Classroom Connect Names Pat Harrigan As CEO

Classroom Connect, Inc. announced the appointment of Pat Harrigan as its president and CEO, effective immediately.

Harrigan comes to Classroom Connect directly from Harcourt School Publishers where he has more than 15 years of sales experience, most recently serving as the regional sales manager for their Southeast territories. Harrigan takes over the position from Judith Hamilton who served as the company’s president and CEO since 1999. Hamilton is leaving the company to pursue her personal interests in environmental and wildlife preservation issues. She has been a trustee for the Wildlife Conservation Society for a number of years and earlier this month was appointed to a six-year term at the National Parks Foundation.

“Pat’s phenomenal sales record and deep involvement with product development and marketing make him a natural fit for this critical leadership function,” said Anthony Lucki, president and CEO of Harcourt Education. “Pat’s experience gives him a unique perspective on this burgeoning industry, and as the use of technology within the K-12 education market increases, Pat will allow Classroom Connect to capitalize on new opportunities.”

“The opportunity to be at the helm of a solid education company such as Classroom Connect is a perfect step in my career within the education market,” said Harrigan. “I’m looking forward to using my knowledge of what educators find practical to guide Classroom Connect’s vision for the future. Classroom Connect is an awarding-winning leader in online educational services to the K-12 community, and it is my intention to strengthen that leadership.”

During his time at Harcourt Education, Harrigan experienced consistent success in educational sales, capturing a 98 percent market share in Florida Social Studies in 2001, and an 86 percent capture in Georgia Science this year. Harrigan will be located in San Francisco, CA.

About Classroom Connect

Classroom Connect, Inc., a business unit within Harcourt, Inc., is a leading provider of professional learning and classroom learning resources that foster successful use of the Internet in K-12 education. Headquartered in Brisbane, CA, with offices in El Segundo, CA, Minneapolis, MN, and Abilene, TX, Classroom Connect has more than 170 employees. Its primary product brands include: Connected University® (online professional development); Classroom Today™ (online classroom curriculum); The Quest Channel™ (online adventure learning expeditions); Connected Conferences™ (live, nationwide events); Connected Workshops™ (on-site seminars); and Classroom Connect Newsletter™ (monthly Internet education journal). Its partners include some of the nation’s most respected organizations, including the American Museum of Natural History, the Library of Congress, The Franklin Institute Online, and NASA. For more information about Classroom Connect, visit the company’s Web site at www.classroom.com.