Oracle(r) Academy And South Carolina Department Of Education Team Up To Develop IT Workforce

$8.4 Million Oracle In-Kind Grant to Advance High School Curriculum and Learning Throughout South Carolina.

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., 29-NOV-2005 The Oracle(r) Academy and the South Carolina Department of Education announced an expanded partnership to develop South Carolina’s workforce through secondary school information technology career preparation. Building upon the success of 19 pilot schools in 2004, the state plans to more than double the number of participating schools, bringing the total to 50 schools by 2006. The partnership is expected to include funding for participating schools, data sharing on student performance, a state-level student competition, and an effort to enhance student transitions to post-secondary and industry.

“The South Carolina Department of Education is delighted to have established a partnership with Oracle in the development of the Oracle Academy for secondary students,” says Inez Tenenbaum, State Superintendent of Education. “The program will help South Carolina implement the landmark Education and Economic Development Act, and we look forward to expanding it across the state.”

“The Oracle Academy exposes students to cutting-edge database and programming technology,” said Clare Dolan, Vice President of Oracle’s Academic Initiatives. “We are extremely pleased to collaborate with the South Carolina Department of Education. Together, we will equip students with technical and professional skills, and enable future academic and business success.”

To date, 39 South Carolina teachers have completed the Oracle Academy’s rigorous professional development program and are currently teaching the Academy curriculum, which provides students with vendor-neutral database design and programming skills, plus broad business and professional skills.

Two of these teachers, David Kennedy from Lexington County School District 5 and Zenovia Frazier from Dorchester School District 2, were awarded the MVP award for extraordinary performance and leadership during the teacher training. A third teacher, Franklin McCormack from Barnwell County School District 45, has received an appointment as an Oracle Academy Adjunct Instructor, a position of national distinction that carries the responsibility of training and mentoring Academy Instructors from across the country. Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum will recognize these three exemplary instructors at the Education and Economic Development Coordinating Council (EEDA) meeting in Columbia, SC on November 29, 2005.

About the Oracle Academy
The Oracle Academy educates 10,000 students in 18 countries. The program helps participating students to develop database design, programming, project management, presentation, and problem-solving skills. At the same time, participating teachers are supported with world-class training and professional development, and the latest database and online learning technologies.

The Academy is one of four education initiatives that Oracle sponsors in support of technology education. To learn more about the program and Oracle’s Education Initiatives, visit http://academy.oracle.com.

About Oracle
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Kimberly Pineda

Oracle

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