Schools

Teacher's Fund Increasing Grant Awards

The Mt. Airy Teacher's Fund is seeking grant applications from Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill public school teachers at AB Day, Emlen, Henry, Houston, Lingelbach, McCloskey, Parkway NW and Jenks Schools.

The following was provided to Patch:

To meet increased demand from local public school teachers, the Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill Teacher’s Fund announced that it will be giving out more grants than ever in 2014.  This year, for the first time, the Fund will be overseen by former Masterman School teacher and Mt. Airy resident Amy Cohen.

Once again, the Mt. Airy Teacher’s Fund is seeking grant applications from Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill public school teachers at AB Day, Emlen, Henry, Houston, Lingelbach, McCloskey, Parkway NW and Jenks Schools.  Last year, the Teacher’s Fund awarded more than $17,000 in grants to nearly 50 public school teachers.  Grant awards ranged in size from $50 to $500 each and were judged based on educational opportunities provided by the teachers.

The Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill Teacher’s Fund, administered by Trolley Car Diner staff, has provided more than $45,000 in grants to over 100 public school teachers in Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill’s eight public schools over the past six years. The grants provided by the Teacher’s Fund have been used for projects ranging from purchasing supplies to funding special trips, as long as it is geared towards broadening the student’s experience.

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Examples of previously funded projects include:

  • Visit from the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education with a live animal presentation (2011-2012)
  • Directing and editing movies for "No Place for Hate" (2011-2012)
    Outward Bound "Insight Day" Program (2010 - 2011)
  • Resources and materials to increase students' literacy levels (2010 - 2011)
  • Field trip to New Jersey Aquarium and science exploration activity (2009 - 2010)
  • "Freedom Readers" anti-bullying read-along and group discussions (2009 - 2010)

Teachers seeking Teacher’s Fund grants are asked to complete a one page application spelling out the cost and educational opportunities to be created by funding their proposal.  Applications are reviewed by nine Teacher’s Fund committee members based on established criteria that include geographic balance, educational benefit and cost effectiveness. 

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"With the financial crisis in our public school system, we have to do everything we can to support our teachers and their students" said Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill Teacher's Fund Founder and Trolley Car Diner Owner Ken Weinstein.  "Local public school teachers have come to rely on grants from the Teacher's Fund to expand opportunities for their students."

The Teacher's Fund grants are available as a result of strong support from Trolley Car Diner & Deli, Sidewater Foundation and individual donors.  The Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill Teacher's Fund Committee will continue to seek additional funding in order to provide another round of grants next fall.  Committee members include Pauline Henry, Ken Weinstein, Leslie Winder, Leslie Burrell, Deidre Shaffer, Elliott Seif, Staci Marburg, Jeanelle Lawson and Amy Cohen.

Applications and more information can be found at tinyurl.com/teachersfundgrants.  Applications are due January 8th and announcements of winners will be made January 15th.  For more information about the Mt. Airy Teacher's Fund, contact Amy Cohen at AmyJaneCohen@comcast.net.

 


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