GAR FOUNDATION

Educator Initiative Grant Guidelines

Please read through all of the information below before submitting an application.

What types of projects are eligible for funding?

The Educator Initiative Grant Program offers funding to teams of K-12 educators who are working

together to develop, implement, and assess instructional strategies that will (1) help their students meet

Ohio’s academic standards (2) help their schools achieve goals identified in their school improvement

plans (3) and inclusion of the 21st Century Skills.

Who may apply for an Educator Initiative Grant?

Only teams of educators from public, private, parochial and charter schools in Summit County may apply

for Educator Initiative Grants. These teams must consist of at least two K-12 classroom teachers.

Administrators may also be team members but should submit applications only in concert with a group of

teachers who will share responsibility for implementing the project for which funding is requested.

All applications must be endorsed by the appropriate building principals (i.e., by the principals of all

schools that will be directly affected by the project) and, in the case of public schools, by the appropriate

district superintendents (i.e., by the superintendents of all districts that will be directly affected by the

project). One superintendent must also accept fiscal responsibility for any grant resulting from the

application.

How much funding is available through an Educator Initiative Grant?

Educator Initiative Grants of no less than $1,000 and no more than $5,000 are available for projects

designed to improve achievement in one or more classrooms. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for

entire departments, grades seven through twelve. For projects designed to have school-wide impact,

$15,000 grants are available.

Do Educator Initiative Grants cover all types of expenses?

Ordinarily, applicants for an Educator Initiative Grant should not request funding for teacher stipends,

refreshments, furnishings, incentives, rewards, T-shirts, and standard school supplies.

Funding for equipment will be considered only if the equipment is instrumental in achieving the goals of

the project as outlined in the application. No more than fifty percent of the funds requested may be

designated for the purchase of computer hardware, scientific instruments, and other equipment.

Funding for conferences and other professional development opportunities will only be considered as part

of a more comprehensive project with clearly articulated objectives, expected outcomes, and assessment

plans. No more than 10 percent of the funds requested may be used to subsidize the hiring of substitutes.

Are multi-year grants available?

Applicants should request funding for one year only but may apply for additional funding in subsequent

years if their project is successful. Ordinarily, applicants should not expect more than three (3) years of

funding for a particular project.

How can I apply for an Educator Initiative Grant?

Educators who meet the criteria outlined in these guidelines can apply for an Educator Initiative Grant by

taking the following steps:

1. Identify the individual who will serve as the contact person for the grant application and fill in the

contact information requested on the Educator Initiative Grant Application.

2. Using no more than 2,000 typed words, prepare a proposal incorporating all of the information

specified in the Educator Initiative Grant Application under “Details of Proposal.”

3. Complete a Team Member Information Sheet.

4. Obtain from the principal of each school involved in the project a completed Principal’s

Endorsement Form.

5. Obtain from the superintendent of each public school district involved in the project a completed

Superintendent’s Endorsement Form. Make sure that one of the superintendents involved

accepts fiscal responsibility for the grant.

6. Send five copies of each of these documents (i.e., a cover sheet reflecting contact information; the

proposal; the team member information sheets; the principal’s endorsement forms; and the

superintendent’s endorsement forms) to:

The GAR Foundation

Andrew Jackson House

277 East Mill Street

Akron, OH 44308-1735

What is the deadline for applying for an Educator Initiative Grant?

GAR Foundation’s Distribution Committee will consider applications for Educator Initiative Grants once

a year at its May meeting. In order to be considered at the May distribution meeting, an application

must have been received by GAR no later than the Friday following Presidents Day in February.

To whom should prospective applicants direct questions?

All questions about the Educator Initiative Grant program or the application process should be directed to

one of the following individuals:

Connie Leonard Katie Wells-Goodwin

Educator Initiative Program Director Educator Initiative Program Director

(330) 699-5382 (330) 670-6252

conniekayleonard@yahoo.com. katy7ed@verizon.net

What criteria will be used in evaluating requests for Educator Initiative Grants?

Please refer to the Educator Initiative Grant Application Evaluation Rubric for a list of criteria that will be

used in evaluating requests for Educator Initiative Grants.

