Running Head: ET680 FUNDING PAPER

ET680 Funding Paper

Alison Doubet

Loyola University
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Joppa View Elementary School is a Lighthouse School in Baltimore County. For the past

five years, all students in grades K-5 at Joppa View have been 1:1. Each student (and staff

member) has been provided with an HP device. Since the digital conversion, Joppa View

classrooms have adapted to the new technology and teachers have adopted new tools and

practices. However, I do believe there is still room for growth in terms of innovative uses for the

technology we’ve been given. Teachers and staff members are still learning the tools and

practices necessary for creating a transformed, 21st century learning environment. Most of Joppa

View’s professional development opportunities are optional and led by our S.T.A.T teacher.

These hour-long sessions are held at Joppa View and often result in low participation. I believe

that seeking outside professional development opportunities, with access to expert speakers,

would benefit our staff in terms of learning new, effective teaching practices that utilize

technology. However, these opportunities are often too costly to be considered in our school’s

budget. A grant that focuses on providing teachers with new knowledge, methods and skills will

help our staff progress towards becoming an innovative educator.

The device provided for each student is an HP Elitebook Revolve, which is a touchscreen

device with a connected keyboard. The keyboard is featured with a clickpad with image sensor,

which is a trackpad that is used to navigate the device with touch. Although Baltimore County

Public Schools has funded the conversion to provide 1:1 access to personal devices for every

student, there is no funding for any additional accessories to assist in the effective use of the

device. One accessory that is not provided is computer mice. All students are expected to use the

provided trackpad to navigate. Students, specifically primary students (K-2), who do not have

fully developed fine motor or coordination skills, often have difficulty manipulating the trackpad

in order to use the device productively. The use of a computer mouse may assist these students in

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becoming more successful with digital assignments, including standardized tests. Using a

computer mouse would allow younger students, as well as students with coordination and fine

motor difficulties, to complete digital activities more effectively and timely. The simple solution

to this problem is to provide students with access to computer mice. Seeking a grant that would

provide funding for this solution would benefit many students at Joppa View Elementary.

Professional Development Grants

McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation - Teacher Development Grant

The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation’s Teacher Development Grant focuses

on innovative, continuous training opportunities for small teams of teachers. The grant provides

teachers with “fresh strategies that encourage critical inquiry and to observe their effects on

students” (Teacher Development Grants, 2018).

The foundation awards grants in the amount of up to $10,000 per year, with a maximum

of $30,000 over the course of three years. Applicants have the option to apply for one, two or

three year funding. In order to qualify for the McCarthey Dressman grant, applicants must be a

licensed k-12 teacher in a public or private school, have the background and experience to

successfully complete the project successfully, and must be willing to work collaboratively with

the foundation throughout the term of the project.

While this grant allows teachers to work in groups and include more than one person in a

project, each applicant must apply for the grant individually. Application submissions are

accepted January 15th - April 15th. The application system closes once 350 submissions have

been accepted. The foundation’s board of trustees meets in June to review applications and select

recipients. On July 15th, applicants will be notified about the status of their submission. For

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recipients, grants are awarded on August 15th of each year. As a part of the submission,

applicants are required to include background information, a personal narrative outlining the

project, a detailed, three year budget, and a collection of reference letters.

On the McCarthey Dressman Foundation website, past projects from grant recipients are

listed and described. In the category of Teacher Development Grants, past projects include focus

on topics such as collaborative inquiry and teacher-research related to the integration of digital

technologies, lab classrooms and job-embedded professional development, collaborative

planning for project-based learning, and STEAM focused, teacher-led professional development.

Each project outlined in the directory highlights the plan and focus of the participant to reach

their goal through the funding from the grant.

When considering the potential benefits of this grant for Joppa View Elementary, I

believe the funding can be used to lead a significant, innovative professional development

project. Although the grant is awarded to an individual, projects can be completed by a group of

teachers. Selecting a small, strong group of Joppa View teachers for this project would be

beneficial, and this group would be responsible for growing professionally, applying new

knowledge, reflecting, and sharing results with the rest of the staff. For example, the focus of the

project might be centered on blended learning. A group of Joppa View teachers (ideally a

representative from each grade level or subject area) can be formed to participate in the year-

long study of blended learning. With the grant funding, these teachers can participate in outside

professional development opportunities, various conferences, school visits, and meetings with

blended learning experts and speakers. This group will be responsible for applying the skills

learned at these professional developments, then sharing the results and successes with the rest of

the staff.

