Recognition highlights Teaching Strategies’ integrated approach to supporting educators, families, and young learners

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Leading early childhood education provider Teaching Strategies today announced it has received two 2026 CODiE Awards for its flagship curriculum and integrated platform of early learning solutions.

Teaching Strategies received the following honors:

Best PK/Early Childhood Learning Solution for The Creative Curriculum for PreschoolBest Suite of Connected/Integrated Solutions for SmartTeach, a first-of-its-kind platform that brings curriculum, assessment, professional learning, and family engagement together in one place.

The CODiE Awards recognize the most innovative products, platforms, and services across technology and education. Winners are selected through a rigorous evaluation process led by independent industry experts who assess each solution based on innovation, functionality, market impact, and overall value.

“Early childhood educators deserve tools that work together to make teaching more seamless—from planning instruction directly fueled by developmental assessment, to engaging families, to supporting professional growth and giving leaders actionable insights,” said Mike Derezin, CEO of Teaching Strategies. “We’re honored the CODiE Awards recognized both The Creative Curriculum and the SmartTeach platform that brings this connected experience to life.”

The Best PK/Early Childhood Learning Solution award recognizes The Creative Curriculum for Preschool®, Teaching Strategies’ evidence-based curriculum for 3- and 4-year-olds. Built around hands-on, investigative learning, the curriculum supports the whole child through intentional experiences in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and social-emotional development while providing educators with practical instructional resources and meaningful opportunities to engage families.

The Best Suite of Connected/Integrated Solutions award recognizes Teaching Strategies’ SmartTeach™ platform and accompanying mobile app, which brings together curriculum, assessment, family engagement tools, and professional learning all into one platform. The ecosystem of solutions is developmentally appropriate for children and seamless for educators.

“The 2026 CODiE Award winners represent some of the most innovative and impactful solutions in the industry,” said Jennifer Baranowski, president of the CODiE Awards. “These organizations are solving meaningful challenges, delivering measurable outcomes, and helping shape the future of technology.”

In addition to its two award wins, Teaching Strategies was named a finalist for Best Professional Learning Solution for Professional Development Teacher Membership Plus (PDTM Plus), which provides flexible learning opportunities, certification pathways, and a professional community serving more than 100,000 early childhood educators.

The recognition also comes as new research underscores the value of an integrated approach to early childhood education. A multiyear randomized controlled trial conducted by the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University found that when teachers used Teaching Strategies’ connected ecosystem of curriculum, assessment and both on-demand and live virtual professional learning, teacher retention rates increased by 59%. In turn, children in participating classrooms demonstrated stronger growth in all developmental domains as measured through GOLD®, the country’s most widely used early childhood assessment.

A complete list of 2026 CODiE Award winners is available at https://codieawards.com/winners.

About Teaching Strategies
Teaching Strategies® is the most widely used provider of early childhood curriculum, assessment, professional development, and family engagement solutions. Teaching Strategies has the only evidence-based early childhood comprehensive system of curriculum, assessment, professional development and family engagement. Its flagship products, The Creative Curriculum® and GOLD®, reach about 4.5 million children each year in more than 80 countries. A trusted partner and advocate for the early education community for 45 years, today Teaching Strategies connects teachers, children and families to inspired teaching and learning experiences, insightful data, stronger family partnerships, and robust professional learning through SmartTeach™, the leading early learning platform. Learn more at www.teachingstrategies.com.

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SOURCE Teaching Strategies

COLLEGE PARK, Md., July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is relaunching two cornerstone initiatives designed to strengthen regional blockchain innovation and expand access to high‑quality blockchain education: the UMD Blockchain Business Accelerator and the Blockchain Business Imperative, a six‑week executive education certificate program in a fully asynchronous format.

The relaunch coincides with the July 13-17, 2026 Maryland Blockchain Week, with Smith School Clinical Professor Tej Anand a featured speaker as part of the Maryland Blockchain Bootcamp at Capitol Technology University in Laurel, Maryland.

The Accelerator and Imperative course—along with the growing Blockchain@UMD club—anchor the Smith School’s expanding blockchain ecosystem, which supports entrepreneurs, business leaders, technologists and students seeking to build practical, responsible blockchain solutions.

Originally launched in 2022, the Blockchain Business Imperative equips learners with a foundational and applied understanding of blockchain technologies, including zero‑knowledge proofs, stablecoins, real‑world asset tokenization, and enterprise applications across finance, supply chains, healthcare, and AI‑enabled systems. The newly relaunched version is a self‑paced, asynchronous online program featuring recorded lectures, activities, and readings designed for working professionals. Participants typically spend 4–5 hours per week over six weeks and earn a UMD professional certificate.

Graduates of the Imperative course and entrepreneurs may apply to the UMD Blockchain Business Accelerator. This 60-day venture-building program helps founders develop prototypes, refine business models, and receive technical and entrepreneurial mentorship. Accelerator alumni have launched blockchain ventures and now return as mentors to support emerging entrepreneurs.