GAR Foundation Educator Initiative Grant Application

Title Page

Note: This application form should be used only for requests that fall within the guidelines of

GAR’s Educator Initiative Grant Program. Please review those guidelines before submitting an

application.

Title of Project: Phase II: Web 2.0 and Student Learning Engagement: A Proposal to Turn our Web 2.0 Classrooms (GAR Educator Initiative Grant, 2009-

2010 ) into Intra-global, Free, World Classrooms of Peace, Bridges in the Future

Amount Requested: $15,000 School District: Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

Name and Address of School: St. Matthew Parish School

2580 Benton Avenue

Akron, OH 44312

School Telephone Number: 330.784.1711 School Enrollment: 293

Grade levels encompassed by school: Pre-kindergarten through Grade 8

CONTACT PERSON INFORMATION

Name: Mrs. Beth Davis

Mailing Address: St. Matthew Parish School

2580 Benton Avenue

Akron, OH 44312

Email Address: bdavis@stmatthewparishschool.org

Telephone Number: 330.784.1711 x24 Fax Number: 330.733.1004

Funded grants project leaders are expected to attend and set up a display table at the fall “Gifts and Grants”

Conference.

[ X ] I agree to display. (signature)

Please write a description of your project using 50 or fewer words.

Expanding on our success with the first EIG, we will open our physical, cultural, and spiritual classroom to age-matched students in classrooms around the world, and similarly, their classrooms to our children, resulting in bridges of learning, bridges of sharing, bridges of friendship, bridges of

peace.

DETAILS OF PROPOSAL

Using no more than 2,000 typed words, please prepare a proposal that incorporates all of the following

information in appropriately labeled sections.

1. Project Description: Provide a one or two paragraph description of the activities that the project

will entail. The original GAR EID we received allowed us to build a network beyond our initial dreams. Together with our state support monies (which continue to dwindle at an even faster pace than public education monies), we are one-third of the way toward our 1-to-1 student/lap-top initiative in our teaching classrooms. With our state monies, the GAR EID, support provided by the people of St. Matthew Parish and School (SMPS), and many other friends of education, we are well on our way towards building a world-class 21

st Century/Web 2.0 classroom in every grade level, in every classroom in our school, with

every teacher enthusiastically embracing and learning additional 21st Century teaching techniques. We

are committed to and have funded professional development series for our teachers to expand their 21st

century skills and tools. Our upper grade teachers (5-8) use the popular Moodle platform to present material, engage students, and assess learning. Our lower grade teachers (K-4) use a similar platform called Schoology. We have built an ideal physical and intellectual foundation to take our school, and elementary education, to a higher level, as enjoyed at the universities for years, creating an intra-global classroom for instruction to the world, and in the process, building bridges of peace. Thus, the continuation of this project will deliver the next level of equipment, resources and opportunities for Web 2.0 learning to continue its profound impact on our students and faculty. Specifically, with the addition of teacher laptops, a video conferencing unit, and continued staff development, we can properly outfit our school for the next level of technological advances for which the students and teachers are ready. With these materials, we will be able to launch the following projects, to name just a few:

Video Conferencing with classrooms in Qatar and/or Spain (Spanish is taught at all grade levels)

Virtual Field Trips around the world (we will be able to virtually visit any museum or historical site)

Moodle, Schoology, etc. in every classroom

We would like to expand our success with the first EIG and open our physical, cultural, and spiritual classroom to age-matched students in a classroom on the other side of our globe; and similarly, their classrooms to our children, resulting in bridges of learning, bridges of sharing, bridges of friendship, bridges of peace. Mr. King, and his representatives, are currently in discussions with the principal of a local public middle school (which ultimately would have to pass school board approval), private schools in Spain, and private schools in present day Qatar. Our discussions center around opening SMPS classrooms, digitally, and with sensitivity to local cultural and religious custom and/or restrictions, to equally aged students elsewhere, in a similarly sized school, somewhere else locally, somewhere else in the world, perhaps less privileged than our country, perhaps a country even at war with itself at present time. We want to create a new digital classroom for our elementary students, a classroom long enjoyed by the universities, but with an added benefit: spreading peace through worldwide friendship, for knowledge flows fruitfully between friends. We want to create a classroom where a sex-discriminated/persecuted female teacher in “Arabia”, who teaches third grade students in her country, can also teach third grade students in our classroom. We want to create a classroom where she teaches our young children social studies from her middle-eastern perspective, from the perspective of a woman who doesn't enjoy equality. We want to create a classroom where our third grade teachers can teach her students, sharing the realities of life where freedom and democracy and inalienable rights are valued.

