FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 18, 2006
Contact:  Bobbie Fisher, Corporate Communications, 757.889.9107
 
WHRO ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF VIRGINIA’S PBS TEACHERLINE ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS

Hampton Roads:  Public broadcaster WHRO announced today the launch of the Virginia Elementary Mathematics Academy, which will feature UVA-Modified PBS TeacherLine courses.  WHRO is the statewide coordinator of Virginia’s PBS TeacherLine, which is a service of Virginia’s public television stations – MHZ Networks (Falls Church), WBRA (Roanoke), WCVE (Richmond), WVPT (Harrisonburg) and WHRO  The Mathematics Academy will offer six high quality elementary online professional development courses to educators.  Two graduate credits are granted per course, and educators who complete four out of six courses receive a certification in elementary mathematics from the University of Virginia. 

The six courses will be taught over two sessions, and include Data Analysis and Probability for Grades K-5; Developing Algebraic Thinking in Grades K-2; Developing Algebraic Thinking in Grades 3-5 (taught June 19-July 30); and Shaping Up: Teaching Geometry Using Technology in Grades K-2; Shaping Up: Teaching Geometry Using Technology in Grades 3-5; and Count on it!: Number Sense for Grades 3-5 (July 31-September 10). 

All UVA-Modified PBS TeacherLine courses are tied to the Virginia Standards of Learning and meet the Virginia Standards for High Quality Professional Development. 
PBS TeacherLine is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, and committed to helping PreK-12 teachers acquire the skills they need to prepare students for a successful future. PBS TeacherLine provides online professional development through facilitated and standards-based courses, supportive and collaborative learning communities, and exemplary Internet-based resources.  PBS TeacherLine offers nearly 100 courses in mathematics, reading, instructional technology, instructional strategies, science, interdisciplinary, and curriculum mapping. Courses are facilitated by specially trained educators, combining the best of face-to-face professional development with the best of online instructional design.

WHRO is a public service media company that promotes education, culture and citizenship to the citizens of Hampton Roads, Virginia through a variety of telecommunications services.  Thousands of viewers and listeners tune in to broadcast programming on WHRO's public television and two public radio stations every day.  Since its founding 45 years ago to support education, WHRO has employed creativity and technology to serve its mission to enrich audiences through content that engages, educates, entertains and enlightens.  Owned by 14 local school divisions, WHRO delivers educational and new media services to 286,000 students and 25,000 educators.