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Considering this grant can be awarded over the course of three years, this allows the

option for forming a new teacher group each year. This way, a majority of the staff will have a

chance to participate in the professional development opportunities. Also, the successes and

failures of the previous year will allow new groups to adjust the plan and allocation of funding in

order to maximize success for the following year.

The only con regarding this grant opportunity is the competition of applications. Only

350 submissions are accepted in the application timeframe. Of those 350 applicants, only one

Teacher Development Grant is awarded. According to PRWeb, “The call is so competitive, the

application closes when 350 applications are received, which happens earlier every year” (2017).

Although this grant opportunity would be extremely beneficial to our school and staff, the

likelihood of being chosen as a recipient is very low.

The McCarthey Dressman Foundation Teacher Development Grant is a great chance for

teachers to become experts in a specific field and develop their learning over the course of three

years. The high amount of funding would allow for professional development opportunities that

are limited and otherwise inaccessible. Joppa View Elementary teachers would become district

leaders if given this grant opportunity.

Note: On April 9th, I contacted the McCarthey Dressman Foundation (via email) in an effort to

receive more grant information not readily available on the foundation website. Holly Rae

Bemis-Schurtz, a foundation representative, responded on April 10th. Holly explained, “All

grant and scholarship requirements are listed on our website at https://mccartheydressman.org/.

We recommend you review the Funding Opportunities and Funded Projects tabs for more

details.” Click here for the documented conversation.

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The NEA Foundation Learning and Leadership Grant

Similar to the McCarthey Dressman Foundation Grant, the National Education

Association (NEA) Foundation Learning and Leadership Grant awards funds to individuals or

groups, to be used for professional development projects. This grant is awarded to NEA

members, and recipients are given funding to support opportunities such as summer institutes,

conferences, seminars, travel abroad programs, action research, collegial studies, lesson plan

development, and/or mentoring experiences. According to the foundation website, preference is

given to “proposals that incorporate STEM and/or global competence in their projects” (2018).

This grant offers two levels of funding, $2,000 and $5,000. The funds are used for

activities twelve months after the date of the award. The NEA grant website states, “Grant funds

can be used for travel, room, meals, registration fees, materials, etc. for individual grants. For

group grants, funds can be used for educator stipends, substitute fees, materials, travel, meals,

etc. Grant funds cannot be used to pay indirect costs, grant administration fees, salaries,

conference fees for more than one person, or lobbying or religious purposes” (2018). For

example, a grant recipient named Anne M. Hornak (Associate Professor & Chair, Central

Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI), used the funding to attend the Intercultural

Development Inventory (IDI) qualifying certification seminar, a professional development

opportunity focused on understanding impact on student work and achievement.

In order to be eligible for this grant, educators must be current members of the National

Education Association. The foundation encourages applications from education support

professionals such as para-educators, maintenance and custodial staff, food services staff, school

nurses and student services workers, clerical and office assistants, school security officers, and

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technicians. Not eligible to receive funding are administrators, employees or immediate family

members of NEA board members, or educators who do not have membership in the NEA.

There are three deadlines for grant opportunities throughout the course of the year. The

first application deadline is February 1st, with notification of status by April 15th. The second

application deadline is June 1st, with notification of status by September 15th. The final

application deadline is October 15th, with notification of status by January 15th.

For both individual and group grant applications, there must be one lead applicant. This

person will submit the application (through the cybergrant system) and remain the main contact

for the foundation. An application involves a summary of the proposed project, a professional

development plan, activity details, description of goals, needs, and sustainability, as well as an

outlined budget proposal.

This grant would benefit Joppa View Elementary teachers in a more intimate level.

Because of the smaller funding amount, only one or two staff members would benefit from this

grant. These chosen educators could share their learning with the rest of the staff, becoming

leaders within the building. To choose participants, we would first need to survey the staff to

determine who is an active member of the NEA, considering only members are able to apply.