This creates hope, bridges cultures, builds friendships, brings peace, and may even foster understanding between Christians and Muslims.

2. Timetable: Outline the timetable for the start and completion of each major project activity.

This project will begin on May 1, 2011, in preparation for the 2011-2012 school year. 2.0 Web Learning will continue to be the focus of staff development, and new laptops will allow our faculty to use their summer months for adapting their lesson plans with the Web 2.0 resources. The project will officially end with the conclusion of the school year (June 2012), and a report reviewing the progress and successes of the project should be available by June 30, 2012.

3. Need and Objectives: Provide a one or two paragraph description of the data or evidence

supporting the need for this project; the school improvement plan goals that the project addresses;

the number of students that will be affected by the project; and the Ohio content standards that the

project will help those students meet.

Computer and Internet technology is rapidly changing the face of education. Our students are immersed in a world of new technology from the moment of birth, and their school is in direct competition to engage them as fully as their video toys. Our school has found its niche, and that is to be the leader in developing 21

st Century learning skills in order to best engage our students for the world of higher

education and work that awaits them. Early training in these tools concretizes the young imagination. This current generation of school-aged children, millennials, show different characteristics than previous generations in how they learn, interact, and use technology (Howe & Straus, 2000; Oblinger, 2003). These students are “digital natives” where digital technology is not a new thing; it is the world they were born into. 90% of three year-old children in the U.S. have used a computer and 60% have been on the internet.” The concept that the classroom extends beyond its physical barriers to the world is an idea that millennial students can identify with because of the nature of their inquisitive minds” (Merriman & Nicoleti, 2009). In establishing our niche as a 21

st Century Skills/Web 2.0 school, we will be better able to attract

additional new students, increasing our enrollment and tuition dollars, thus decreasing our dependence on the parish for subsidy, both of which are goals within our school improvement plan. (N.B. To reduce its reliance on the parish is a major goal of our school, because currently, 27% of our income comes from the parish subsidy). This project will target the approximately 300 students we have in Pre-K through eighth grade.. However, we intend to invite other faculties to visit our school and learn how to implement Web 2.0 learning in their classrooms and schools, ultimately helping to improve elementary education for thousands of Ohio students, possibly even those beyond our borders with virtual visits.

This project addresses Ohio content standards in all subjects both directly and indirectly and will have impact across the curriculum. Learning 2.0: A Study on the Impact of Web 2.0 Innovations on Education and Training in Europe. Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, 2008; retrieved on February 2, 2009 from http://is.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pages/Learning-2.0.html .

Nagle, D., January, 2008, Web 2.0 in Education: Trends for 2008. in The Journal; retrieved on February 2 ,2009 from http://www.thejournal.com/articles/21839 .

n Hargadon, S., October, 2008, Moving Toward Web 2.0 in K-12 Education. in Encyclopedia Britannica Blog, retrieved on February 3 from http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2008/10/moving-toward-web-20-in-k-12-education/ . Howe, N. & Straus, w. (2000). Milennials Rising. The Next Generation. New York: Vantage Books. Merriman, W., & Nicoletti, A., (2009). Using Technology in 21

st Century Schools: Washington, NCEA.

Oblinger, D. (2003). Boom-res, Gen-xers, Millennials: Understanding the New Students. Educasue July/August 2003.

4. Outcomes: Explain what specific outcomes you expect from the project.

1) Student centered teaching resulting in better learning and engagement

2) Better learning outcome and motivation to “own” their desire for learning (as evidenced by standardized tests and other assessments) 3) A broadening of the informational tools available to teachers and students to include, virtually, the world, thereby increasing our ability to market our 21st Century school 4) Increase in enrollment 5) Decrease in financial dependence on the parish for subsidy of the school budget

5. Evaluation: Explain the process you will use for determining whether the project has produced

the expected outcomes. Include the projected number of teachers and students impacted by your

grant proposal.

