With the frost on the pumpkin and many of us already starting to talk about our plans for the winter holidays, the 2007-2008 school year is well underway. As members of the Inspired Learning Community, you are all investing time using visual learning instructional strategies with your students, and I wanted to remind you of an opportunity to gain recognition for your creative teaching.

Once again in 2008, we will be sponsoring the Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning. But this time, in celebration of our company’s silver anniversary, we are taking the awards program up a notch and will recognize 25 educators who are creatively using visual learning to help their students think and learn with $1,000 awards to support either professional development or new technology for their classrooms.

Eight awards will be given for “Best Projects using Inspiration,” eight will be awarded for “Best Projects using Kidspiration,” and eight scholarships will recognize “Best Projects using InspireData.” And we will also recognize one outstanding educator with a special award for “Best Overall Visual Learning Project.” This talented teacher will receive a total award of $2,000—a $1,000 scholarship to support professional development or a technology purchase, plus a bonus $500 for the classroom and a $500 personal award.

This is the tenth year that we will be awarding these scholarships. Past winners have come from all around the world and taught every subject at every grade level. In fact, one of my favorite times of the year is when we review the scholarship applications. They are so inspiring! I get to learn first-hand how you are using our visual learning software tools to teach students of all ages across the curriculum. And I learn more about your plans for professional development and expanding how visual learning is used in your school or district.

The deadline for applications is Jan. 25, 2008 and the winners will be announced in late February. You can find all of the details and the application form on our Web site at www.inspiration.com/scholarship.

I look forward to reading your application for the 2007-2008 Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning and learning more about how you use visual learning with your students. What a great way to celebrate Inspiration Software’s 25th anniversary together!