Capri College has received top honors in the 2013 Excellence in Education program, a national competition that recognizes innovative cosmetology schools across the country. Capri was notified last month that they were nominated in 4 of the 8 categories that comprise the program, including School Culture, School Marketing, Community Involvement, and School Technology.

Capri College had previously been nominated in the Community Involvement, Facilities, and Placement categories, but never received top honors. The winning announcement for their efforts came last week at the American Association of Cosmetology Schools  Annual Convention held in Las Vegas, NV.

To be nominated for these awards, schools were asked to submit essays for each category describing how their institution not only embodies excellence in education for their students, but how they are involved in their communities as well as describing the innovation/evolution of their school over the past year. Essays were judged by a panel of industry professions at Modern Salon Magazine. From a field of hundreds of applicants, finalists were narrowed down to 6 schools per category..

Capri's nominations and 1st place honor demonstrates what Capri College has provided for their past graduates, current students, as well as the communities they serve in Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Dubuque.

For more information on Capri's national award recognition in this year's Modern Salon Excellence in Education program, please go to www.capricollege.edu

DES MOINES, IA (11/21/2013)(readMedia)-- John Baker, a community college instructor at Scott Community College in Bettendorf, is a 2013 Excellence in Education Award runner-up. The award is sponsored by the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA). Baker was chosen among a top field of over 60 educators-all nominated by colleagues, students, parents, and community members-because of the difference they make every day in the lives of Iowa's students.

"This award is truly about recognizing the educators who work hard on a daily basis and rarely get the recognition they so richly deserve," said Tammy Wawro, president of the ISEA. The nominations we receive are a testament to the dedication and compassion Iowa educators have for their students and the communities in which they live. Clearly, our educators go above and beyond to help shape the lives of the students they teach."

Baker's dedication and devotion to his profession is evident in his ability to engage his students and be a mentor to colleagues. John pioneered the Great Teachers Workshop which gives educators the ability to share their expertise and experiences, and learn from each other-an idea established long before current legislation focusing on the same concept which seeks to enhance the profession. The Workshop has grown exponentially and John has presented in Iowa, Thailand, Africa, and most recently in the Kingdom of Jordan.

"It's clear that John's creativity, passion, and work all combine to make a tremendous impact in his classroom and beyond and we applaud his achievement," said Wawro. The Excellence in Education Award celebrates educators like John who are invested in the lives of their students and go beyond what is expected to make an exceptional experience for them.

Now in its 14th year, the Excellence in Education Award honors educators around the state who make a difference in the classroom. Nominations are solicited beginning in September through October.

Baker received a $100 gift from the ISEA during an awards ceremony and banquet on Monday, November 18, at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines, courtesy of the Iowa State Education Association.

The winner of the 2013 Excellence in Education Award is Heather Anderson, an elementary teacher at Cowles Montessori School in Des Moines. Anderson received $1,000 courtesy of the Iowa State Education Association. Other runners-up also honored and include Beth Fettweis, an English teacher at City High School in Iowa City; Melinda Orris, a social studies teacher at Maquoketa High School; and Sarah Wessels, a middle school special education teacher in the Coulter - Alexander - Latimer School District; All runners-up received $100 courtesy of the ISEA.

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Free program provides teachers with pencils to use during assessment testing

DES MOINES, IA (11/19/2013)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is offering free #2 pencils for Iowa teachers to distribute during the annual Iowa Assessment Test through the Prepare for the Basics program. Last year, the program distributed over 19,000 pencils to schools statewide. "Teachers play an important role in the enormous task of monitoring the growth of students through the assessment test," Fitzgerald said. "The Prepare for the Basics program is a small token of appreciation to our teachers for their hard work."

Along with the new pencil, students will receive information to take home about College Savings Iowa, the state-sponsored 529 plan. College Savings Iowa is designed to help Iowa families meet the continually increasing costs of higher education while providing them with multiple tax benefits, including a $3,045 deduction per account from their 2013 state taxable income.* "Families who save early will be in a better position to help pay for college when the time comes," Fitzgerald stated. "Saving ahead of time may reduce the need to borrow for college, which can help families-and their children-get to graduation with less debt."

Teachers who would like to participate in the Prepare for the Basics program can register online at iowatreasurer.gov. Participants can register by clicking on the tab For Citizens, then clicking on the Financial Literacy tab, which will take you to the Prepare for the Basics section. Program materials will be sent directly to the participating schools. Supplies are limited, so early registration is advised. For more information about College Savings Iowa, please visit collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

*Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 888-672-9116 or visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing.

College Savings Iowa is an Iowa trust sponsored by the Iowa State Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer of the State of Iowa sponsors and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., assists the Treasurer with marketing and distributing the Plan. Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, provides records administration services. The Plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds.

Middle school students will compete at Rochester Institute of Technology

Deaf or hard-of-hearing middle school students from across the country can participate in Rochester Institute of Technology's sixth annual Math Competition for Students Who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing, April 4-6, 2014 at RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

This competition for middle school students in 6th, 7th or 8th grades is designed to promote math as fun and engaging and features three rounds that test speed and accuracy, teamwork and additional math skills. Cash prizes will be awarded to team and individual winners in several categories. All participants will receive T-shirts and medals.

The first 25 schools that submit completed registration forms and payment, or payment authorizations, for either teams or individual students who want to compete, will be accepted to participate in the competition.

Registration will be closed when the 25-school limit is reached. The final registration deadline is Dec. 15, 2013.

Registration is $90 registration per team (four students) or $25 for students who register individually. Coaches and students wishing to participate in the next competition can get more information online at https://www.ntid.rit.edu/prospective/mathcompetition.

Parents and teachers are encouraged to accompany the students during the weekend, which offers fun and social activities in addition to the math competition.

For questions or more information, contact us at MathCompetition@ntid.rit.edu, call 585-475-7695 or by videophone at 585-286-4555.

RIT is internationally recognized for academic leadership in computing, engineering, imaging science, sustainability, and fine and applied arts, in addition to unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. RIT enrolls more than 18,000 full- and part-time students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, and its cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation.

NTID, one of nine colleges of RIT, was established by Congress in 1965 to provide college opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who were underemployed in technical fields. Today, 1,432 students attend NTID; more than 1,250 are deaf or hard of hearing. Others are hearing students enrolled in interpreting or deaf education programs. NTID's Center on Employment assists NTID students with finding co-op and permanent jobs. More than 100 interpreters, tutors and notetakers support students in and out of the classroom. Visit: www.rit.edu/NTID.

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