New editorial resource expands HotChalk experience with professional development community

Campbell, Calif. — July 15, 2008  -- HotChalk, the first online education resource to connect teachers, students and parents, today announced the addition of MyDesk, a K-12 education resource featuring news articles, product updates, tips, and blogs for educators, administrators and technology coordinators. This expansion to the HotChalk experience provides practical resources and best practices from education experts and is now a critical element of the HotChalk Learning Management System. 

Susan McLester joined HotChalk as Editor-in-Chief for MyDesk. McLester has an acute understanding of the editorial and informational needs of today’s education professional, with more than 15 years’ experience in education technology journalism, including Editor-in-Chief of Technology & Learning and School CIO Magazine. She was also a High School and Middle School teacher for over a dozen years. 

McLester stated, “As a driving force in sustaining high quality professional development, MyDesk aims to help teachers do what they do best: Educate. It is a community for teachers: a repository of practical resources and best practices, and a place for colleagues to connect to debate key issues and share expertise.” 

Edward Fields said, “Susan is a trusted K-12 education leader whose knowledge, experience and vision for the role of technology in education will help us deliver on the promise of improving teachers lives to drive measurable student results. Susan is a tremendous addition to the HotChalk team and our community and I’m delighted to announce her decision to join us.”

The MyDesk editorial team also includes a number of notable educators including:

• Douglas Brooks, grants expert and Teacher Education Professor at Miami University of Ohio;
• Terry Freedman, U.K. education consultant and publisher of the ICT in Education Web site and newsletter Computers in Classrooms;
• Paula D. Knight, urban education guru and Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction for the St. Louis Public School System;
• Pamela Livingston, One-to-One Learning Specialist, bestselling author and former Head of Technology at the Peck School in Morristown, NJ;
• Scott McLeod, education visionary and Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education;
• Lane B. Mills, Ph.D., nationally-recognized administrator and Associate Professor in Educational Leadership at East Carolina University;
• Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, writer and noted digital education community builder;
• Cathleen Richardson, award-winning e-learning training specialist;
• Sheila Riley, freelance journalist for online publishers and ESL curriculum developer;
• Kathy Schrock, Administrator for Technology in the Nauset Public Schools, and creator of Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators;
• Bob Sprankle, PBS Teachers Advisory Group leader and Technology Integration Specialist;
• Harry Tuttle, former President of ISTE's Tech Coordinators and New York State Association for Computers and Technology in Education;
• Esther Wojcicki, technology advocate and creator of Palo Alto (CA) High School’s  award-winning HS journalism program.

For more information, log on to HotChalk.com.

About HotChalk

Founded in 2004, HotChalk is focused on improving the lives of teachers to drive measurable student results. The HotChalk Learning Management System is the first to deliver free Web-based classroom tools and premium content in partnership with NBC News, McGraw-Hill Education, National Geographic Digital Media, A&E Television Networks and PBS. This provides educators, schools and districts with 21st century tools to produce 21st century skills in students. HotChalk delivers state-aligned content, curriculum management, online professional development and a K-12 education news and community portal to more than 400,000 registered teachers worldwide. To learn more, visit HotChalk.com.