News - KEH Communications

KidWind Receives $180,000 Grant from Google to Support Clean Energy Education Initiative

Grant supports KidWind’s virtual training and the KidWind Challenge, a hands-on competition where student teams design small-scale energy projects

(SAINT PAUL, Minn.) January 15, 2026 – Google has awarded KidWind a $180,000 grant to support KidWind’s flagship program, the KidWind Challenge, and to providevirtual training for educators. The grant will ensure KidWind can continue to provide support to the hundreds of participating teachers and coaches of student teams as they implement the KidWind curriculum in their classrooms and participate in local and regional KidWind Challenges, culminating in the 2026 World KidWind Challenge in May, 2026.

Internationally Recognized Curiosity Expert Scott Shigeoka to Keynote 2026 PBL World in Napa Valley

PBLWorks’ 15^th professional development conference for Project Based Learning centers on the theme “When Curiosity Leads, Learning Lasts”

San Rafael, CA (January 12, 2026) – 2026 PBL World conference attendees are in for a treat with Scott Shigeoka, an acclaimed author, TED speaker, and internationally recognized curiosity expert, as this year’s keynote speaker. The conference will take place June 16-18, 2026 at the American Canyon High School, part of the Napa Valley Unified School District in California.

PBLWorks Unveils new TEACH™ Project Units for High School and Elementary School at FETC 2026

New lessons provide ready-to-use Gold Standard PBL Projects

San Rafael, CA (January 12, 2026) – PBLWorks has added new Gold Standard Project Based Learning (PBL) units for high school and elementary school grades to its award-winning TEACH™ web-based curriculum platform. The expansion follows the announcement of middle school lessons in 2025, meaning teachers can now access ready-to-use PBL units with embedded teacher guidance and professional learning across all grades, K-12.

Teq Becomes Exclusive Distributor of ClassVR in New York

The partnership will help expand use of Avantis’ award-winning ClassVR headsets and content library in schools throughout the state

Chicago, Illinois & Huntington Station, New York (January 5, 2026) — Teq, a New York-based distributor of education technology and Avantis Education, a global leader in virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technology for schools, have entered into a partnership that makes Teq the exclusive distributor of Avantis’ award-winning ClassVR headsets and VR/AR content in the state of New York.

The University of Mount Olive (UMO) Partners with iCEV for College Credit Initiative

High school students earn credits by completing the Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation & Management Certification through UMO and passing the exam hosted on the iCEV Testing Platform

Lubbock, TX – December 17, 2025 – iCEV, a trailblazer in Career & Technical Education (CTE) solutions, is partnering with the University of Mount Olive (UMO) in North Carolina to offer a college credit opportunity for students interested in conservation. Starting in January 2026, high school students can earn three hours of college credit by taking the Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation and Management Certification course through UMO and passing the certification exam, which is hosted on the iCEV Testing Platform.

iCEV Emphasizes Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Nashville and Throughout the Country at ACTE’s National Conference

iCEV, a national trailblazer in providing CTE solutions for students and educators, is a featured exhibitor (booth 414) at the ACTE CareerTech Vision conference December 9-12, 2025 in Nashville

Lubbock, TX – December 8, 2025 – Tennessee is well-known for its commitment to Career and Technical Education (CTE) with more than 200,000 high school students and 37,000 post-secondary students participating in CTE programs throughout the state. iCEV celebrates Career and Technical Education throughout the country and will introduce its Nashville Needs CTE initiative at the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE)’s CareerTech VISION 2025 Conference being held December 9-12, 2025 in Nashville. iCEV will highlight the importance of CTE in preparing students for careers in high-demand industries and why states across the country – including Tennessee – need to continue to prioritize CTE programming.

New PBLWorks and ASCD Book Supports Education Leaders in Creating Conditions for Gold Standard PBL to Thrive

“Project Based Learning for All: A Leader's Guide” is co-authored by PBLWorks CEO Bob Lenz and Managing Director of Digital Curriculum Dr. Lisa Mireles

San Rafael, CA (December 4, 2025) – Project Based Learning (PBL) is a powerful educational approach that promotes deeper learning and benefits all students, especially those who often experience systemic and institutional barriers. To guide education leaders in creating environments where Gold Standard PBL thrives in their schools and districts, two of the nation’s leading PBL experts, Bob Lenz, CEO of PBLWorks, and Dr. Lisa Mireles, PBLWorks’ Managing Director of Digital Curriculum, co-authored a new book, “Project Based Learning for All: A Leader's Guide.”

ClassVR from Avantis Education Wins a 2025 CODiE Award

ClassVR takes top honors in the “Best Immersive Learning Solution or Best XR/VR/MR Solution” category

Chicago, (December 3, 2025) — ClassVR from Avantis Education, a global leader in virtual and augmented reality technology for K-12 schools, was named a winner in the 2025 CODiE Awards. The win marks the third U.S. award for the company in 2025.

ClassVR Partners with Hello World CS to Bring Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences to More School Districts Nationwide

Hello World CS customers to receive ClassVR headsets to help bring their projects to life

Chicago, (December 2, 2025) — Avantis Education, a global leader in virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR) technology for K-12 schools, has partnered with Texas-based Hello World CS to expand access to immersive learning experiences for Hello World’s students nationwide.

PBLWorks to Host PBL Institute Nevada for Educators and Leaders Getting Started with Project Based Learning

The event takes place February 19-20, 2026 at The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain

Novato, CA (November 24, 2025) – The Buck Institute for Education (dba PBLWorks), a national provider of curriculum and professional development for high-quality Project Based Learning (PBL), will host its first PBL Institute of 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The PBL Institute Nevada will take place February 19-20, 2026 at The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain, an independent school committed to Project Based Learning in the city’s Summerlin community.