About Fund for teachers
Fund for Teachers: Empowering Educators through Self-Designed Professional Development Grants
Fund for Teachers is a non-profit organization that recognizes teachers as professionals and supports their growth by awarding self-designed professional development grants. The organization was founded in 2001 by Karen Kovach-Webb and Raymond Johnson, who believed that teachers should have the opportunity to pursue their own interests and passions in order to become better educators.
The mission of Fund for Teachers is to enrich the lives of students by empowering teachers with opportunities for self-designed professional growth. The organization believes that when teachers are given the chance to explore new ideas, learn from experts, and collaborate with colleagues, they are better equipped to inspire their students and create meaningful learning experiences.
Fund for Teachers offers grants of up to $5,000 per individual or $10,000 per team of two or more educators. These grants can be used for a wide range of professional development activities such as attending conferences, workshops or seminars; traveling domestically or internationally; conducting research; developing curriculum materials; or pursuing advanced degrees.
One unique aspect of Fund for Teachers' grant program is that it is entirely teacher-driven. Applicants must submit proposals outlining their goals and objectives for professional development, as well as how they plan to use the grant funds. This approach allows teachers to tailor their learning experiences based on their own interests and needs.
Since its inception in 2001, Fund for Teachers has awarded over $40 million in grants to more than 13,000 PreK-12 grade educators across the United States. These grants have enabled teachers from all subject areas and backgrounds to pursue a wide range of professional development opportunities.
For example:
- A high school English teacher from Texas used her grant funds to travel throughout Europe studying Shakespeare's plays in various locations where they were originally performed.
- A middle school science teacher from California attended a week-long workshop at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory where she learned about space exploration technologies.
- A kindergarten teacher from New York City traveled throughout Japan studying early childhood education practices.
In addition to providing funding support through its grant program, Fund for Teachers also offers resources such as webinars on best practices in teaching and learning; an online community where grantees can connect with each other; and an annual conference where grantees can share their experiences with others.
Overall, Fund For Teachers has been successful because it recognizes that investing in teacher's personal growth leads directly towards improving student outcomes. By providing opportunities tailored specifically towards each educator’s needs & interests rather than generic training sessions which may not be relevant - this approach ensures maximum impact on both student achievement & overall educational quality within schools nationwide!