Be honored at the Tony Awards
The Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University are looking for the teachers who will create the next generation of theater artists. These are dedicated professionals who discover talented students, nurture them, inspire them and set them off on a lifelong journey as theater supporters and professionals. The winning teacher will receive the inaugural Excellence in Theatre Education Award at the 2015 Tony Awards on June 7, and be acknowledged on the CBS telecast. The award includes a $10,000 cash prize for the teacher’s school, a flight for two to New York City, hotel accommodations and a pair of tickets to the Tony Awards Ceremony and Gala. Finalists will each receive $1,000 for their schools, a flight for one to New York City, hotel accommodations and an invitation to an exclusive pre-Tony event.
DEADLINE: March 31.
CONTACT: Excellence in Theatre Education Award.
Help end hunger
The World Hunger Leadership Challenge was created by the USA Today Charitable Foundation and the Lift a Life Foundation, with assistance from the Yum! Foundation, to encourage middle and high school students to hone leadership skills by completing a service-learning project that solves hunger issues. The 2014–15 Lead2Feed World Hunger Leadership Challenge is open and ready to accept project submissions. Any middle or high school class in the United States can participate in the Lead2Feed program. The challenge is available for this school year and teachers can have implemented it during the fall semester or can do so during the spring semester. The winning class will receive $1,000.
DEADLINE: April 17.
CONTACT: World Hunger Leadership Challenge.
Fund your awesome idea
The Awesome Foundation provides funding to conserve, sustain and support the worldwide ecosystem of awesomeness. If you have a crazy brilliant idea that needs funding, apply for this monthly grant of $1,000. Eligibility: Unrestricted. Areas: Previous projects included efforts in a wide range of areas including technology, arts, social good and more.
DEADLINE: Monthly.
CONTACT: contact@awesomefoundation.org; Awesome Foundation.
Shape up your pre-K
Discovery Education, Together Counts, and Shape America are seeking applications for the Smart from the Start Awards program. The program is designed to encourage preschool teachers to create practical, long-term improvements in nutrition and physical activity at their preschool. The grand prize is $20,000 and a pack of books. Ten runners-up will receive $2,500 grants and a pack of books. Early childhood education centers or elementary schools that offer a pre-K or Head Start program may apply. Entrants must identify a need, write a goal statement, do background research, develop the action plan, explain how the plan will be implemented and how its success will be measured, and describe how they would use the prize to create long-term improvements for balancing nutrition and physical activity within their school community if selected as a winner.
DEADLINE: Feb. 27.
CONTACT: education_info@discovery.com; Smart from the Start Awards.
Building tech-savvy educators
Public Broadcasting Service LearningMedia is looking for applications for the 2015 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators Program. The program is designed to reward, foster and grow a community of 100 tech-savvy educators making an impact in their classrooms. The top 30 applicants will be designated as Lead PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators and will receive a three-day, all-expense-paid trip to Philadelphia to participate in the PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators Summit and the prestigious International Society for Technology in Education Conference June 26–28. In addition, each Lead PBS Digital Innovator will receive a Samsung Galaxy tablet. Eligibility: K–12 educators. Acceptance into the program offers access to exclusive virtual trainings and resources; exposure to innovative instructional strategies, best practices and tools that can be immediately applied to the classroom; national recognition in press and marketing communications; and membership in a robust professional learning community.
DEADLINE: Feb. 11.
CONTACT: Digital Innovators.
K–12 seminars offered
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is accepting applications for the 2015 Teacher Seminars. The seminars are academically rigorous one-week seminars for K–12 educators. Participants receive reading materials and room and board for the week. Upon completion of the seminar, participants will be reimbursed for travel expenses up to $400. Full-time K–12 teachers and librarians and new teacher fellows can apply.
DEADLINE: Feb. 13.
CONTACT: seminars@gilderlehrman.org; Teacher Seminars.
Technology and foreign language
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages is seeking applications for its Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Instruction Using Technology with the International Association for Language Learning Technology. The award seeks to recognize excellence in the integration and use of technology in foreign language instruction at the K–12 level. Classroom teachers and administrators who are current ACTFL members can apply. Applicants must also have a minimum of five years’ teaching experience. Recipients must submit evidence of how they have integrated the use of technology into their foreign language courses. Funds: $500 awards.
DEADLINE: May 28.
CONTACT: ACTFL Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Instruction Using Technology.
Free safety curricula
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security offers free resources to educators, parents, and students on disaster preparedness. Educators can access multidisciplinary lessons to teach what to do before, during and after an emergency while fostering critical 21st-century skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, leadership and communication. The website also offers interactive student games.
CONTACT: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.