In the spirit of innovation, education stakeholders gathered Sept. 15 in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the six schools that were named Intel's Schools of Distinction for 2009. Located in such diverse areas of the country as the busy Bronx and the California desert, these schools all show that open-mindedness and creativity can help foster success in teaching math and science.

Held in one of D.C.'s most scenic areas, this year's Intel Schools of Distinction Awards were a sight to be seen. Walking to the venue, one passed salsa bands and dancers, late-lunch Capitol Hill workers enjoying al-fresco tidbits, and armed security guards that eventually led to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center--where the awards took place.

In the crisp white dome of the building, understatedly called "The Pavilion," representatives from the winning schools, as well as reporters and ed-tech industry executives, sat in white satin chairs amid ribbons of sunlight pouring in through the windows of the dome as wafts from the white centerpiece roses filled the senses.

"We are here today, with the six winning schools, ranging from all across the country to celebrate their innovation and to show that excellence can occur in any setting," said Wendy Hawkins, executive director of the Intel Foundation, which is responsible for choosing and hosting the winning schools. "Schools today are eager to prepare their students for a career in a math- or science-related field and to be engaged citizens in this era of technology and innovation. We seek to recognize the schools that are doing this best, and to share their models as broadly as possible."

Eighteen schools in all were selected as finalists in two categories: math and science. Three elementary, middle, and high schools in each category received cash grants of $2,500 from the Intel Foundation.
 
The six winners (one elementary, middle, and high school in each of the two categories) received $10,000 cash grants and more than $100,000 in products and services from sponsors. Sponsors included Absolute Software, BrainWare SAFARI, DyKnow, eInstruction, Elluminate, Pinnacle, the Internet Community Action Network (I-CAN), Inspiration Software, Pearson, SAS, Scantron, SMART Technologies, and Toshiba.

Meet the six winners:

(Mathematics)

- Cedar Park Elementary School, Trumann, Ark. Cedar Park attributes its success to well-trained teachers and dedicated math coaches. Student proficiency has improved 91 percent as a result of what the school calls a "comprehensive program that supports teachers, students, and parents." Lead teachers share professional development and guide colleagues; the math coach brings new approaches to teaching by designing lessons based on individual student needs and analyzes student assessment data to keep teaching aligned with student progress.

- Urban Assembly for Applied Math and Science, Bronx, N.Y. Urban Assembly is based in a diverse South Bronx community and implements "a strategic organization of teachers, ongoing team members, purposeful scheduling, and extended school time," says the school. Through this organization, 81.5 percent of students score at or above grade level and 34 percent of special-needs students show an improvement in math. The school believes that students learn best when confronted with authentic tasks in which teachers work with students in making real-world connections to engineering, science, history, medicine, sports, music, and art.