Southern Middle School received a $1,000 Teach Award from Best Buy Co. Inc. for integrating interactive technology into its classroom curriculum. The award is part of a nationwide program sponsored by Best Buy that will give $2 million to schools in 2009.

Deborah Carter, the AIG teacher at Southern Middle, applied for this award to use with all three grade levels of gifted students. The application cited how interactive technology enhances the advanced classroom experience.

"This is another example of the outstanding support we receive from our community. Best Buy is a strong supporter of the technology programs at Southern Middle School," said Mike Metcalf, principal.

This year Best Buy Teach Awards, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, have been given to more than 460 schools to sustain or enhance existing educational programs.

"Teachers are finding creative ways to engage students by using hands-on technology. We want to support their efforts by helping them enhance or expand these programs," says Paula Prahl, senior vice president for public affairs, communications and corporate responsibility at Best Buy. "We know that schools are the cornerstones of the communities where our employees, customers and their families live and work."

Since 2003, the Best Buy Teach Awards Program has rewarded schools that creatively integrate interactive technology into their curricula. Over the past five years nearly 6,000 schools nationwide have received $17 million in Teach Awards, reaching 1.5 million K-12 students. All accredited, public and private, nonprofit elementary, middle and secondary schools are eligible.