Luckily, Joppa View has several strong team members that are also NEA members. After

choosing a lead applicant, the teacher can use funding to attend important conferences such as

Common Ground and ISTE. The money can be used to cover travel, expenses, and admission to

the conferences. These events are usually held in a series of consecutive days, so a budget of

$2,000 will sufficiently cover the total cost. After attending, the teacher can share new

knowledge through staff meetings and in-school professional developments.

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Unfortunately, similar to the McCarthey Dressman Grant, the NEA Learning and

Leadership Grant is also highly competitive. Approximately 120 grants are given to educators

each year. Also, funding can only cover travel expenses for individual applicants rather than

group participants. This would mean that only one teacher would be able to travel and attend the

conferences. Joppa View has a large number of staff members, which makes it difficult for one

person to be reliable to deliver the new learning to numerous other teachers. However, there are

many Joppa View team members who would do a sufficient job in this task.

The NEA Foundation Learning and Leadership Grant would benefit Joppa View by

providing opportunities to attend otherwise inaccessible conferences and seminars. Funding

would cover costs for an individual to attend a series of days at a conference such as Common

Ground or ISTE, including travel expenses. These conferences are extremely informative and

beneficial, and can teach useful information about teaching and learning. With assistance from

this grant, a chosen leader in our building would have the opportunity to attend these events and

share new knowledge with other staff members.

Fund for Teachers Grant

The Fund for Teachers (FFT) Grant provides educators with resources necessary to

pursue self-designed professional learning experiences. According to the grant website, “FFT

grants are used for an unlimited variety of projects; all designed to create enhanced learning

environments for teachers, their students and their school communities” (n.d.). Similar to the

previous grants, this grant is also awarded to either individuals or groups. For individual grants, a

maximum of $5,000 can be awarded to recipients. For group grants, a maximum of $10,000 can

be awarded. Grant recipients receive 90% of the funding upon the award, and the remaining 10%

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is given after completion of the project (or “fellowship”). The money awarded is typically used

to plan professional development experiences for teachers, which often includes traveling to

different places both nationally and internationally in order to apply new learning to work in the

classroom. For example, a 2018 recipient, Leslie Baker, used the funding to attend The

Creativity Workshop in Barcelona. There, she learned and shared strategies of seeing and

expression in order to develop a daily 15-minute classroom practice that helps students integrate

creativity into their lives and learning.

To be eligible for this grant, applicants must be an educator who spends at least 50% of

their time directly teaching students. Applicants must also have at least three years teaching

experience, and must be returning to teaching the consecutive year. Administrators may not

apply for this grant. Only one application per grant cycle is allowed. Applications are completed

digitally through the application system, and each submission requires a cover sheet, proposal,

and itemized budget. The proposal consists of a rationale and purpose, project description,

projected growth and learning, application of learning to instructional practice, projected student

growth and learning, benefits to school community, and budget narrative. The proposal is limited

to 12,000 characters. The itemized budget must include a breakdown of expenses such as

transportation, lodging, food, participation costs, materials, and equipment. A list of non-

allowable expenses can be found here. Once awarded a FFT grant, the fellowship project should

begin after the last day of school in the spring and be completed on the first day of school in the

fall. All fellowship related expenses should be made by the fall as well.

Although the deadline for the 2017-2018 grants has already passed (January 31, 2018),

this grant opportunity is renewed each year. The 2019 grant application will be available on

October 1st, 2018. This would be a unique summer opportunity for Joppa View Elementary

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teachers. Funding from a FFT grant can be used towards traveling and attending various

education conferences such as the Digital Pedagogy Lab in VA (August 7-11), UBTech in NV

(June 4-6), or EduLearn in Barcelona, Spain (July 3-5). Many of Joppa View’s teachers attend

only BCPS related professional development sessions. This funding has potential to open the

possibility to network outside of our district and connect with educators across the globe. A

small team of 2-3 teachers can participate in this opportunity, then share the learning and

experience with the rest of the staff the following year. The participating teachers must prove to

be open to innovative teaching methods, networking opportunities, and global learning in order

to gain the maximum benefits from this experience.

