Teacher’s idea lands school $50,000

Christine Carrillo

Inspiration struck Lanie McGann and led her to a $50,000 goldmine.

The Newport Coast Elementary second-grade teacher, who had taken

it upon herself to make some money for the school, received an

oversized $50,000 check Thursday during a conference in Orlando, Fla.

McGann, who also acts as a technology teacher at the school,

entered the NEC Corporation Idol Contest in the hopes of getting more

money for the school’s technology programs.

“We’re always looking to get technology into the classroom,” she

said last month after finding out that her video had made it to the

finals. “I believe it increases students’ motivation and

participation in their own learning and it increases the students’

interest in the content. It also provides multiple ways for students

to demonstrate what they’ve learned.”

In May, she submitted a video demonstrating the easy use of the

new VT Series projector, and it was selected as one of the top five

finalists. After receiving the most votes from an online ballot and a

panel of judges, the company chose her video.

“We’re thrilled, absolutely thrilled, and so very proud of Lanie

and her students for the exceptional job they did in terms of

producing this video tape,” said Susan Despenas, assistant

superintendent of elementary education for the Newport-Mesa Unified

School District.

McGann figured that the easiest way to show how easy it is to use

the projector would be to put it in the hands of a child. She put her

faith in the showmanship of first-grader Ryan Cargile, who wore a

pair of slacks and a tie to evoke an air of professionalism, and had

him demonstrate the easy use of the projector to an audience of his

peers.

“We are just so proud of him and everything he has accomplished

with this video,” said Angela Cargile, mother of 6-year-old Ryan.

“It’s just so exciting for all of us. When I saw the finished product

I thought it was cute ... but who would’ve ever thought we would win

this thing.”

Now, the challenge is deciding where the $50,000 prize will go.

“We can spend that money quite easily,” said Monique Van-Zeebroek,

principal at Newport Coast. “It’s all going to be focused on

technology ... to bolster our classroom computers, add a couple more

smart boards. It will go fairly quickly.”

While the money will help the school upgrade its technology, the

school’s participation in the contest gave it much more than dollars.

Newport Coast reached out to the community for support and encouraged

it to get online and vote. The community responded.

“Our community, here just at Newport Coast, was great, but even in

our district, and all the other schools voted,” Van-Zeebroek said.

“It’s more than just our community. The community at large -- when

they saw something great happening, they just all pitched in and

that’s a nice feeling.”

McGann is still in Florida and will return to the school on

Monday.