Are you one in a million? The Thank a Million Teachers initiative understands that being underappreciated also often means being underfunded. Most teachers spend money out of their own pockets for basic classroom supplies and programs like the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. The Thank a Million Teachers initiative wants to help. Throughout 2014 the initiative is awarding grants of up to $2,500 each to teachers across the United States that can be put toward classroom supplies or National Board certification. This grant is sponsored by Farmers Insurance.

DEADLINE: Oct. 31.
CONTACT: Thank a Million Teachers

9/11 Tribute Center open house: Teachers, join the 9/11 Tribute Center for an open house on Oct. 21. The Education Department will guide you through the exhibits and explain the inspirational resources that you can use in your grades 4–12 classrooms and beyond for teaching on the topic of 9/11. Participants will receive a voucher for a free class visit during the winter months.

CONTACT: 9/11 Tribute Center

Speaking of grants: The Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages International Association is seeking applications for the TESOL/Teaching English as a Foreign Language Travel Grant program. The program seeks to help English as a foreign language professionals attend the annual TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo. Educators can apply for grants up to $2,500. Eligibility: TESOL members who are currently practicing EFL teachers, teacher trainers, or supervisors with at least five years of experience working in a setting where English is taught as a foreign language.

DEADLINE: Nov. 1.
CONTACT: TESOL International Association, 1925 Ballenger Ave., Suite 550, Alexandria, VA 22314-6820; 1-703-836-0774; awards@tesol.org; TESOL Association

Free science lessons: The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space provides free lesson plans on the International Space Station National Laboratory to K–12 educators. Interested educators or school districts can sign up on the website for free and receive access to lesson plans to help equip students for ongoing paths of inquiry and engage them deeply in STEM subjects and “On Station” communication from CASIS, which includes the most up-to-date news about research on the ISS.

CONTACT: CASIS

Lawyers in the classroom: The Law Related Education Committee at the New York County Lawyers’ Association continues its outreach program to schools and community groups. The longtime program consists of attorneys and judges visiting classrooms, speaking on a variety of topics regarding the law, the courts and the justice system. Among the topics are: Jobs in the Justice System; Law as a Career; Immigration Law; Criminal Law; Civil Law; Family Law; Commercial Law; Constitutional Law; Cheating; Bullying; Fairness/Justice; When do you need a lawyer? A class visit to an active courtroom may also be requested.

CONTACT: Justice Richard Lee Price, chair, Committee on Law-Related Education, at 1-718-618-3646 or rprice@nycourts.gov.

How does your garden grow? Grow to Learn NYC is accepting applications for minigrants of $500 to $2,000 to start or enhance a learning garden program at schools. To apply, schools must register the garden and submit the minigrant application.

DEADLINE: Nov. 3.
CONTACT: Grow to Learn. If you need help applying, you can attend a grant-writing and garden-design workshop on Oct. 15, noon–2 p.m.; Oct. 21, 10 a.m.–noon; or Oct. 27, 4:30–6:30 p.m. Workshops are held at GrowNYC, 49 Chambers St., Manhattan. RSVP online for the workshops at www.growtolearn.org/view/mini_grant with your name, email address, phone number, school name and borough of school, or call 1-212-788-7900.

For STEM teachers: The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program provides a unique opportunity for accomplished K–12 educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to serve in the national education arena. Fellows spend 11 months working in a federal agency or in a U.S. congressional office, bringing their extensive knowledge and experience in the classroom to education program and/or education policy efforts. Current sponsoring agencies include the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The DOE sponsors up to four placements in congressional offices. To be eligible, you must have a minimum of five years full-time classroom teaching experience prior to completing the application; have been teaching full time in a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least five of the last seven years in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics discipline; be employed full time in a public or private elementary or secondary school or school district in the U.S.; be able to provide a letter of recommendation from a school district official as one of the three required letters of recommendation; and be able to obtain a leave of absence from teaching in order to participate in the program for the full 11 months.

DEADLINE: Nov. 20.
CONTACT: http://science.energy.gov/wdts/einstein

Win a GRAMMY for your school: Does your school deserve a GRAMMY — and a little bit of cash for your music programs to go along with it? It does if your school has a great music program with a fantastic music teacher or two thrown in, or if you are keeping music classes in your school despite that fact that you barely have a budget for sheet music, much less instruments. Each winning school gets a GRAMMY Award and a cash prize of up to $10,000. Schools compete in different categories based on excellence or need, so apply now.

DEADLINE: Oct. 22.
CONTACT: GRAMMY Signature Schools