OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The clock is ticking for area teachers wanting to win a chance to turn their classroom into a cutting edge learning environment. The deadline for educators to submit their intent to apply for Oak Ridge Associated Universities' Extreme Classroom Makeover is less than a month away, Sept. 7 2012. (see sidebar for full dates)

This year, the competition to win the $25,000 worth of the latest educational technologies, training, and/or support should prove even fiercer now that ORAU has opened it up to all 3rd through 10th grade teachers within a 50 mile radius.

Entries must come with written permission from school principals and teachers have to agree to have their classroom experience highlighted online and elsewhere in the media. A blog, Extreme Classroom (link below), will showcase the experiences of students, teachers, and even parents as their classroom is transformed.

After submitting their intent to apply, teachers will need to turn in a full application and a 3-4 minute video demonstrating how they would benefit from technology in their classrooms. Information about the full video application will be posted on the contest website following the Sept. 7, 2012 deadline.

The winner will be announced in late March or early April of next year.