Outcome #1 Evaluation Tool: Principal evaluations of Teachers; Use of teacher developed, age-appropriate “Exit Interview Surveys” at the end of the 2011-2012 school year for students in al grades who have used the site during the year. The survey will be designed to help determine whether: 1) our students use the technology tools available on the site was advantageous over more traditional classroom tools (such as lectures, workbooks, and ). The results of this survey will be included in our year-end report.

Outcome #2 Evaluation Tool: Though much more difficult to quantify with any statistically useful information, a catalogue of extra-credit projects initiated by individual students will be kept. Time on-line at the learning sites will also be logged throughout the year. Questions to qualitatively assess this outcome will be included in the aforementioned “Exit Interview Surveys”. These logs will be included in our year-end report.

Outcome #3 Evaluation Tool: Each student will be issued a learning “Passport”, and for each encounter with a museum, another country, each new “international e-penpal”, he will receive a “stamp” of passage. Passports will be tallied at the end of each semester and results will be published. Outcome #4 Evaluation Tool: Comparison of the school’s marketing pieces (publicity ads, marketing brochures, etc.) and current and parent conversations and surveys will be recorded. These will be included in our year-end report.

Outcome #4 Evaluation Tool: Enrollment will be charted and graphed, comparing the last ten years. This chart will be included in our year-end report.

Outcome #5 Evaluation Tool: Parish subsidy will be charted and graphed, comparing the last ten years. This chart will be included in our year-end report.

7. Sustainability: Explain how you will sustain project activities or the positive impact of those

activities after the grant expires.

Our school is technologically well endowed, so the enhancement of these features with the materials outlined in the Proposed Budget section will be invaluable additions. With these measures brought to our school, we will better sustain our school’s FUTURE because our schools will be regarded as a leader for Web 2.0 learning at the elementary level. We have a part-time person in place for tech support, and budgeted resources and warranties for maintenance purposes.

8. Dissemination: Outline your plans for sharing the results of this project with colleagues.

At regular intervals, project leads will meet with level teachers to collaborate and plan. At monthly staffing, faculty will report innovations and results thereof to each other. A log of “Best Practices” will be kept for display and distribution at EIG Fair. Furthermore, we will host a Web 2.0 Open House, inviting area school faculties to “come and see” the use of this technology in the elementary classroom, highlighting early, elementary and middle grade application as well as the different subject areas. We may eventually host a virtual international Open House to share best practices and impact.

8. Project Budget: Provide an itemized list of all expenses you expect to incur in connection with

the project as well as other sources of funding for the project. Please use actual cost quotes that

reflect the best available prices on equipment and materials as discovered through reasonable

market research.

Administrative Expenses: Total GAR Request Server (Moodle) Communications Travel/Meetings $ 2,500 $ 1,250 Direct Teacher/Student Expenses Professional Development Epiphany Management,etc. Ohio eTech, etc. $15,250 $ 7,625 *Video Conferencing Unit: $ 7,500 $ 0

Instructional (Hardware) Teacher Laptops** $12,750 $ 6,375 Total Budget: $ 37,500 Total Budget Requested: $ 15,000

* Our school auction “Fund-an-Item” is for this mobile video conferencing unit this year. We have every

reason to believe we will successfully raise this amount for this unit. **SMPS is in immediate and desperate need of adequate teacher laptops to facilitate presentation of

teaching materials in our classrooms, as well as facilitate communications with teachers in other classrooms, in different school districts, and different countries: the intra-global classroom. Pricing is wholesale costs, available to us through of our school family’s companies. N.B. St. Matthew Parish School owns licenses for needed software so this purchase request is simply for

the hardware.

REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS Please attach to the application the following documents:

1. A Team Member Information Sheet which identifies all members of the project implementation

team and provides the information requested for each individual.

2. A Principal’s Endorsement Form completed by the principal of each school involved in the

project.

3. A Superintendent’s Endorsement Form completed by the superintendent of each public school

district involved in the project.

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1.

