An Oscar-winner in our midst

As the national dialogue about education reform continues to heat up, Microsoft brought the conversation home by hosting a private screening of the film “Waiting for Superman” with Oscar-winning director Davis Guggenheim.

Mr. Guggenheim received a standing ovation from more than 100 Microsoft employees who got a sneak preview of the movie on September 29th, before it opened in theaters across the country on October 1.

Hear why Davis Guggenheim was inspired to bring his film to Microsoft and learn more about our commitment to education in this short video.

At Microsoft, we believe every child has a basic right to an excellent education and it’s crucial that students graduate with the right skills to be able to compete in a global marketplace.  Though the challenges of education are big, we are committed to helping teachers and improving education in the United States and around the world.

At the end of October, 500 of the world’s most innovative teachers and school leaders will gather at the 6th Annual Innovative Education Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.  This event is like a World Cup for the innovative teachers who bring Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills into the classroom to give their students the tools they need for success in the future.  The event is hosted by Microsoft Partners in Learning, the company’s 10-year, $500 million commitment to transform education systems around the world.

This is just one example of the work we do with teachers and students every day. We are excited to see education rise to the top of the national debate once again. Our hope is that millions of people will become more aware of the challenges schools face, take the time to learn about best practices and then take action to make a difference, be it in their own child’s education, in their local school, in their community or more.

Here’s how you can get involved:

Go see the film!
You can read more about my reaction to the movie here … http://bit.ly/aODW1b

Learn more about Microsoft’s efforts in education.

Learn more about the work Partners in Learning is doing to help educators and schools all over the world.

Watch a trailer for the documentary “Waiting for Superman.”

Use Bing’s new website Redu to find out how to get involved in education by volunteering, donating, or even teaching.

Enter your school in the Bing “Our Schools Need” contest to win the grand prize of $100,000 for your school

Posted by Anthony Salcito
Vice President World Wide Education

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