40 Teachers … $100,000 dollars!
Teachers in Florida were asked to submit their innovative teaching ideas the week of January 11 for an opportunity to win State Farm ® Teacher Assist grants. In less than 2 hours, two hundred entry forms were submitted by Florida teachers!
We have 2 winning teachers out of 200 in the Florida Panhandle area. They are:
1) Caitlyn Whitley at Ruediger Elementary School in Tallahassee: Caitlyn students have varying exceptionalities and are working on Access Point standards rather than the general education standards. Most of her students have autism and a handful of them are nonverbal. Caitlyn works on their academic skills and on their ocial/emotional goals, independent functioning and communication. The grant funds would used to give each student a sensory bin that would include things for that particular student like fidgets, chair bands, vibrations, calming strips, chew necklaces and various seating options. Each student would be able to keep their sensory items away from others and clean.
2) Patricia Swanz-Reiners at R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School in Pensacola: Google Expeditions: Voyage into the Unknown, Phase II. Google Expeditions is a virtual and augmented reality platform that engages all students and inspires their learning. The grant will be used to purchase Merge Goggles and iPods so every student will have access to this technology. Through Google Expeditions, the teacher hopes to encourage students to explore computer science as a career option.
State Farm is proud to award $100,000 to teachers across Florida. Forty teachers will each receive a $2,500 grant to implement or support their classroom projects. Visit the State Farm ® Teacher Assist website for a complete list of winners
“As a company, we have a long history of working with teachers, educators, and students across the country. We are heartened by the immense response received from teachers sharing their solutions to overcoming challenges,” said Annette Martinez, State Farm Senior Vice President. “Congratulations to the winners. We are proud to support you and help you reach your goals!”
We thank again all the teachers that submitted their ideas. You are making our neighborhoods safer, stronger and better educated!
