Principal of Mississippi School Ravaged by Hurricane Katrina to Present the ``Lone Standing Flag'' to Phoenix Volunteers

Business Wire, Jan 13, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When the winds of Hurricane Katrina died down in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, a lone, but powerful symbol remained standing, tall and high above the destruction that was now the panoramic view as far as the eye could see.

It was a flag -- the United States flag that had flown outside Bay St. Louis Elementary School. Although that and every school in the surrounding area was either destroyed or damaged beyond repair, the essential mission of public education carried on in Bay St. Louis, thanks in no small part to a group of Phoenix residents who work for Scottsdale-based Pearson Digital Learning.

This Tues., Jan. 17 Sandra Reed, principal of Bay St. Louis Elementary School, will be in Phoenix to present that very flag to Pearson Digital employees as a gesture of appreciation for the unwavering support given in financial aid, education materials, supplies, time, and talent. As part of her presentation, Ms. Reed will show a video of the "tent schools," the Pearson Digital Learning eBus -- a customize school bus outfitted with computers and digital curriculum, and books for the children to take back with them to their shelters or temporary homes -- and PDL employees in action amid the clean up.

Your viewers/readers will be particularly moved by this story, by hearing how their fellow citizens spent weeks at a time "in the trenches" to help provide school children at least a semblance of routine and normalcy. Video and photos are available to round out your story. Interviews with Principal Reed, PDL president Bob Roliardi, and the many PDL employees who put their own lives on hold to help, can be arranged as well.

WHAT:          Flag presentation from school ravaged by Hurricane
               Katrina to employees of Pearson Digital Learning as
               "thank you" for unprecedented volunteerism following
               disaster.

WHEN/WHERE:    Tuesday, January 17, 6:00 PM
               Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, 2400 East Missouri
               Avenue, Phoenix

WHO:           Sandra Reed, principal of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
               Elementary School; Robert Roliardi, president of
               Pearson Digital Learning; and Pearson Digital Learning
               employees

VISUALS:       Photographers and cameramen will have access to Pearson
               Digital Learning executives and employees who
               volunteered their time following the devastation of in
               Hurricane Katrina along with Sandra Reed, principal Bay
               St. Louis, MS elementary school who was recipient of
               time and talents of PDL employees