News Release

May 16, 2002

CFF Teacher appreciation celebration set

South coast principals and teachers who volunteered their time and energy with the Computers for Families project will be honored by Santa Barbara Partners in Education and the Santa Barbara County Education Office at the third annual Teacher Appreciation Celebration May 23, at the Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center.

Computers for Families is a six-year project dedicated to bridging the digital divide for families who cannot afford home computers. Computers for Families provides refurbished computers, Internet access, and training for families in need throughout Santa Barbara County. Since 1997, 2,600 computers have been refurbished and donated to families with children enrolled in local schools.

Computers for Families works in partnership with principals and teachers in local school districts, including the Carpinteria, Goleta, Hope, Santa Barbara elementary and high school, and Solvang school districts. During the 2001-2002 academic year, 109 principals and teachers volunteered their time, energy, and talent helping over 1,000 students and families receive computers and technology training.

During the course of the school year, teachers are involved in:
• Attending teacher trainings and facilitating evening family trainings (53 teacher and family trainings this year alone).
• Processing family Internet scholarships.
• Facilitating communication between Computers for Families staff and families, for technical assistance.
• Collecting data for project evaluation.

“The success of the program is largely due to the dedicated efforts of participating principals and teachers,” said County Superintendent Bill Cirone, whose office coordinates the program. “The Teacher Appreciation Celebration is Santa Barbara Partners in Education’s and the Santa Barbara County Education Office’s annual opportunity to recognize these talented professionals for their efforts.”

The event is made possible by the generous sponsorship of ABC-CLIO, Coldwell Banker, Hutton Foundation, Four Seasons Biltmore, Santa Barbara Foundation, Santa Barbara News-Press, and Venoco, Inc.

Santa Barbara Partners in Education is a non-profit organization with members from business, industry, government, elementary and secondary schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges. We began our efforts in 1977. Santa Barbara Partners in Education has as its central purpose the development of outstanding graduates in the Santa Barbara area.