Team Member Information Sheet

Name of School St. Matthew Parish School

Title of Project Phase II: Web 2.0 and Student Learning Engagement: A Proposal to Turn our Web 2.0 Classrooms (GAR Educator Initiative Grant, 2009-

2010 ) into Intra-global, Free, World Classrooms of Peace, Bridges in the Future

Please include information for each team member. (Attach additional sheets if necessary)

Name (Miss/Ms./Mrs./Mr./Dr.) Mr. Jim King

Position (e.g., supervisor, principal, teacher, etc.) Principal

Grade level(s) taught N/A - Administration

Subject(s) taught

Role in project implementation. (One or two sentences only) Project Director

Name (Miss/Ms./Mrs./Mr./Dr.) Dr. Kent Glaus

Position (e.g., supervisor, principal, teacher, etc.) Consultant

Grade level(s) taught Middle school-college

Subject(s) taught Science, chemistry, genetics, statistics

Role in project implementation. (One or two sentences only) Dr. Glaus will serve as the liason to the schools we will connect with, from Norton, Ohio to Qatar to Spain. He will also help in purchasing equipment at wholesale prices through his company, AALMITA, Inc., and will work closely with the people offering the matching donation.

Name (Miss/Ms./Mrs./Mr./Dr Miss Meghan Redle

Position (e.g., supervisor, principal, teacher, etc.) teacher

Grade level(s) taught Grade 7, 3

Subject(s) taught gr 7-8: Social studies, religion, language arts; grade 3: all subjects including religion

Role in project implementation. (One or two sentences only) Presently working toward a Masters in Technology, Miss Redle will be the elementary lead on the project, communicating and leading teachers in grades 2-5.

Name (Miss/Ms./Mrs./Mr./Dr.) Mrs. Arin Sloan

Position (e.g., supervisor, principal, teacher, etc.) teacher

Grade level(s) taught Grade 1

Subject(s) taught all subjects including religion

Role in project implementation. (One or two sentences only) Mrs. Sloan will be the early elementary lead on the project, communicating and leading teachers in grades pre-k-1.

Name (Miss/Ms./Mrs./Mr./Dr.) Mrs. Steve Kramer

Position (e.g., supervisor, principal, teacher, etc.) teacher

Grade level(s) taught Pre-k; Grade 8

Subject(s) taught Pre-k: all subjects including religion. Gr 8: science, social studies

Role in project implementation. (One or two sentences only) Mr. Kramer will be the middle school lead on the project, communicating and leading teachers in grades 6-8.

Principal’s Endorsement Form (A completed form must accompany every application.)

Please indicate your endorsement of this application by responding to the questions below and

signing this form.

1. How do you expect this project to promote goals identified in your school improvement plan?

As respect and empathy are integral goals of our School Improvement Plan, communication and collaboration with students of different cultures will greatly facilitate that end.

2. What other strategies is your school employing to achieve these same goals?

We have a complete Enrollment Management Plan, which includes marketing strategies, that will complement the enrollment goals. We have a Development Plan which includes our first ever Annual Fund Campaign ($25,000 to date) which will complement the revenue goal to reduce the parish subsidy. In addition, a new program, LITTLE/BIGS Pairings, is set to help encourage respect and empathy and our Grateful Hearts initiative is furthering this school-wide.

3. Are there any circumstances (e.g., district policies or practices, union contract requirements) you

know of that could impede completion of project activities or fulfillment of project objectives

identified in this grant application?

No.

4. What will you do to help ensure successful completion of this project?

As the project director, I expect to lead the implementation. As a doctoral candidate , I am constantly learning of best practices in regards to 21st Century Skills and educational technology. I addition, the school adopted the 21st Century Skills initiatives. In every classroom, objectives of the 21st Century Skills are being adopted. This initiative is integral yet one of many going on throughout the school.

I endorse the applicants’ request to GAR Foundation for $ 15,000 .

Jim King

Signature of Principal Print Name

St. Matthew Parish School 2580 Benton Ave.

School Address

Akron, OH 44312 330.784.1711

City, State, Zip Code Telephone

02.28.11 jking@stmatthewparishschool.org

Date Email Address

Superintendent’s Endorsement Form (A completed form must accompany every application.)

Please indicate your endorsement of this application by responding to the questions below and

signing this form.

