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Silver Spring, Md. (July 10, 2014) - Texas' Burkburnett Independent School District today announced a deepening of its partnership with Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms. In the latest phase of this nine-year relationship, the district is expanding access to Discovery Education's digital content for all students in the coming school year.  In addition, the school system is embarking on a new comprehensive professional development program supporting teacher-leaders as they serve as change agents powering the district's digital transition.

As part of Burkburnett ISD's effort to create digital learning environments in each classroom, this coming school year the district is providing all students and teachers iPads.  This effort is guided by a group of district stakeholders called Voices Effectively Collaborating on Technology and Teaching with Ongoing Reflection (VECTTOR). Comprised of teachers, administrators, technology department staff, parents, students and community members, VECTTOR ensures the latest digital tools and resources are being effectively implemented to accelerate learning across the district.

Discovery Education is also supporting district efforts to accelerate learning in 21st-century classrooms. As part of its expanded partnership with Burkburnett ISD, students district-wide will, in the coming school year, enjoy access to Discovery Education Streaming Plus, a comprehensive digital library of over 150,000 learning objects aligned to state and national standards. Students in grades 7 and 8 are already using the award-winning Discovery Education Science Techbook^TM series, which includes compelling video, digital simulations and explorations, virtual and hands-on labs, and an interactive glossary with animations and audio and video.

In addition, Burkburnett ISD educators are now participating in Discovery Education's recently launched Digital Leader Corps. A new multi-year professional development program, Digital Leader Corps nurtures a network of teacher-leaders prepared to design and implement successful and innovative teaching strategies that can be shared with their peers.

Through Digital Leader Corps, Discovery Education is helping the school system build the capacity of district teacher-leaders to effectively integrate digital content into instruction and prepare students to be globally competitive, 21st-century citizens. Four teacher-leaders and a principal at each of the district's five campuses are engaging in this intensive professional learning model.

Featuring a unique combination of professional learning, pedagogy and tools, Digital Leader Corps offers participating educators proven strategies for integrating educational technologies and digital media into classroom instruction. A new innovation included in the model is educator created, student-centered Learning Labs. In these labs, teachers bring to life new teaching strategies, and practice and adapt their skills in a classroom setting before sharing their successes broadly with their colleagues. The Digital Leader Corps program provides teachers with continuous customized, job-embedded consultation throughout the process with on-going modeling, coaching and feedback from Discovery Education experts in the pre-planning, stakeholder communications and implementation phases.

"At Burkburnett ISD our goal is to help all students succeed at each grade level and graduate from high school well equipped for the next stage of their educational journey," said Danny Taylor, superintendent, Burkburnett ISD.  "To achieve this goal, students need access to engaging, high quality digital content and educators need sustained, job-embedded professional development that helps them maximize new educational technologies.  We are excited to expand our partnership with Discovery Education to bring both of these critical elements to our digital transition plans."

The Discovery Educator Network (DEN) will also continue supporting Burkburnett ISD educators in their efforts to transform students' learning experiences with digital media. A global community of education professionals, the DEN connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing and inspiration.

"We are excited to deepen our relationship with Burkburnett ISD," said Brett Felten, director, Discovery Education. "Superintendent Taylor and his team share Discovery Education's vision for combining dynamic digital content and sustained professional development to create the engaging learning environments our students need and deserve.  We commend the district's leadership for providing these critical resources, and look forward to continuing this great partnership."

For more information on Discovery Education Streaming Plus, the Digital Leader Corp and other Discovery Education services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind.  Available in over half of all U.S. schools and primary schools in England, community colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.