Back-to-School I 2006 Feature Releases

The following releases focus on the topic Back-to-School I:

ALL TIME-OFFS ARE IN EASTERN TIME

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--XtremeMac Offers Smart iPod Accessories for Back-to-School; MicroMemo Digital Recorder and Tango Home Audio System Perfect for Students (05/31/2006 - 02:26 PM, SOURCE: XtremeMac)

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--Back-to-School Alert for Parents: Beware Child Injuries Caused by Overweight, Ill-Fitting Backpacks (06/30/2006 - 08:54 PM, SOURCE: California Chiropractic Association)

LEXINGTON, Mass.--The Beacon Street Girls Books Help Preteen Girls Prepare for School With Friendship Lessons; Researchers Say Americans Unable to Find Friends; Parents Worry About Impact on Kids (07/06/2006 - 12:00 PM, SOURCE: B*tween Productions)

AVAILABLE EXPERTS

The following knowledgeable industry leaders and scholars from Business Wire's ExpertSource database are available to discuss topics relating to Back-to-School I:

-- David Bober, executive vice president of Octagon, is at the forefront of creating true partnerships between the public and private sectors that go beyond cause related marketing and corporate philanthropy. These partnerships balance the commercial interests of the private entities with the public agencies ability to overcome budget constraints to address the needs of the people they serve. Representing New York City's Department of Education, Bober structured an agreement with Snapple that generated revenues for sports and physical education initiatives while allowing the schools to adhere to nutritional guidelines. In exchange, Snapple was awarded exclusive vending rights for spring water and 100% juice products in all NYC schools. The program has funded the creation of new sports teams and brought physical education programming to more than 25,000 middle school students as well as academic tutoring for high school student-athletes. PR Contact: Dave Fogelson, 203-354-7409, [e-mail]

-- Dr. Tom Carroll, President, National Commission on Teaching and Americas Future (NCTAF), leads the organization's efforts to raise standards for teaching and learning, improve professional development, and restructure school environments so that the needs of all students are met. Dr. Carroll has great expertise on education issues pertaining to teacher quality. In 2003, NCTAF released the groundbreaking report No Dream Denied: A Pledge to Americas Children, which showed the United States has a teacher retention problem, not a teacher shortage. Dr. Carroll can provide examples on best practices for strong teacher induction or mentoring programs, and teacher preparation programs. He can offer a shrewd diagnosis of the problems that plague schools and offer strategies to turn those schools around. NCTAF is particularly concerned with the inequitable conditions that exist in many schools that serve low-income and minority students. NCTAF is working to make sure that all students have access to a quality education in a school organized for success. PR Contact: Don Goncalves, 781-793-9380, [e-mail]

-- Steve Peha, president of Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc., is well-qualified to provide insightful commentary and thoughtful opinions on the state of education in America, including teacher quality and retention, best-practice instruction, testing and No Child Left Behind. He's taught thousands of kids and hundreds of teachers in the United States and Canada. An avid researcher, he also can speak authoritatively on current best practices, how kids learn and what teaching methods are truly effective. His in-school work with teachers and kids, real-world orientation from his years as an entrepreneur, and in-depth investigation of education issues and current research enable him to offer an informed and unique perspective on what we're doing right -- and wrong -- in education in America. Peha's straightforward views undercut the prevailing wisdom and get right to the heart of what matters. He is the author of "Be A Writer: Your Guide to the Writing Life," a book for 12- to 18-year-old kids and their parents. PR Contact: Margot Lester, 919-967-3712, [e-mail]

Registered journalists can submit queries to the ExpertSource staff and/or search for more experts in this and various other topics by going to www.businesswire.com and logging in with your email address and PressPass password. If you are not registered, you may do so at www.businesswire.com. For more information or assistance with ExpertSource, please contact Stacey Seigler, ExpertSource Coordinator/Business Wire at 312/223-1037, [e-mail]. The following are upcoming Features Package release dates: July 11 - Fitness & Health IV July 13 - Pets II July 18 - Autos & Transportation I July 20 - Technology III July 25 - Consumer Focus II July 27 - Men's Focus II

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