Alexandria Education Foundation awards $25,000 in teacher innovation grants

The Alexandria Public Schools Education Foundation announced the 2012 Teacher Innovation Grant Awards. The foundation awarded a total of $25,000 in support of student-engaged projects that will enrich learning and encourage classroom innovation. Projects funded include:

• Flipped classroom at Jefferson High School (JHS), submitted by Tom Smith, JHS science teacher. Award: $9,000.

This grant will enable selected math and science classrooms to initiate a way to utilize face-to-face time with students. Students engage with direct instruction outside of class through online video and spend class time working through problems, advanced concepts and collaborative learning.

• Robotics program for high potential/gifted students (grades 4-6), submitted by Dave Harstad and Pam Pearson, gifted and talented coordinators. Award: $7,000.

Funding will purchase the LEGO Mindstorms robotics program, supporting hands-on delivery of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts to students.

• eBooks for all elementary, submitted by Kathy Johnson, Voyager media specialist. Award: $6,770.

Funding will enable all elementary students to access books 24/7 with various devices through the establishment of an electronic book library. The use of eBooks enhances the curriculum and can be used with computers, interactive whiteboards, and iPads.

• Click You Got It for Miltona Science Magnet Elementary (grades 3-6), submitted by Amy Revering, Miltona 5th grade teacher. Award: $1,600.

This grant will provide for collaboration between 3rd to 6th grade classes by evaluating and engaging students with SMART Response interactive systems. This gives teachers the ability to instantly assess student learning, increasing student engagement and improving learning outcomes.

• Seeds of change, Jefferson High and Discovery Middle schools, submitted by Caroline Petefish, family and consumer sciences teacher. Award: $630.

Grant dollars will provide for updating resources to comply with current food and nutrition information. In addition, money will provide for hands-on classroom labs and demonstrations to promote locally grown food and connections to good health and nutrition.

In March, District 206 teachers and administrators were invited to apply for grants for projects that enrich learning and encourage classroom innovation.

For the 2012-13 grant cycle, $25,000 was made available with $500 representing the minimum grant request and $10,000 the maximum. Grant dollars were made possible because of contributions from individuals and corporations to the Alexandria Education Foundation.

For information, contact Susan Scarborough, secretary-treasurer, Alexandria Public Schools Education Foundation, (320) 762-3310, ext. 4271.

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