining professional learning communities, and creative use of fiscal, human and time resources to support school improvement.

Eliza Licht oversees the development and implementation of P.O.V.'s national community engagement and education campaigns. She works with public television stations, educators and community-based organizations to present community screenings of P.O.V. films and to develop and distribute accompanying educational resources to teachers nationwide. Over the years, she has expanded P.O.V.'s community engagement activities by nearly 400 percent and increased P.O.V.'s educational efforts by over 80 percent. To further develop these areas, Eliza established a Library Board and a Teachers' Advisory Board, which provide feedback on activities and help produce P.O.V.'s companion resource materials. P.O.V (a cinema term for “point of view”) is television's longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films. P.O.V. premieres 14-16 of the best, boldest and most innovative programs every year on PBS.

PBS Teachers LIVE! Fall/Winter Schedule (as of Aug. 13, 2009)

September 1, 2009
Transforming Schools: P.O.V.’s “The Principal Story”
Speakers: PBS producers and educators
Curriculum Connection: all subjects
September 21, 2009
Dig into Early Science Instruction With “Dinosaur Train”
Speakers: PBS KIDS producers, scientists and educators
Curriculum Connection: science
October 7, 2009
Teaching About Place with Ken Burns’ “National Parks: America’s Best Idea”
Speakers: PBS producers and curriculum experts
Curriculum Connection: geography, social studies, science
October 22, 2009
Welcome to the New PBS Teachers Web site
Speakers: PBS Teachers staff
Curriculum Connection: all subjects
November 10, 2009
Education in the Digital Age: FRONTLINE’s “Digital Nation”
Speakers: PBS producers and educators
Curriculum Connection: all subjects
December 10, 2009
PBS TeacherLine: Online Professional Development for Educators
Speakers: PBS producers and educators
Curriculum Connection: all subjects
January 26, 2010
Middle Level STEM Education featuring digital education resources from “Design Squad,” “Fetch” and “DragonflyTV”
Speakers: PBS producers and educators
Curriculum Connection: science, technology, math

About PBS Teachers

PBS Teachers (www.pbs.org/teachers) provides preK-12 educators a central Web destination to access PBS’ educational services, including a searchable library of more than 9,000 local and national multimedia resources, and an online professional learning community where teachers can share ideas, collaborate, and discuss effective technology integration. Within the online community, educators can search for digital instructional resources, then easily bookmark, annotate, share and manage their tagged content. PBS Teachers is also home to the popular education blog Media Infusion (pbs.org/mediainfusion), which focuses on practical ways to integrate multimedia resources and technology into the classroom. Teachers can sign up for free membership in PBS Teachers to enjoy access to the PBS Teachers community and monthly webinars, and to receive discounts to ShopPBS for Teachers.

About PBS

PBS, with its 356 member stations, offers all Americans – from every walk of life – the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each week, PBS reaches more than 115 million people and invites them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and Web site, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children.

Contacts

PBS
Kevin Dando
703-739-5073
kdando at pbs dot org
www.pbs.org

C. Blohm & Associates, Inc.
Kristen Plemon
608-839-9805
kristen at cblohm dot com
www.cblohm.com