Bell Atlantic Selects 28 Teachers for Distance Learning Scholarship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 1996

SCHOLARSHIPS GO TO 28 TEACHERS WHO WILL
LEARN "ELECTRONIC CLASSROOM" TECHNIQUES AND

THEN TRAIN OTHER TEACHERS

280 Teachers from Bell Atlantic Territory
Will Learn New Instruction Methods

ARLINGTON, VA. - With more than 200 classrooms linked by
full motion
video systems and many more classrooms interconnected with dial-up
video and other linking technologies, teachers from New Jersey to West
Virginia are about to get help from their peers in how to teach using
distance learning technology.

Bell Atlantic has selected 28 "teacher teachers" for
scholarships to
attend a week-long training program in Baltimore next month, after
which each teacher will then train 10 more teachers in their home
states or districts.

The Bell Atlantic scholarship program has already sponsored attendance
by 140 primary, secondary, vocational and higher education teachers
from the Bell Atlantic region at a two-day seminar on how to use
distance learning technology most effectively. Customized instruction
is provided by the Teletraining Institute, the nation's largest
provider of training for distance educators.

"When teachers engage kids in classrooms via video cameras and TV
monitors, they need to change their classroom styles and modify their
activities somewhat so the teaching and learning works using
electronic media," said Tony Murray, president of Bell
Atlantic Large
Business Services, which works with schools to develop electronic
classroom systems.

"The Teletraining Institute two-day seminar has already given 140 of
our teachers new skills and confidence. The second wave of training
will come when the 28 teachers at our Summer Academy get back into
their home districts and deliver the seminar to their peers," he
said.

Scholarships to both programs were funded by a grant from the Bell
Atlantic Foundation, which concentrates its giving on pre-college
math, science and technology education and on innovative uses of
technology in education.

Bell Atlantic provides complete solutions for distance learning,
offering both comprehensive technology and support services to help
schools of all sizes offer superior education through advanced and
specialized courses suited to students needs. These include desk top
and room-based systems, multipoint bridging, self-directed learning
systems and interactive broadband education.

The 28 teachers attending the Summer Academy July 14-19 were chosen
from among hundreds who applied for scholarships. Of the 28, all
chosen based on their commitment to and understanding of distance
learning practices, 9 are from New Jersey, 2 from Pennsylvania, 4 from
Delaware, 8 from Maryland, 1 from the District of Columbia, and 4 from
Virginia. (See list attached).

"A well-trained corps of teachers and educational administrators is
critical to the effective use of these technologies," explained
Frank
Withrow, director of Learning Technology Programs for the Council of
Chief State School Officers. " This Bell Atlantic scholarship
program
will help create that corps of teachers capable of using technology to
achieve the highest academic standards."

The Teletraining Institute offers comprehensive programs in distance
education. It was founded on the premise that even the best
technology will not allow educators to achieve the full potential of
distance education unless those educators are appropriately trained to
adapt their styles and methods to the medium.

28 scholarship
winners

New Jersey

1. Patricia Anesetti, Univ. of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ
2. James Coletta, Sommerville HS
3. Doug Colter, Orange HS
4. Carl Czaplicki, Hudson County School of Technology
5. Suzanne D'Anna, Univ. of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ
6. Nancy Davis, Richard Stockton College of NJ
7. Robert Hillenbrand, Bergen ITV
8. Ray Nutkis, Morris County ITV Coordinator
9. Eugene Snook, Middelsex County

Maryland

1. Nilah Briscoe, Canton MS
2. Barbara Marder, Anne Arundel Comm. College
3. Paul Walsh, Baltimore County Public Schools
4. Joan Coble, Chesapeake College
5. Bryant Davis, Montgomery College
6. Richard Swaim, Univ. of Baltimore
7. Cindy Schuster, Univ. of Baltimore
8. Richard Siciliano, Charles County Comm. College

Virginia

1. John Brenner, Southwest Virginia Comm. College
2. Nancy Britton, Lee HS
3. Gary Bumgarner, Mountain Empire Comm. College
4. Lisa Shaver, J. Sargeant Reynolds Comm. College

Delaware

1. Susan White, Delcastle Technical HS
2. Kimberly Jo Yanacek, Caesar Rodney HS
3. Daniel Hall, Delaware Technical & Comm. College
4. Dene Klinzing, Univ. of Delaware

Pennsylvania

1. Katy Brungraber, AIU
2. Norton Gusky, Fox Chapel School District

District of Columbia

1. Bernard Carver, Howard Univ.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local
telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the
largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication
marketplace. Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and is actively developing
high-growth national and international business opportunities in all
phases of the industry.

####

Media contacts:

Jim Smith, 703 974-5446
bdj6vr3@baplaza.bell-atl.com

Liz Myers, 703 974-8817
elizabeth.l.myers@bell-atl.com