Ann Short, Teacher at F.J. Varieur Elementary School, Named 2001 Honoree in Disney's American Teacher Awards; Teacher to be Honored At Gala Ceremony in Los Angeles.

News Editors

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2001

F.J. Varieur Elementary School second grade teacher, Ann Short, one of Pawtucket's brightest stars in education, has been selected a Disney's American Teacher Awards Honoree for 2001.

Short is one of only 35 teachers selected from the more than 111,000 nominations The Walt Disney Company received. Short will be flown to Los Angeles with other outstanding teachers from across the country to be honored for their talents, skills and commitment to their profession. "We're always thrilled to showcase some of America's most innovative teachers who are using creative teaching approaches in the classroom to help kids learn," said Laurie Lang, Senior Vice President, Disney Learning Partnership.

Since 1989, Disney's American Teacher Awards have saluted exemplary teachers in Kindergarten through 12th grade for innovative teaching methods that actively engage students in learning. The focus of Disney's American Teacher Awards is to recognize the teaching profession, showcase creativity in the classroom, and honor those who can assist in developing creative teaching strategies in their school districts.

This year, Disney received over 20,000 teacher applications from the more than 111,000 nominations submitted by telephone and e-mail. The 35 Honorees, chosen by a National Selection Committee comprised of distinguished educators, are nominated in one of 10 teaching categories. In November, one Finalist will be selected in each category, and the Outstanding Teacher of the Year will be chosen by the Honorees from among the 10 Finalists.

The 10 teaching categories the Honorees are nominated in are:

-- Elementary: Primary and Intermediate

-- Middle School/Junior High: The Sciences and The Humanities

-- High School: The Sciences and The Humanities

-- Kindergarten through 12th Grade: The Arts; Team Teaching; Special Education;
Wellness and Sports

        The Selection Committee is comprised of representatives
                   of the following organizations:

All Kinds of Minds
American Association of School Administrators
American Federation of Teachers
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
National Association of Elementary School Principals
National Association of Secondary School Principals
Council of Chief State School Officers
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Harvard University's Project Zero
National Middle School Association
National PTA
National Education Association
Council for American Private Education
Council of Great City Schools
Council for Exceptional Children
Wellesley College
The Galef Institute
Past American Teacher Award Honorees

The Walt Disney Company does not participate in the selection process.

The Walt Disney Company will award each Honoree $10,000 and their schools will receive $5,000. The 10 category finalists will each receive $5,000. $25,000 will go to the Outstanding Teacher of the Year and $10,000 to that teacher's school.

Disney's American Teacher Awards, part of Disney Learning Partnership, expands the company's commitment to education through support of innovative teachers, schools, and families to effectively engage kids in learning. Disney Learning Partnership is a philanthropic initiative supporting innovative approaches to learning that promote student success.

As part of Disney's American Teacher Awards, Honorees participate in a unique professional development program focused on innovative approaches to teaching and learning and leadership development. Honorees and their principals will attend a summer institute to learn how to share their creative teaching practices and will also develop an action plan focused on improving professional collaboration and teacher learning in their schools during the 2002-2003 school year.

"Disney's American Teacher Awards is an honor," Lang said. "But to The Walt Disney Company, these Honorees are also an investment -- an investment in teachers who have that special gift of digging deep inside and unlocking the imagination we all know lies within every child. Ann Short is one of those teachers."

To arrange media interviews, contact Ann Short directly at F.J. Varieur Elementary School.