Pioneering Connected Educators to Co-Host 3rd Cross-Discipline Education Honors and 3iTalks

LOS ANGELES, May 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences announced that Kristen Swanson and Eric Sheninger will co-host the third annual Bammy Awards honoring the contributions of educators in 24 categories across the field. Swanson is co-founder and executive board member of the Edcamp Foundation and Sheninger is a nationally recognized, transformative principal at New Milford High School in New Jersey. Both are globally acknowledged pioneers and leaders in the connected educator movement that is driving a revolution in education around the world.

Swanson and Sheninger will be the first to host the education awards under the new 3iTalks format, which borrows a page from TED Talks and invites fascinating people from across the education community to create the most inspiring three- to-four-minute talk of their lives.

The best 3iTalks will be presented live at the 2014 Bammy Awards, a gathering of some of the nation's most prominent and influential educators, and seen by thousands of educators worldwide watching the live stream. The Bammy 3iTalks were created as part of the new Bammy Awards 3.i format intended to ensure that every person who attends the Bammy Awards walks away uplifted and inspired.

"We are very excited about the 2014 Bammy Awards. Kristen and Eric are two of the most dynamic and engaging educators in the field.  As co-hosts they will bring a special energy to the new inspirational format," said Errol St. Clair Smith, executive producer. "Whether an attendee receives a Bammy Award or not, the camaraderie, celebration, inspiration and opportunity to spend an uplifting evening with some of the nation's most fascinating educators will make this year's Bammy Awards an extraordinary event."

Modeled on the broad scope of the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys, the Bammy Awards were created to be a cross-discipline honor celebrating the entire education village. This year's celebration will include awards to Dr. Timothy P. Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics; education thought leader Sir Ken Robinson; and pioneers of the flipped classroom movement, Jon Bergmann and Aaron Sams; and the inspiring inner-city teacher Rafe Esquith.

About the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences

The Academy is comprised of over 280 prominent education leaders, including Linda Darling-Hammond, professor of education at Stanford University; Diane Ravitch, former Assistant Secretary of Education; Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association; PBS Reporter John Merrow; Gary Knell, President of the National Geographic Society;  Brian Lewis, chief executive officer of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE); Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers; and thought leaders Daniel Pink and Tom De Boor.

This year's event is made possible by support from Microsoft, Gojo/Purell, School Health, Excelligence Learning Corporation and Teachers College among others. For more go to: www.bammyawards.org or call Jeannette Bernstein at 818-539-5971.

SOURCE Academy of Education Arts and Sciences