The Fund for Teachers Grant has potential to allow Joppa View teachers a chance to

develop professionally in a unique way. Conferences and seminars offered in various parts of the

country, as well as various parts of the world, are often inaccessible due to cost. A grant

allocation of $10,000 will generously cover the required cost for travel and admission into these

conferences, providing our teachers with new, innovative knowledge and experience.

Note: On April 9th, I contacted Funds for Teachers (via email) in an effort to receive more grant

information not readily available on the website. As of April 11th, I have not received a response

from the listed contact. Click here for the documented attempt.

Classroom Resources Grants

Lowe’s Small Toolbox for Education Grant

Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) offers a Small Toolbox for

Education Grant awards schools with funding for resources such as technology upgrades and

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tools for STEM programs. Between $2,000 and $5,000 (depending on the requested grant

amount) can be awarded per school each year. Funds awarded may not be used for items such as

scholarships, athletic events, continuing education, travel-related events, etc. A full list of non-

allowable expenses can be found here.

This grant is awarded to schools rather than individuals. In order to be eligible, the school

must be a public or charter k-12 school or non-profit parent group associated with that school.

Required information for a completed application includes basic school information and

statistics, a description of the proposed project, as well as a project schedule, grant reason, and

volunteer plan, and a breakdown of budget details.

Over the course of a year, Lowe’s will donate up to $5 million to schools, including as

many as 1,000 different schools. Lowe’s accepts up to 1,500 applications per year before

reserving the right to close the cycle. After receiving a Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant, the

project must be completed within one year. During this year, recipients must complete several

additional tasks such as submitting an online survey after 3-6 months of receiving the award,

submit pictures, videos or promotional materials related to the project, and write an evaluation

summary upon completion.

Although the 2017-2018 grant cycle has ended, a Fall cycle will open on August 6th,

2018. The deadline for the fall cycle is September 28th, 2018. This grant opportunity would

provide Joppa View Elementary with funds necessary to purchase valuable resources such as

computer mice for students. For example, if a grant amount of $3,000 is awarded to Joppa View,

this would allow the school to purchase 250 computer mice (assuming each mouse costs around

$12 including taxes and fees). With 250 computer mice, each classroom would have a set of

about 7. Having access to 7 mice per classroom means that students who have difficulty with

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fine motor coordination are able to utilize resources necessary to easily complete digital

activities.

Many of the sample projects listed on the Lowe’s Gives website include exhibits,

gardens, and physical spaces. Viewing the past winners and their projects makes it difficult to

believe that Lowe’s will sponsor a project focused on technology accessories. However, as

mentioned on the website, “This year LGF is seeking ways to provide the tools to help educators

and parent groups through educational challenges by providing the greatest impact. Projects

should fall into one of the following categories: technology upgrades, tools for STEM programs,

facility renovations and safety improvements” (2018). For example, one of the 2018 Lowe’s

Grant recipients, the Plum Borough School District in Pennsylvania, used their funding to

purchase virtual reality headsets for students. I believe that a project involving computer mice

categorizes as a technology upgrade. However, it may be difficult for Lowe’s to consider our

need as significant or as a benefit to the community. In order to advocate for our project, I would

suggest supporting our project with data related to the use of a device trackpad versus the use of

a computer mouse. This will outline the potential for our need and the impact on student success.

The Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant would greatly benefit many Joppa View

Elementary students. With $3,000 in funds, our school can purchase tools necessary for students

to utilize devices more efficiently and comfortably. The Lowe’s Gives website states, “At a time

when schools are struggling to support the basic needs of their students, the Lowe's Charitable

and Educational Foundation recognizes the importance of financial support” (2018). Materials

such as computer mice for devices is a basic technological need for many students.

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Note: On April 9th, I contacted Lowe’s Toolbox for Education (via email) in an effort to receive

more grant information not readily available on the website. As of April 11th, I have not received

a response. Click here for the documented attempt.

Farmers Insurance Thank a Teacher Grant

The Thank a Teacher Grant Contest is a grant opportunity from Farmers Insurance. This

grant is specifically offered for teachers to purchase classroom supplies. Each recipient will be

awarded $2,500 in credit towards Adopt a Classroom purchases. Adopt a Classroom partners

with companies such as Best Buy, Kaplan, Office Depot, Really Good Stuff, and School

Speciality, allowing users to make purchases to these stores through a third party billing system.

