Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/15938
Institute for Teaching gives Mini Grants The CTA Inst i tute for Teaching (IFT) has selected 12 recipients — four local chapters and eight CTA members — for the inaugural IFT Mini Gra nt program, which supports strength- ba s e d, te ache r - driven reform that improves the condi- tions of teaching and learning. The awards, rang- ing from $4,000 to $20,000, are for the 2010-11 school year. IFT received 49 grant applications, with requests t o t a ling mo re th a n $400,000. Bl ack Oak Mine Tea ch - ers A sso ci at io n, $19,440. This project is a teacher- driven design to innovate and support two program changes for Northside School and for the district at large. Funds from this grant would provide training in Highly Effective Teaching and sup- port collaborative time for teachers through profession- al learning communities. This project arose from a col- le c t ive recognition that change must no longer be driven by external forces, but must come from within. The grant will support the belief of the school staff that a school culture should be in- clusive of its community and stakeholders, be totally site- based, and be governed with informed, participatory deci- sion making. Mt. Diabl o Educa tio n Asso ci a tio n, $5,000. This project will allow the chapter to investigate the possibility of creating a dependent char- ter school in partnership with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. The develop- mental process would be based on the belief that the school should be intellectu- ally safe and respectful; dis- tribute both authority and responsibility; maintain high expectations and the means to attain them. Consistent with a strength-based ap- proach, the staff should re- gard students as capable and participatory beings, rich in both individual and social potential. The grant will fund first-year activities, specifi- cally to explore community engagement and readiness for the development of a new charter school. Swee t wa ter E d uca - tio n Asso ci a tio n, $8,200. This project is designed to develop a comprehensive lit- eracy and technology curric- ulum at Sweetwater High School for use districtwide, modeled on the national Computer Science Teachers Association’s K-12 model currently in use throughout the U.S. The grant, which will fund the first year of what is designed as a three-year pro- gram, will enable the pro- gram coordinator to create a core team of six qualified classroom teachers to deter- mine and drive a curriculum guide for grades 7-12 that would allow all dis t r ic t schools to offer a variety of technical courses. Tea chers A sso ci a tio n of N o r walk-L a Mirad a , $20,000. This project works to create an affirmative ca- reer technical education/ca- reer pathway “school within a school” program at La 28 California Educator | SEPTEMBER 2010 Mirada High School. The program will prepare at-risk high school students in grades 9-11 to join postsec- ondary programs in environ- mental majors, which lead to an industry-recognized cer- tificate, licensure, associate or baccalaureate degree, and ul t imately success in the “green economy.” The grant will support teacher in-ser- vice, science lab equipment and field trips. Br ian B ar tle t t (R ed - l ands) , $3,956. This project will support the Pre-Engi- neering and Design course at Redlands High School by providing materials for four specific engineering units: mechanical, structural, aero- nautical and environmental. These units actively engage students in research-based engineering design projects that incorporate problem- based learning, cooperative groups, and me asurable outcomes. Student talents and strengths will be empha- sized. Students will identify with the relevancy of their work and how it directly re- lates to a current need in our society. Kar ina Cur iel (G onz a - les) , $4,000. This project will provide teachers at La Gloria Elementary School with a campuswide character education program. Wis- eSkills is a teacher-friendly curriculum that integrates character education into all subject areas. The program provides teachers the forum to highlight and model the Six Pillars of Character (re- spect, citizenship, caring, trustwor thiness, fairness, and responsibility). The pro- gram is consistent with IFT’s Culture of Success program. The school wants an ap- proach that focuses on posi- tive character attributes and behaviors in order to alter a s chool cul ture that has produced increasing levels of bullying, name calling, fight- ing and harassment. Rich ar d P en a (R ed - l ands) , $5,000. This school/ community project would support Cope Middle School’s curriculum-aligned school garden master plan that has, since 2003, brought together various departments, admin- istrators, parents and com- munity volunteers. The grant would enable a new Garden- ing and Building class to pur- chase materials to promote practical skills, creativity and h a n d s-on lea r nin g . Because the school’s goal is to increase daily attendance and decrease tardiness, stu- dents who have exhibited poor attendance will be in- vited to apply for admit- tance. Dougl as Redman (Col - lege o f the D es er t) , $5,000. This strength-based project involves community college automotive students in the creation of a training module. The grant will pro- vide for the purchase of a front end clip from a late model vehicle from an auto recycler. Students will build it into a training module that will be used by every auto- mot ive ins t ructor at the col lege. By building their own training module, both teachers and students will be Continued on page 33