Contact:  Karen Ahearn, Director, Communications

April 3, 2006                                                                                                                      

Governor Edward G. Rendell to speak at ASSET’s

Power of Partnerships Award Dinner

Date of Event:                            Thursday, April 6, 2006

Time of Event:                           Reception begins at 6 p.m., Dinner at 7 p.m.

Name of Event:                          The Power of Partnerships Awards Dinner

Location:                                    Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

Brief description of event:

                    ASSET celebrates the impact of corporate and community partners in improving science education throughout the region.

                    Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato will introduce Special Guest Speaker Governor Edward G. Rendell.

Guest Speaker:  Governor Edward G. Rendell will highlight his proposed statewide initiative, Science: It’s Elementary.  Governor Rendell’s 2006-07 Budget upgrades science teaching in elementary schools with $10 million to expand the ASSET model in up to 150 schools in 2006-07. (Fact sheet attached)

Event Chair:  Mr. Steve Tritch, President and Chief Executive Officer,

Westinghouse Electric Company, Chair and Presenting Sponsor

ASSET Award for Educational Leadership:  Bayer Corporation will be presented the second annual award for their longtime commitment and dedication to systemic education improvement.

                     “Making ASSET Work” Awards:

Innovating Partner:  RJ Lee Group, an analytical-based research company headquartered in Monroeville, has partnered with ASSET, with funding from the National Science Foundation, to develop Web-based curriculum enhancement modules that use microscope simulation to deliver science content in an interactive, inquiry-based manner.

 

Teaching Partner:  Linda Boord, 3rd grade teacher, Baker Elementary, Upper St. Clair School District, will be honored for outstanding commitment and participation in 500+ hours of ASSET teacher professional development.

Tickets:       The event is open to the public.  Prices vary for table sponsors; contributor ticket $250; individual ticket $150

Media Sponsor:          DUQ 90.5

Event Coordinator:      A.L. Brourman Associates Inc.

For more information contact:                   Karen Ahearn, ASSET Inc.

                                                                      412-481-7320

                                                                      kahearn@assetinc.org

About ASSET Inc.:

ASSET Inc. is an independent, nonprofit education reform initiative dedicated to continuously improve the abilities of teachers with initial efforts in K-8 science and technology education. Established by Bayer Corporation and other community partners in 1994, ASSET currently provides K-8 standards-based science materials and teacher professional development programs that directly impact 3,000 teachers and 125,000 students in 48 school districts, charter and private schools. Students in more than 5,000 classrooms across Western Pennsylvania study science, technology, environment and ecology using hands-on materials and are taught by teachers who receive professional development directly linked to the curriculum.

The largest program of its kind in the state, ASSET is the only one of 22 educational reform programs originally funded by the National Science Foundation that has achieved operational self-sustaining status. ASSET is one of eight national LASER (Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform) sites designated by the National Science Resources Center, an organization of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Academies, to help school districts implement programs to systemically improve science education.