Johnston educators receive $5,000 grant

DES MOINES, IA (12/17/2013)(readMedia)-- Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) members, Michelle Jordan, a seventh grade educator, and co-applicant, Lauren Heston, of Summit Middle School in Johnston received a $5,000 Student Achievement Grant from the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation to introduce "Reaching the Summit," a unique after-school program designed to close the achievement gaps for struggling students. The school-based mentoring program – made up of staff members and community volunteers – will improve students' academic progress, school attendance, and connectivity to the school community.

"This is a great example of ISEA members working with their local community in creating solutions," said ISEA president Tammy Wawro. "Michelle and Lauren came up with an idea and have reached beyond state budgets to address a real need in their school community. The ISEA is proud of our members who work so hard to enrich the lives of the students in their classrooms and to help all of them achieve to the best of their abilities," added Wawro.

"With these grants, we are supporting educator-driven solutions that contribute to improved student performance in public schools," said Harriet Sanford, president and CEO of the NEA Foundation. "Our funding enables educators to engage in a wide variety of innovative approaches to the benefit of students across the country."

Nationwide, the NEA Foundation announced that it is awarding 40 grants totaling $155,000 to support educators' efforts to improve teaching and learning. The NEA Foundation awards to levels of funding, $2,000 and $5,000, for two primary categories of grants to public education professionals: Student Achievement Grants for initiatives to improve academic achievement, and Learning and Leadership Grants for high-quality professional development activities.

A team of 20 educators, many of whom are former grantees, carefully reviewed all applications and evaluated each one against a set of criteria. Funded grants were selected for the quality of the proposed ideas and their potential for enhancing student achievement. The latest grants were awarded to educators in 25 states.

The NEA Foundation has invested more than $7.1 million in grants to support the work of almost 4,500 educators from every state in the country to help students succeed. Each year, the Foundation awards approximately 150 Student Achievement and Learning & Leadership Grants.

Visit www.neafoundation.org for more information.

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The ISEA is a professional organization made up of nearly 34,000 educators who are dedicated to supporting and protecting a quality public education for all Iowa students. Great Education. It's an Iowa Basic!