Changing lives

The Butler-Cooley Excellence in Teaching Awards Program honors teachers who have demonstrated their capacity to change the outcome of students’ lives and the communities where they teach. The award consists of a $5,000 cash prize and covers up to $1,000 in travel, hotel arrangements and meals while in Texas for the awards presentation. Eligibility: Be licensed and active elementary or secondary (K–12) classroom teachers; teach at an accredited public or private school; possess at least five years of teaching experience; and have instructed students the equivalent of 20 hours per week during a nine-month academic calendar year for at least five of the prior seven years.

DEADLINE: June 12.
CONTACT: Butler-Cooley Excellence in Teaching Awards

Use music to teach math grant

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is looking for applications for the Using Music to Teach Mathematics Grants program. The program seeks to incorporate music into the elementary school classroom to help young students learn mathematics. Funds: Grants up to $3,000. Eligibility: Individual pre-K–2 classroom teachers or small groups of teachers collaborating in one grade or across grade levels. Applicants must be a current (on or before Oct. 13) full individual or e-member of NCTM or teach in a school with a current (on or before Oct. 13) NCTM pre-K–8 school membership and currently teach mathematics or collaborate with teachers of mathematics in grades pre-K–2. Proposals must address the following: the combining of mathematics and music; the plan for improving students’ learning of mathematics; the anticipated impact on students’ achievement.

DEADLINE: Nov. 3.
CONTACT: nctm@nctm.org; NCTM Grants.

Strike up the banned books

The Freedom to Read Foundation is seeking applications for the Judith Krug Fund Banned Books Week Event Grants program. The program distributes grants to nonprofit organizations to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Week celebration (Sept. 24–30). Grants are awarded at two levels: $1,000 and $2,500. Grantees also receive an American Library Association 2017 Banned Books Week PromoKit valued at $84 (includes one poster, one roll of stickers, one 50-pack of the 2017 Field Report: Banned and Challenged Books, one 100-pack of bookmarks, and one tote bag). Eligibility: Libraries, schools and universities.

DEADLINE: May 12.
CONTACT:  ftrf@ala.org; Judith Krug Fund Banned Books Week. 

For science teachers

The Clarivate Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award recognizes the unique teaching contribution of an individual as a teacher of information science. Maximum award: $1,000; $500 toward travel or other expenses to the grant recipient, contingent upon the recipient’s attending the ASIS&T annual meeting. Eligibility: Individuals directly engaged in teaching some aspect of information science on a continuing basis, in an academic or a nonacademic setting; nominees need not be associated with an educational institution; however, teaching information science must represent a significant work responsibility although it need not occur within the traditional classroom.

DEADLINE: July 1.
CONTACT: Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award.

Improving instruction

The Toshiba America Foundation makes grants for projects in math and science designed by classroom teachers to improve instruction for students in grades K–12. Grades 6–12 educators can apply for grants of $5,000 or more; grades K–5 can apply in October.

DEADLINE: Aug. 1.
CONTACT: Toshiba

Supporting physics teachers

The American Association of Physics Teachers’ Frederick and Florence Bauder Endowment for the Support of Physics Teaching was established to support special activities in the area of physics teaching. Activities can include but are not limited to the development and distribution of innovative apparatuses for physics teaching; traveling exhibits of apparatuses; and local workshops. Maximum award: $2,500. Eligibility: AAPT members.

DEADLINE: July 1.
CONTACT: Frederick and Florence Bauder Endowment for the Support of Physics Teaching