PINE TREE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT P.O. Box 5878, Longview, TX 75608 903.295.5000 www.ptisd.org
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Fastop Helps Pine Tree Students Get A New View Five hundred dollar grant provides new tool for learning Friday, November 10, 2006 Today, Pine Tree Intermediate School received a $500 grant from the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program to support the purchase of a new digital visualizer for teachers to use during instruction. Terry Pickard, of Fastop #8, located at the corner of Gilmer and Fairmont Drive worked with Debbie Connor, Director of Academic Achievement to secure the grant which is one of 4,000 available to schools across the country served by Exxon or Mobil stations. The grants were made possible by funding from the Exxon Mobil Corporation. “Giving teachers access to resources such as this is like taking a shopping spree! Teachers can envision thousands of ways to use this new tool with their students before it is even out of the box!” explained Connor. “We are continually searching for new technology to integrate with instruction that boosts comprehension and it makes sense to educate them in a multi-device, technology-rich environment considering the world they live in. Using the digital visualizer in lessons can spark interest and extends learning by developing critical 21st-century skills including digital literacy, critical thinking and collaboration. Intermediate teacher, Ida Sue Baumgardner is excited about adding an additional visualizer to the campus which currently shares two among forty-five educators on a rotating basis. “I love it, and use it as much as I can,” states Baumgardner. “Pine Tree ISD works hard to make learning interesting and fun,” said Terry Pickard. “As an Exxon retailer, I am proud to help the young people in my community.” According to ExxonMobile representative, Stacy Spencer of Spencer Distributing, who attended the demonstration in Ms. Baumgardner’s room, “Terry Pickard met stringent eligibility criteria before applying for and being awarded this grant, including having a commitment to provide a superior buying experience for customers.” The ExxonMobile Educational Alliance program is designed to provide Exxon and Mobil retailers with an opportunity to invest in the future of their communities through educational grants to neighborhood schools. ExxonMobile believes that, as members of the community, local retailers are best qualifies to work with local educators to help identify schools and programs most in need of support.