(Concord, CA) - Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord), the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project and GenOn Energy, Inc. present a free one-day energy workshop for K-12 Educators on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 from 8:00am-3:30pm at the Salvation Army Center located at 3950 Clayton Road in Concord, California.

The NEED Project includes teacher-tested educational materials, evaluation techniques and tools, recognition of student achievement and professional development for educators. All NEED learning activities are aligned to California education standards.

Educators who participate in the workshop will receive a free NEED Science of Energy Kit to take back to their schools. The NEED Science of Energy Kit is designed to teach the concepts of force, motion, light, sound, heat, electricity, magnetism and energy transformations through hands-on activities. In addition, GenOn Energy and NEED reimburse school districts for the cost of a substitute teacher and for the teacher participating in the workshop.

"This is wonderful opportunity for our teachers to network and bounce ideas off each other while expanding their knowledge of the science and energy," said Assemblywoman Bonilla, a former teacher and education advocate in Sacramento who will join the educators for the workshop.

"We are honored to partner with GenOn throughout California to bring energy opportunities to local teachers and students. Thanks to the support of GenOn and Assemblywoman Bonilla, we are able to provide a valuable learning experience for over 40 local educators – bringing energy-focused science, math, and technology lessons to the classroom. In addition to providing reliable power to Californians, GenOn is committed to supporting educational initiatives in the communities where it operates like we are doing in Concord on October 19. The educators and students who benefit from this workshop will have a greater understanding of energy, where it comes from and how we can use it more wisely." - Mary Spruill, Executive Director, The NEED Project

"GenOn is proud to present this NEED seminar for educators in Contra Costa County. Participants in the seminar will spend a day interacting with their peers from neighboring schools as they learn new and innovative methods for teaching the concept of energy. Energy is an important part of our current national conversation making this a great learning opportunity for the educators and the students they influence. GenOn is happy to partner with Assemblymember Susan Bonilla in making this day possible." - John Chillemi, President, GenOn West, LP.

CONTACT: Luis Quinonez, 925-681-9310 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it