Earn a Fulbright
The U.S. Department of State recognizes and encourages excellence in teaching in the United States and abroad, and provides a grant to support teachers to study worldwide at a university, observe classes and complete a project pertaining to their field of educational inquiry during their time abroad. The grant covers program costs including transportation, lodging, host institution fees and related expenses. Grantees will attend a mandatory program orientation in Washington, D.C., next August to help them prepare for their program. While abroad, grantees also receive a maintenance allowance designed to assist with the costs of living during the program. Eligibility: Full-time K–12 teachers, guidance counselors, curriculum specialists, curriculum heads, talented and gifted coordinators, special education coordinators, and media specialists and librarians. U.S. applicants must have a master’s degree or be enrolled in a master’s program.
DEADLINE: All three required References and the Leave Authorization forms must be received by Dec. 1.
CONTACT: Institute of International Education, 1400 K St. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005; 1-202-326-7778; fulbrightdat@iie.org; Institute of International Education.
Fueling biotechnology education
The National Science Teachers Association is seeking applications for the Ron Mardigian Memorial Biotechnology Explorer Award. The award seeks to recognize an outstanding high school teacher who has made biotechnology learning accessible to the classroom. It consists of a $750 certificate for Bio-Rad products and up to $1,000 in expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education. Teachers of science in grades 9–12, with at least two years of experience integrating biotechnology into their lessons, can apply. Applicants are also encouraged to apply for Bio-Rad’s Biotechnology Mini-Grant. This grant awards up to $2,000 in Bio-Rad materials. Grant applications can be requested by emailing biotechnology_explorer@bio-rad.com.
DEADLINE: Nomination deadline, Nov. 30; application deadline, Dec. 16.
CONTACT: awards@nsta.org; NSTA.
Great sports
First Book, with support from Target, will offer new softballs, soccer balls, bean bag toss games, playground balls and more on the First Book Marketplace. The marketplace is an e-commerce site where educators serving children growing up in low-income families can access high-quality new books, educational resources and supplies at the lowest possible costs or for free. In addition, funding from Target also will provide credits that educators can use to access sports equipment from the First Book Marketplace site.
CONTACT: FirstBook Marketplace.
Calling new teachers
The Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers will provide up to 25 K–12 teachers in their first five years of teaching with funds to attend the annual National Conference on Science Education. Award recipients will be mentored, tracked and provided with continuing opportunities for meaningful involvement with NSTA and its activities. To be eligible, a teacher must be within the first five years full-time at the time of application and be an NSTA member in good standing; to the extent possible, recipients must have been a student member of NSTA as a preservice teacher. The award consists of up to $1,000 to be used to attend the annual national conference, where recipients will be invited to attend a variety of workshops and presentations that are of particular interest to new teachers.
DEADLINE: Nomination deadline, Nov. 30; application deadline, Dec. 16.
CONTACT: NSTA.
Salad bars for your school
Let’s Move seeks applications for its Salad Bars to Schools program. The program donates salad bars to schools so that every child across the nation has daily access to fresh fruits and vegetables. One full salad bar grant includes a portable 72-inch, five-well insulated salad bar; two tray slides; five pan chillers; divider bars; two 4-inch-deep full pans with covers; four 4-inch-deep half pans with covers; 12 4-inch deep quarter pans with covers; five buffet chilling pads; and 16 serving tongs. Any district or independent school participating in the National School Lunch Program is eligible.
CONTACT: info@saladbars2schools.org; Salad Bars to Schools.
Environmental efforts worth 10G
The SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment Environmental Excellence Awards recognize the outstanding efforts of students, teachers and community leaders across the country who are working at the grass-roots level to protect and preserve the environment. The Environmental Excellence Awards has expanded its reach to larger audiences to recognize the efforts of schools, youth groups, individuals and companies working to make a difference. The award is for $10,000 and an expense-paid trip to attend the NSTA National Conference.
DEADLINE: Nomination deadline, Nov. 30; application deadline, Dec. 16.
CONTACT: NSTA
Video competition
C-SPAN’s StudentCam is an annual national video documentary competition that encourages students to think seriously about issues that affect our communities and our nation. Students are asked to create a short (5–7 minutes) video documentary on a topic related to the competition theme “Your Message To Washington: What is the most urgent issue for the new president and Congress to address in 2017?” Cash and prizes totaling $100,000 will be awarded to 150 student documentaries and 53 teacher advisers. Eligibility: individuals or teams of two to three students in grades 6–8 and grades 9–12.
DEADLINE: Jan. 20.
CONTACT: StudentCam.
Aerospace Teacher of the Year
The Air Force Association is seeking applications for the National Aerospace Teacher of the Year Award. The award seeks to recognize classroom teachers at the national level for their accomplishments and achievements in exciting K–12 students about STEM and preparing them to use and contribute to tomorrow’s technologies. Awards range from $1,000 to $3,000. The winner also receives a gold and diamond pin, a plaque, and a trip to Washington, D.C., to receive the award at the AFA National Convention and Air and Space Conference. To be eligible the candidate must be a former AFA State Teacher of the Year selected during the past two years. Winners will be selected based upon classroom performance, collaborative initiatives, educational outreach, leadership positions and significant impact on the school and community.
DEADLINE: May 31.
CONTACT: Air Force Association