FSN Bay Area & Major League Baseball Announce Finalists for ALL-STAR TEACHER Award

Business Wire, May 18, 2007

FSN Bay Area to Donate $10,000 to the Winning Teacher's School; Winning Teacher Announced Saturday, July 7 at DHL All-Star FanFest at Moscone West Convention Center

Sharon Robinson, Daughter of Baseball Legend Jackie Robinson, to Present ALL-STAR TEACHER Award

SAN FRANCISCO -- FSN Bay Area and Major League Baseball today announced the five finalists for the ALL-STAR TEACHER award. The finalists were selected for their outstanding commitment to their students and the goal of helping students stay in school.

With the City of San Francisco set to host the 78th Major League Baseball All-Star Game in July, FSN Bay Area developed a program to celebrate its local "All-Star" teachers. The ALL-STAR TEACHER award was created to recognize middle and high school teachers in Northern California who go above and beyond to inspire their students and community. The winning ALL-STAR TEACHER will be awarded with $10,000 for his/her school.

The five finalists are Jim Coulson of Rancho Milpitas Middle School (Milpitas, CA); Mia Flores of Hillview Junior High School (Pittsburg, CA); Master Chief Pete Flores III of Soledad High School (Soledad, CA); Michael Meneses of Presidio Middle School (San Francisco, CA); and Janet Willford of San Ramon Valley High School (Danville, CA). Visit www.fsnbayarea.com for additional background on each teacher.

Members of the public can help select the winner from Friday, May 18 through Wednesday, July 4 by either voting on-line at www.fsnbayarea.com or by filling out an official ballot form in the San Francisco Chronicle (May 18, 20; June 10 editions). Sharon Robinson, daughter of baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, will announce the winning teacher live on stage on Saturday, July 7 at the 2007 DHL All-Star FanFest at the Moscone West Convention Center. The 2007 ALL-STAR TEACHER will be presented with a check for $10,000 for his/her school.

An esteemed panel of community leaders selected the finalists based on four categories: Overall Commitment; Excellence in Teaching; Rapport with Students; and Level of Distinction. The selection committee consists of Senator Don Perata, President Pro Tempore, California State Senate, and former Alameda County teacher; Rob Connelly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco; Derek Knell, Graphic Arts Manager, Strahm Communications, and Novato Unified School District Trustee; and Doug Bartlett, Senior Marketing Director, BART, and former Bay Area teacher.

The five finalists' biographies along with message boards, photo galleries and videos will be featured online at www.fsnbayarea.com starting Friday, May 18. Vignettes featuring each of the five finalists will air during the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics pregame shows from May 18 - July 4.

Last February, FSN Bay Area sent ALL-STAR TEACHER nomination forms to over 200 Northern California local and middle high schools. Nomination forms were received from parents, principals, students and other teachers throughout the Central Coast and Northern California region.

"FSN Bay Area and our partners for the ALL-STAR TEACHER Award would like to extend our sincere congratulations to all of the finalists," said Griggs. "Each teacher has gone above and beyond their call of duty to make a difference within their schools and communities. Their teachings and life lessons will certainly leave a life-long impression with their young students. We salute their efforts and wish them all the best."

"Major League Baseball joins our partners in congratulating the five finalists for the award," said Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President, Business, Major League Baseball. "These men and women exemplify the commitment, loyalty and service of teachers everywhere who help shape students' lives. We are looking forward to celebrating all five finalists and announcing the winner on Saturday, July 7 at DHL All-Star FanFest."

The ALL-STAR TEACHER award is sponsored by FSN Bay Area, Major League Baseball, KNBR 680 AM, and the San Francisco Chronicle.

The ALL STAR TEACHER award is the newest component of FSN Bay Area's annual STAY IN SCHOOL CHALLENGE. The STAY IN SCHOOL CHALLENGE is a community outreach program that rewards middle and high school students for perfect attendance over a ten-week period. Students in grades 6-12 in the Northern California/Northern Nevada region who maintain perfect attendance (no unexcused absences) can win 2007 DHL All-Star FanFest tickets and other prizes. Since 1996, the FSN Bay Area STAY IN SCHOOL CHALLENGE has given over 215,000 Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants tickets to students.

FSN Bay Area

FSN Bay Area reaches nearly 4 million households in Northern California and Northern Nevada. FSN Bay Area's programming includes Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants baseball, Golden State Warriors basketball, San Jose Sharks hockey, and San Jose SaberCats football, The Best Damn Sports Show Period, and The FSN Final Score. FSN Bay Area is owned and managed by Rainbow Sports Networks. Visit www.fsnbayarea.com for more information.