24 high-needs teachers across the nation received a STEM Fund classroom grant to purchase STEM teaching materials, benefitting more than 600 students.
Thank you to Staples®, STEM Fund donors, and the F.I.S.H. Foundation for supporting STEM education this year! $24,000 in STEM Fund classroom grants was awarded to teachers to ensure hundreds of students have access to the resources they need to engage in STEM activities and curriculum. Today, as schools are challenged to adapt to Distance Learning, teachers and students need supplies more than ever.
STEM is an educational approach that integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is critical for preparing our future leaders and innovators, but adequate funding for STEM programs is in short supply. Shrinking school budgets make adequate STEM supplies, especially big-ticket technology items, unobtainable for many teachers and schools.
“My classroom has a $200 budget for the year [which I use to] purchase needed supplies for our curriculum, consumables, and books. There is not enough leftover to purchase STEM supplies.”
Jaime – Algoma, WI
STEM has become increasingly important, particularly in the future job market, but our schools are not equipped to meet the demand. The University of California, Davis reported 80% of the fastest-growing occupations require mastery of STEM skills. Yet, the National Math and Science Initiative found that only 36% of high-school students are ready for college-level science. Equal access to quality STEM instruction for our nation’s students can change that.
Arianna, a third grade teacher who received a STEM grant, sees firsthand how STEM education can completely transform student outcomes.
“Most of my students enter my classroom below grade level in both reading and math. Providing daily exposure to STEM activities has had a massive impact on student outcomes. By the end of the school year, my students grow an average of two grade levels, with some students growing as many as three.”
Arianna – Richmond VA
By providing teachers with the resources and supplies they need to teach STEM, we can better prepare our nation’s students for twenty-first century jobs.
Congratulations to the incredible teachers who received a STEM Fund classroom grant this year.
If you would like to help equip high-needs classrooms with much needed STEM supplies, please consider a gift to the STEM Fund today. Or, donate to our Disaster Relief Fund to support teachers and schools impacted by COVID-19.
We are thrilled to announce the following 2020 STEM Fund recipients:
- Kenneth Altamirano – Landing School – Glen Cove, New York
- Jeffrey Bender – Northeast Elementary School – Pride, Louisiana
- Debi Bober – Cubberley Elementary – Long Beach, California
- Kathy Bosiak – Lincolnton High School – Lincolnton, North Carolina
- Jill Byrd – Luhr Elementary School – Louisville, Kentucky
- Erin Daniel – Greene County Elementary School – Jefferson. Iowa
- Scott Donnelly – Carnegie Elementary School – Carnegie, Pennsylvania
- Jennifer Durham – H.L. Trigg Community School – Elizabeth City, North Carolina
- Robin Frisella – Tangelo Park Elementary School – Orlando, Florida
- Jenny Hendrix – Stilson Elementary School – Brooklet, Georgia
- Faiza Khalid – Ps 36 Margaret Douglas School – New York, New York
- Joy McCook – Bradwell Institute – Hinesville, Georgia
- Morris McCormick – Arminta Street Elementary School – North Hollywood, California
- Nicole McCoy – J.P. McCaskey High School – Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Jennifer McKinnon – Gotwals Elementary School – Norristown, Pennsylvania
- Ashlyn Moser – Folsom Elementary School – Thonotosassa, Florida
- Allison Pattion – Dunbar Elementary School – Memphis, Tennessee
- Kelly Perry – Newport High School – Newport, Oregon
- Jaime Robinson – Algoma Elementary School – Algoma, Wisconsin
- Jessica Singleton – Two Dimensions Preparatory Academy – Houston, Texas
- Dr. Loutrina Staley – Austin Middle School – Decatur, Alabama
- Arianna Trickey – Swansboro Elementary School – Richmond, Virginia
- Daniela Willett – Volma Overton Elementary School – Austin, Texas
- Sam Yancey – Jonathan Valley Elementary School – Waynesville, North Carolina