The following has been derived from a Bellevue School District press release:

Sammamish High School has been named one of six Microsoft Mentor Schools in the United States for the 2013-2014 school year.

Recognized by computing giant Microsoft for its use of technology in the classroom, Sammamish High School will be able to use the Partners in Learning program to share its lessons, methods and other information resources with the company and other Mentor Schools.

“As a Mentor School, we hope to connect to other innovative schools around the world so we can learn about and adopt successful practices, especially around the use of technology in problem-based learning,” Principal Tom Duenwald said. “We are also excited about the opportunity for students to engage with learners across the globe and enhance their cultural understanding and global awareness.”

The federal Department of Education awarded Sammamish High a $4.1 million “Investing in Innovation” grant in 2010. The grant has been used to incorporate alterations to nearly 30 core curriculae courses to incorporate problem-based learning methods formulated by teacher-led teams, according to a press release from the Bellevue School District. The changes emphasize science, technology, engineering and math, commonly abbreviated in the education community as “STEM fields.”

There are 80 Microsoft Mentor Schools worldwide. Dr. Ginger Blackmon of the Anchorage School District in Alaska has been assigned as a development coach for Mentor Schools in the U.S.