While the Thank a Teacher Grant does not award teachers with a cash or check, the credit is still

used to purchase classroom materials through the Adopt a Classroom website.

Eligible applicants include full-time employed school teachers (k-12) who have been

officially thanked at www.thankamericasteachers.com. There are three contest periods, where up

to sixty winners will be declared for each contest period, resulting in a total of 180 winners

throughout the entire term of eligibility. For the 2018 year, contest period one is January 10th

through May 30th, contest period two is April 2nd through August 31st, and contest period three

is July 2nd through December 31st. Recipients are notified within thirty days of the end of each

contest period.

To apply for this grant, applicants submit a proposal that consists of basic information, a

1,000 character proposal description, and acceptance of terms and conditions. Once a proposal is

submitted, it is reviewed by a sponsor then posted online for voting. The general public has

access to the proposals to vote during the contest period (one time per voter per day). The top 60

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proposals with the most votes will be awarded the grant funds. There is a limit of five winners

per school district per contest period. Each recipient will receive a $2,500 credit to be used solely

for classroom purposes through Adopt a Classroom. These funds may not be used for personal

purchases, and may only be used through the partnering companies on the Adopt a Classroom

website.

The biggest advantage to this grant opportunity is the simplicity of the application

process and the high chances of being awarded funds. Unlike other grant requirements, the

Thank a Teacher Grant only requires a short description of a proposal to enter. Although this

grant requires that applicants have been officially “thanked”, it is very easy and quick to be

“thanked” (you can also “thank” yourself). Recipients may not be given a cash reward, however,

Adopt a Classroom is a website that allows purchases of school supplies through various

companies, which still offers the benefits and resources most schools need.

This grant can be a great possibility for Joppa View. A prize of $2,500 would allow our

school to purchase computer mice. Through the Adopt a Classroom credit, we can purchase these

materials on Office Depot’s or Best Buy’s website. For example, Office Depot offers a basic,

wireless computer mouse for $9.99. At a quantity of 235 computer mice, the total (including

shipping and processing fees) amounts to a total of $2,488.51. This purchase would be made

through the Adopt a Classroom third party billing party. With 235 computer mice, each class

would receive 6-7 mice for student use on a daily basis. As previously mentioned, access to these

materials would be highly beneficial to Joppa View students who have difficulty navigating the

device using a trackpad, specifically primary students.

The Farmers Insurance Thank a Teacher Grant is an easily accessible opportunity for

classroom funding. Having experience with Adopt a Classroom purchases in the past, buying

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classroom supplies is seamless and simple through the website. Additionally, up to five teachers

in our district can potentially receive funds from this contest. While my proposal would include

purchasing computer mice for struggling device users, others might utilize the funds for

additional materials necessary for success in school.

Note: On April 9th, I contacted Farmers Insurance (via email) in an effort to receive more grant

information not readily available on the website. As of April 11th, I have not received a

response. Click here for the documented attempt.

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References

Contest Rules. (2018). Retrieved April 12, 2018, from https://www.farmers.com/thank-americas-

teachers/contest-rules/#twentyfive_contest

Grant Application. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2018, from

http://fft.fundforteachers.org/applications/guideline/program_id:172/step:overview

Hills-Duty, R. (2018, January 8). High School Gets Lowe's Toolbox Grant For VR Kit.

Retrieved April 11, 2018, from https://www.vrfocus.com/2018/01/high-school-gets-

lowes-toolbox-grant-for-vr-kit/

Learning & Leadership Grants. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2018, from

https://www.neafoundation.org/for-educators/learning-and-leadership-grants/

Lowe's Gives. (2018). Retrieved April 11, 2018, from http://toolboxforeducation.com/home

McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation Awards Innovative Projects. (2017, December 20).

Retrieved April 11, 2018, from

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/12/prweb15004673.htm

Teacher Development Grants. (2018, January 03). Retrieved April 10, 2018, from

https://mccartheydressman.org/teacher-development-grants/

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