“I am excited to reinvigorate and relaunch the Blockchain Business Accelerator and the Blockchain Business Imperative,” says Anand, academic director of Smith’s MS in Information Systems & AI program as well as the Blockchain Business Imperative and Blockchain Business Accelerator. “Individuals from these programs have launched important businesses and are now paying it forward to mentor budding entrepreneurs. My presentation at the Maryland Blockchain Bootcamp reflected this same commitment by expanding financial and blockchain literacy among youth.”

Smith School Dean Prabhudev Konana says the relaunch reflects the school’s commitment to shaping the next era of digital transformation. “Blockchain is evolving with applications spanning financial services, supply chains, healthcare, digital identity, and beyond. This presents an important opportunity for the Smith School to lead accelerating adoption through democratic governance frameworks. We are also exploring the meaningful integration of Blockchain and AI.”

The Blockchain@UMD club further strengthens this ecosystem by offering students hands-on learning, project teams, industry engagement, and pathways into blockchain careers. Together, the Imperative course, Accelerator, and student club create a comprehensive pipeline for blockchain education, venture creation, and workforce development.

For more information, go to the  Blockchain Business Imperative Course Listing or write to the Smith School’s Executive Education office via rhsmith-execed@umd.edu.

About the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.

Contact: Greg Muraski, gmuraski@umd.edu

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SOURCE University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business

NEW YORK, July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (“BNY”) (NYSE: BNY), a global financial services company, today announced that it priced an underwritten public offering of 500,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of its Series N Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share), at a public offering price of $1,000 per depositary share ($500,000,000 aggregate public offering price). Dividends will accrue on the liquidation amount of $100,000 per share of the Series N preferred stock (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share) at a rate per annum equal to 6.150% from the original issue date to, but excluding, September 20, 2031; and from, and including, September 20, 2031, at the “five-year treasury rate” (as defined in the preliminary prospectus supplement) as of the most recent reset dividend determination date plus 1.868%. Dividends will be paid only when, as and if declared by the board of directors of BNY (or a duly authorized committee of the board) and to the extent that BNY has legally available funds to pay dividends. On September 20, 2031, or any dividend payment date thereafter, the Series N preferred stock may be redeemed at BNY’s option, in whole or in part, at a cash redemption price equal to $100,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends to but excluding the redemption date. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, UBS Securities LLC and BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC served as joint book-running managers for the offering. The offering is expected to close on July 23, 2026. 

BNY intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the depositary shares for general corporate purposes, as further described in the preliminary prospectus supplement.

BNY filed a shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) on October 18, 2024, as amended on December 5, 2024 (the “Registration Statement”), and a preliminary prospectus supplement on July 16, 2026, and will file a final prospectus supplement, relating to this offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Prospective investors should read the Registration Statement (including the base prospectus), the preliminary prospectus supplement, the final prospectus supplement (when filed) and other documents BNY has filed and will file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement for more complete information about BNY and the offering, including the risks associated with the securities and the offering. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy securities of BNY, nor shall there be any offer or sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The offering was made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus. Copies of the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus supplement, the final prospectus supplement (when filed) and other documents that BNY has filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement are available at no charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, a copy of the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relating to these securities can be obtained by contacting Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC at 1-866-471-2526, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 1-212-834-4533, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at 1-866-718-1649, RBC Capital Markets, LLC at 1-866-375-6829, UBS Securities LLC at 1-833-481-0269 or BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC at 1-800-269-6864.

About BNY
BNY is a global financial services platforms company at the heart of the world’s capital markets. For more than 240 years BNY has partnered alongside clients, using its expertise and platforms to help them operate more efficiently and accelerate growth. Today BNY serves over 90% of Fortune 100 companies and nearly all the top 100 banks globally. BNY supports governments in funding local projects and works with over 90% of the top 100 pension plans to safeguard investments for millions of individuals. As of June 30, 2026, BNY oversees $62.6 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $2.2 trillion in assets under management.

BNY is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BNY). Headquartered in New York City, BNY has been named among Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies and Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators. 

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements, which may be expressed in a variety of ways, including the use of future or present tense language, relate to, among other things, BNY’s expectations with respect to the offering and use of proceeds.  These statements are based upon current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond BNY’s control).  Actual outcomes may differ materially from those expressed or implied as a result of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the factors identified above and the risk factors and other uncertainties set forth in BNY’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and BNY’s other filings with the SEC.  All statements in this press release speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, and BNY undertakes no obligation to update any statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such forward-looking statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contacts:

Investors
Marius Merz
+1 212 298 1480
marius.merz@bny.com

Media
Anneliese Diedrichs
+1 646 468 6026
anneliese.diedrichs@bny.com

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SOURCE BNY