1. Are there any circumstances you know of that could impede the completion of project activities or

fulfillment of project objectives identified in this grant application?

No, I am not aware of any circumstances that may impede the completion of the activities and objectives outlined in this proposal. Though there is always the possibility of a staff change due to moves, etc., I am not aware of any impediments to the completion of this project.

2. In your judgment, what is the likelihood that this project will generate new information or insights

that will help inform decisions made by the district? Please explain.

N/A.

3. Do you have access to or are you aware of alternate sources of funding for any expenses listed in the

project budget? Other than our school auction “Fund an Item”, no, there are no alternate sources of funding for this porject. However, we do have a promise of matching funds from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous should we receive funding from this proposal.

The district endorses the applicants’ request to GAR Foundation for $15,000 and has made the

applicants aware of relevant district policies and practices relating to the application for and

administration of grants. The district also accepts fiscal responsibility for any grant resulting from

this request. Yes / No (circle one)

Rev. G. Michael Williamson

Signature of Superintendent Print Name

St. Matthew Parish School 2603 Benton Ave.

School Address

Akron, OH 44312 330.733.9444

City, State, Zip Code Telephone

02.28.11 gmichael@stmatthewparish.net

Date Email Address

#139683 Updated Nov 09

Educator Initiative Grant Evaluation Rubric

Name of Applicant School ______________________________________________________________

Project Title _________________________________________________________________________

The following checklist reflects the minimum expectations for grant applications. A failure

to include any of the listed components or to comply with any of the listed guidelines will

make your application ineligible for consideration.

Checklist of Components

a) These components are included in the application:

Team member information

Principal form completed

Superintendent form completed

Project description

Project timetable

Identification of need/objectives

Explanation of expected outcomes

Description of evaluation plans

Discussion of sustainability

Explanation of plans for dissemination

Project budget

Title page

b) The following guidelines are observed:

Funding for equipment does not exceed 50% of amount requested.

Sources of other funding are documented.

Funding for conferences and professional development is requested as part of a more

comprehensive project.

Funding for substitutes does not exceed 10% of the amount requested.

Funding requested does not exceed $5,000 unless the project has a school-wide impact.

The following criteria will be used in evaluating requests for funding:

Criteria Possible

Points

Points

Awarded

Project Purpose and Methods 8

a) The project description clearly conveys the components and goals of the

project. (0 to 3 points)

a. _____

b) The timeline established reflects a logical sequence of project activities and

indicates clearly when each major activity will start and end. (0 to 3 points)

b. _____

c) Data provided substantiate the need for the project. (0 to 2 points) c. _____

Total _____

Educational Impact 40

a) The potential for significant impact on student achievement is evident and

includes the integration of technology. (0 to 10 points)

a. _____

b) The project is aligned with identified academic standards inclusive of 21

Century Skills. (0 to 10 points)

b. _____

c) The project will help the team members’ schools meet goals established in

their improvement plans. (0 to 10 points)

c. _____

d) The application identifies and clearly explains reasonable means that will be

used to evaluate project outcomes. (0 to 10 points)

d. _____

Total _____

Teacher/Student Leadership and Collaboration 16

a) The project promotes collaborative effort and professional development

among a group of educators. (0 to 10 points)

a. _____

b) The project clearly reflects teacher leadership in effecting school

improvement and it promotes student choice, cooperative learning and higher

order thinking. (0 to 10 points)

b. _____

Total _____

Best Practices 21

a) The project is developmentally appropriate and shows evidence of creativity

and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, and the integration of

technology. (0 to 7 points)

a. _____

b)

c)

The project encourages use of “best practices.” For example, it is

interdisciplinary integrating 21st Century Skills into content areas. (0 to 7

points)

The project includes career consideration and/or learning about life skills. (0

to 7 points)

b. _____

c._____

Total _____

Endurance and Sustainability 15

a) It is likely that the project will have an enduring impact. (0 to 5 points) a. _____

b) It is likely that the project can be sustained by applicants and replicated by others

after GAR funding is exhausted. (0 to 5 points)

b. _____

c) The project is likely to generate information that will be useful to other educators.

(0 to 5 points)

c. _____

Total _____

Grand Total ________

Comments:

Recommend approval ________ or denial _______

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