Supporting enhanced and
unique learning programs

The MVP Award was introduced in 2008 as a new feature of the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program.

Each year, the schools represented by a teacher Hero are eligible to compete for the MVP Award, which provides funding to enhance and support learning at Seattle schools.

To compete for the funding, participating Heroes in the Classroom schools develop program proposals for enhancing student achievement. Symetra and the Seahawks join together with the Alliance for Education, Seattle Foundation and Seattle Public Schools to evaluate proposals and determine the winners.

2009 MVP Award Winners:

12

Beacon Hill International School:

Heroes at Home

Watch the video highlighting Beacon Hill’s "Heroes at Home" program.

Beacon Hill International School educates a significant number of children with families that read and write in a language other than English, and have limited access to literacy materials in the home.

The school used the MVP award to create the "Heroes at Home" program, which is designed to empower parents, especially non-native English speakers, and to strengthen parental support of reading at home, thereby improving their child’s academic success.

The MVP Award funds were used to purchase books and audio recordings in languages such as Chinese, English, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

In addition, Mary Thompson, the school librarian and 2008 Hero, also leads Family Library Days once a week, encouraging parents to volunteer in the library and check-out new books in their home languages.
12

Chief Sealth High School:

LapHawks

Craig Terrill
Seahawks
Defensive
Tackle Craig
Terrill, at award
assembly, leads
Chief Sealth
students in a
congratulatory
"Go Seahawks"
cheer.

View the slideshow with images from the award assembly at Chief Sealth.

Students at Chief Sealth had limited access to computers and technology curriculum, which can be an impediment as they enter college and the workforce.

Led by science teacher and 2008 Hero, Dr. Nancy Ruzycki, Chief Sealth submitted a proposal for the “LapHawks” program designed to promote computer literacy and computer programming skills through the use of modeling and peer tutoring.

Through the award funds, 30 new laptop computers were purchased. The laptops will be used to integrate technology in lessons across the school, to provide technology training for teachers and for peer tutoring in the SmartGirls after-school program.

In addition to the tutoring program, the computers will be used to train teachers how to use technology to engage and motivate students, broaden curriculum objectives and better prepare students for the workplace.