The Sojourner Elementary School in Milwaukie, Oregon , has been selected as the Star Innovator among the six winners of the Intel Schools of Distinction program . The award was announced at a gala in Washington, D.C., on September 9. Each of the six winning schools, all of whom were honored at the event, receive a $10,000 cash grant from the Intel Foundation and an award package that includes curriculum materials, professional development resources, hardware and software valued at more than $160,000. As Star Innovator, Sojourner receives additional cash, products and services, including a $15,000 grant from the Intel Foundation.

Sojourner, a magnet school that serves 170 students in grades K-6, earned Star Innovator status for its innovative and rigorous mathematics program. Mathematics achievement at Sojourner has steadily improved over the past four years, with more than 90 percent of Sojourner students meeting or exceeding state math standards for their grade level.

The winning school utilizes a ''team teaching'' approach, with at least one teacher at each grade level completing additional coursework and professional development in mathematics. Math is not taught in isolation but as part of a broad core curriculum that integrates math, music, reading, writing, art, Spanish and physical education, and emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving and student leadership.

Technology plays an important supportive role. Sojourner is a wireless school in which every teacher has a laptop and students have ready access to a laptop lab. Blogs and music composition are two examples of the way in which technology allows students to explore mathematical concepts. All families have math manipulative 'kits' at home so that students can continue to develop ideas at the conceptual level. Families also have access to the district website, where the online Student Learning Center provides valuable resources for practice activities at a variety of levels.

* Learn more about the Star Innovator school.

* Read more about all of the 2008 winners and finalists .

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