Last Group of Washington D.C. Teachers Leave for the Keystone Science School in Colorado.

TARRYTOWN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JULY 26, 1999--

The last group of inner city teachers left for The Keystone Center in Colorado Sunday as part of Ciba Specialty Chemicals' ongoing commitment to teacher development in Washington D.C. In partnership with the National School-to-Work Office, Ciba has now sponsored 19 teachers over the past three years.

In Colorado, the teachers will take part in the Science Center's nationally recognized teacher training program, Key Issues: Bringing Environmental Issues to the Classroom. The participants will collaborate with teachers from around the country and focus on analyzing environmental issues that will later be shared with students in the classroom.

Ciba and the National School-to-Work Office entered into a partnership in April of 1997, to combat a serious problem that begins in middle school: namely students bored or unengaged by the curriculum dropping out before or soon after entering high school. The two partners chose to focus their efforts on improving Garnet-Patterson's science curriculum and instruction as well as its relationship with the high school its students would one day attend - Cardozo High.

"Ciba's partnership with the National School-to-Work Office, I believe, has changed the way that math and science are both taught and learned at two of the District's schools - Garnet-Patterson Middle School and Cardozo High. Moreover, the teachers who have learned new ways of teaching at Keystone will continue to prepare future generations for a 21st century workplace that few of us could have imagined," said Stephanie Powers, Director, National School-to-Work Office. "Ciba's investment is corporate citizenship at its very best. It should be held up as an example to the entire employer community."

Commenting on the grant, Hugh Stuart-Buttle, Executive Director of Ciba Specialty Chemicals Education Foundation said, "This program has enabled us to not only make a difference but it has also achieved two of Ciba's educational goals: Supporting environmental science education and improving opportunities for Washington D.C. students." Stuart-Buttle added, "Teach a student, you teach one; Teach a teacher, and you teach many."

Through its Education Foundation, Ciba Specialty Chemicals focuses on school-to-career initiatives that support a fundamental shift from passive learning to tangible, skill-based learning. The Education Foundation works to forge new partnerships among schools, businesses and communities and supports programs and learning experiences which bridge the transition from school to work.

The teachers who left for Colorado in this latest group include Samuel Kamara, Helen Keels and Cecilia Jones (Garnet-Patterson Middle school) and Jasmin Lopez Lezama and Jose Ramirez (Cardozo High).

Ciba Specialty Chemicals (SWX:CIBN) is a leading company dedicated to producing high-value effects for our customers' products. Our specialty chemicals, added in small quantities, enhance the performance, look and feel of the final product. Business success is driven by our long-term strategy of innovation and continuous operational improvements. Ciba brings new and creative thought to the processes and products of our customers in more than 117 countries. Ciba generated sales of more than $5.8 billion in 1998 and spent $210 million on R&D to foster innovation across the company.