ESF’s Teacher Excellence Grant For Challenge 21
The Eureka Schools Foundation (ESF) understands a key ingredient in an excellent education is comprehensive instruction and leading curriculum. Besides direct financial support for teacher salaries in enrichment education and cutting-edge classroom technology, a donation to ESF also supports the continuing education of the Eureka Union School District teachers in 21st century teaching practices.
ESF's 2009 Teacher Excellence Grant of $23,000 helped to support a comprehensive teaching institute for the EUSD teachers this past summer. This year’s summer instruction offering to teachers called, “The Challenge 21 Summer Institute,” took place in June and August and covered a wide range of topics. The training was in service of Challenge 21, the district-wide initiative to bring innovative 21st century practices in teaching critical thinking, and project-based learning, into all curriculums. ESF will now direct its yearly dividend funds from the ESF Endowment Fund as a direct grant for EUSD teacher education and instruction.
“ESF is proud to help our district teachers stay "ahead of the curve” by learning new teaching techniques they can apply in the classroom,” said Greg Sazima, 2009 ESF President.
During the summer institute, teachers learned new instructional practices to help students be more successful in the classroom, and also about classroom technology tools that enhance inquiry-based learning. They also began working in teams to develop new challenge units in project-based learning that will be implemented during the 2009-2010 school year.
About the Eureka Schools Foundation
The Eureka Schools Foundation (ESF) is a non-profit foundation that supports the students in the Eureka Union School District. Founded more than 17 years ago by parents, community members and local businesses, ESF has served to bridge the gap in unpredictable and insufficient education funding from our state government. ESF preserves programs and resources that are essential building-blocks to our kids’ education and their future.