Web-based Teacher Recruitment Campaign Launches

Washington, DC (December 7, 2004) — The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (American Board) has initiated its national teacher recruitment effort by utilizing digital advertising on the websites of Careerbuilder.com and Military.com. A web-based model of Passport to Teaching ^SM candidates appears,targeting those seeking a new career in teaching and informing them of the American Board alternative.

“We are excited about our new web-based recruitment efforts,” said Dr. Kathleen Madigan, president of the American Board. “There are many untapped resources that can produce quality educators. By appealing to midcareer changers and former military personnel, the American Board opens doors to those individuals that can help schools across the country fill critical need subject areas with dedicated, qualified and disciplined teachers. The previous life and job experiences of these people can significantly enhance students’ education and future goals.   Begun this past month, the campaign targets highly skilled and educated professionals who are seeking a new career in teaching. The typical American Board candidate is approximately 40 years old, holds a bachelor’s degree or higher and desires a teaching career.

“We know that many successful professionals want to teach but can’t afford the time and expense of returning to a four-year college program and repeating classes they have already taken. The American Board offers a program that gives credit for existing degrees and life experience, requiring that individuals possess teaching skills and subject area expertise in order to earn a teaching certificate,” said Dr. Randy Thompson, vice president of marketing and business development for the American Board. “Our message is aimed at the career fields of engineering, accounting, corporate business administration, marketing and military.”

Targeting mid-career changers, recent college graduates and teachers seeking full certification, the American Board’s Passport to Teaching SM offers an alternative route for qualified individuals to join the teaching field. Candidates must complete a standards-based process that includes a self-assessment followed by development and completion of an individualized learning plan with an advisor. The process culminates with the successful completion of two examinations, one dealing with the prospective teacher’s knowledge of his or her subject area and the other probing knowledge of professional teaching. Teachers earning American Board certification will be able to transfer their credentials easily among the states that adopt the American Board. To date, Florida, Idaho, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Utah have approved the program.

About the American Board

The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence is a non-profit organization that addresses the need to place a highly qualified teacher in every classroom. Through assessments of rigorous standards in professional teaching and subject area knowledge, the American Board offers a new approach to certification that helps states identify qualified individuals with the knowledge to positively impact student academic achievement.

The American Board has received bipartisan support. It is specifically referenced as an innovative non-traditional certification process in Meeting the Highly Qualified Teachers Challenge: The Secretary’s Second Annual Report on Teacher Quality (2003) and as a promising initiative for addressing the teacher quality challenge in the Secretary’s third annual report (2004). Additionally, the 2004 Teaching Commission report Teaching at Risk: A Call to Action cites the American Board as a promising model to promote high quality skills and preparation, and the Progressive Policy Institute cites the American Board as a high quality innovative alternative route to certification that fits its “Tear Down the Walls” approach needed to reform current certification programs.

About CareerBuilder.com

Founded in 1995, CareerBuilder is a leading online source for maximizing recruitment dollars and optimizing job searches with superior products, customer service and technology. With a unique combination of national, local and niche audiences, CareerBuilder.com makes it easy for recruiters to reach the most qualified candidates with industry-leading market research data and support. Job seekers can search for the right job from more than 500,000 continuously updated postings, representing more than 30,000 of the top employers in virtually every industry, field and location. Together with Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), Tribute Company (NYSE:TRB) and Knight Ridder, Inc. (NYSE:KRI), CareerBuilder.com includes the Web’s top newspaper sites “the most trusted employment sources in recruiting.”

For more information about CareerBuilder.com products and services, call 888-670-TEAM or visit www.careerbuilder.com.

About Military.com

Founded in 1999, Military Advantage, Inc. owns and operates Military.com, the largest online military destination, serving 4 million members, including active duty personnel, reservists, guard members, retirees, veterans, family members, defense workers and those considering military careers. Military.com enables the 30 million Americans with military affinity to access their benefits, advance their careers, enjoy military discounts, and stay connected for life. Military Advantage develops efficient affinity marketing and communications programs for government agencies and companies serving this market. Military Advantage is a subsidiary of Monster Worldwide, Inc.

More information on the company is available at www.military.com.