LAS VEGAS, Oct. 9, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- City National Bank and FOX5 today announced that they have awarded Shana Baker, a seventh grade teacher at Bob Bailey Middle School, with a $1,000 check as the winner of the "One Class at a Time" educational outreach program for the month of October. The bank and FOX5 introduced this new teacher recognition program earlier this year at the unveiling of the City National Bank brand in Nevada. (For an image related to this story, go to http://www.cnb.com/images/photos/release-10092007.jpg.)
Baker was among dozens of teachers in the Clark County School District who were nominated by fellow educators, students and parents for this prestigious award during the month of September. Teachers from elementary, middle and high schools throughout the district are eligible for this monthly award. Since the program was launched in June of this year, three elementary and one middle school teacher have received awards. A high school teacher is slated to receive the award for the month of November.
The "One Class at a Time" program was developed by FOX5 and co-sponsored by City National as a way to recognize teachers who go above and beyond their regular teaching responsibilities. Each month a selection committee reviews applications that are submitted online at www.fox5vegas.com or accessed through any City National Bank branch.
"When it comes to teachers who make a lasting impact on their students, Ms. Baker is one of those educators," said John Guedry, executive vice president and Nevada region manager of City National Bank. "It was a unanimous choice among members of the nominating committee that Ms. Baker should receive this award. Her love of teaching and children, along with her appreciation for science, are all very evident when you visit her classroom."
Baker's selection was based on a number of factors and criteria that set her apart from other teachers, including her grant writing skills to help fund field trips to Frenchman Mountain where her students learn first hand about geology and ecology of the area. This site also received a "Take Pride in America" award as part of Ms. Baker's and her student's commitment to keeping it clean as an ongoing science project. She regularly hosts science training days for fellow teachers and students, as well as Family Science Nights for the parents and families of her students. She also teaches her students how to use an "interactive notebook" to help them take notes on their class field trips.
"The 'One Class at a Time' program has gained a lot of attention and recognition since it was launched last summer," said Holly Steuart, vice president and general manager of FOX5 Television. "We couldn't be more pleased to be partnered with City National Bank in recognizing teachers, such as Ms. Baker, for their exceptional teaching skills. Ms. Baker truly exemplifies what the 'One Class at a Time' program is all about."
The "One Class at a Time" teacher recognition awards air each month on FOX5 News the first Thursday of the month at 10:00 p.m., and again the following Friday morning on FOX5 Morning News. These stories can also be seen on FOX5's website shortly after they are highlighted on the news.
City National and FOX5 will pay tribute to the first 12 teachers who have won this prestigious award over the course of the school year at a recognition luncheon held in their honor next May. Additional awards will be presented to each teacher at this recognition event. City National's "Reading is The Way Up(r)" literacy program mascot "Blue" will also be featured at this function. Since 2002, when this child literacy program was initially lunched in California, City National has donated over $2 million in support of education and more than 25,000 books to school libraries in California and Nevada. For more information about this award-winning educational program, go to www.readingisthewayup.org.
About City National
City National Bank is the wholly-owned subsidiary of City National Corporation (NYSE:CYN). It is backed by $15.8 billion in assets and provides banking, investment and trust services through 62 offices, including 15 full-service regional centers, in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada and New York City. The company and its nine majority-owned investment affiliates manage or administer more than $57 billion in client investment assets, including $35.9 billion under direct management.
City National has eight branch offices in Nevada, including four in Las Vegas and one each in North Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City and Minden. The bank also has loan production offices in Reno and Stateline in South Lake Tahoe.
For more information about City National, visit the company's website at www.cnb.com.
The City National Bank logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3143