Des Plaines, IL (June 1, 2014) -- The Board of Directors of the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) is pleased to announce that they have  joined forces with Esri to recruit Certified GIS Professionals (GISPs) to serve as GeoMentors, who will work with local schools to help them set up and learn to use their ArcGIS Online accounts.

One of the priorities identified in President Obama's ConnectED Initiative is the support of teachers to advance digital learning. With Esri's recently announced commitment to donate ArcGIS Online accounts to every public and private K-12 school in the United States, GISPs are needed to help local teachers learn the foundational science.

GISCI is the leading certification body for the GIS profession. Over 5,500 GISPs have demonstrated the requisite education, experience, contributions to the profession, and commitment to competent and ethical practice since the certification institute was founded in 2004.

GISCI is urging current and aspiring GISPs to volunteer as ConnectED GeoMentors. Through this volunteer project, they will earn points toward initial GISP certification or renewal. GISP GeoMentors will be required to help set up ArcGIS Online accounts at local schools and tutor teachers on ArcGIS Online use and administration. Esri will provide training and other educational resources to prepare GeoMentors for their work with local schools.

Esri established the GeoMentor program in collaboration with the National Geographic Society in 2009. For more information, visit www.geomentor.org.

About GISCI

The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) provides the geographic information systems (GIS) community with a complete certification program. GISCI offers participants from the first years on the job until retirement a positive method of developing value for professionals and employers in the GIS profession.

The organization is now developing an exam component for the GISP Certification to be implemented in early 2015.



Contact:

Bill Hodge GISP
Executive Director
GIS Certification Institute
847 824-6363     
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