2018-2018 Teacher Innovation Grant Recipients

2018-2018 Teacher Innovation Grant Recipients
Posted on 06/01/2018

The Allentown School District Foundation is pleased to announce the newest cohort of Teacher Innovation Grant recipients. A reception will take place on Monday, June 4 from 3:30-5:30 pm at the ASD Admin Center Board Room located at 31 S. Penn Street. The reception is sponsored by Muhlenberg College Wescoe School of Continuing Education. 

These ideas are developed by ASD educators to bring Allentown students added, enriched learning experiences, as follows:

TIG Recipients
 

Selected by the ASDF Allocations Committee on November 6, 2017, the Teacher Innovation Grants were approved and are being announced to ASD educators after the Thanksgiving break. Highlights from this year: 

  • 51 applications were received.
  • The ASDF Allocations Committee, upon review, recommended funding for 17 (33 percent) of the projects, in full, for a total of $18,425.
  • Twelve ASD schools are represented in this cohort.
  • Subject areas reflect this variety: 9 STEM, 4 literacy, 2 life skills, 1 civic education and 1 music education.

The Teacher Innovation Program was founded in 2010 with a small grant. Since that time, more than $98,000 has been granted to 103 teachers. TIG is pegged to be a high-growth program, with a goal to fund 10 percent of the teacher corps, or to reach about 140 – 150 ASD educators with grant support every year.  Sponsors of this motivational program this year include The Donley Foundation and The Sugra Foundation. A new “Teacher Tribute” program has been launched internally and to the City’s corporate community as a fundraiser for the TIG programs. Restricted gifts are always welcome to help fund this program.

“We are pleased to note that so many Allentown teachers are devoted to their work,” says Dr. Dennis Blankowitsch, Co-Chair of the ASDF TIG Committee. “The quality of proposals is rich with commitment to make a difference in the lives of ASD students and they are immensely creative.”

“We extend our gratitude not only to the TIG Committee for its dedication and diligence, but to our sponsors and all ASD educators who submitted TIG proposals,” added Jane Marks, Co-Chair. “These innovative plans will create a spark that ignites a life-long love of learning and impact not just minds, but hearts as well.”

The grant ceiling this year was $1,200 per proposal. Project funding to recipients will be released by the winter break in December 2017.  Part of the innovation grant process includes an evaluation component, which happens at school year-end.

 

About Allentown School District Foundation

With a vision for enriched education for Allentown School District students, the ASD Foundation mission is to encourage, promote and support innovative educational experiences for students in the Allentown School District. If you would like to learn more, please contact the foundation at 484-765-4093 or [email protected]. The mailing address is P.O. Box 328, 31 South Penn Street, Allentown PA 18105. www.allentownsd.org/asdf.

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