Marshalltown Educator Receives $5,000 Grant

DES MOINES, IA (11/10/2010)(readMedia)-- Karen Mixdorf of Area Education Agency 267 in Marshalltown received a $5,000 Learning & Leadership Grant from the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation to lead a study group to explore teaching strategies using an inductive model. Participants will learn a research based model of teaching literacy as they further their understanding of the Iowa Core Curriculum (ICC). They will create and implement lessons based on the ICC's Essential Concepts and Skills and will use the inductive model of teaching. Lessons will focus on increasing student achievement in the areas of reading comprehension and writing.

The NEA Foundation awards two primary categories of grants to public education professionals: Student Achievement Grants for initiatives to improve academic achievement, and Learning & Leadership Grants for high-quality professional development activities. Nationwide, the NEA Foundation has awarded 57 grants totaling $252,000 to support educators' efforts to improve teaching and learning. Since 1999, the NEA Foundation has funded 32 grants for Iowa educators. The latest grants were awarded to educators in 33 states.

"With support from the NEA Foundation, public school educators nationwide are finding new ways to increase student engagement in learning and are sharing new approaches to instructional practice with their peers," said Harriet Sanford, president and CEO of the NEA Foundation. "Our most recent grantees will use these funds on a wide range of projects: from studying brained-based teaching strategies to instructing students how to create multi-media life stories through photography, poetry, and rap."

"We are so proud of Karen. Educators like Karen who continue to strive for new and innovative approaches to teaching and learning make Iowa a leader in public education," said Chris Bern, president of the Iowa State Education Association. "The inductive instruction method of teaching allows students to develop a deeper and more thorough level of understanding of a topic and it actively involves them in the process of learning," Bern added.

Since 1999, the NEA Foundation has awarded more than $7.5 million in grants to educators in every state in the country. The NEA Foundation awards its grants to educators three times a year. The deadline for the next review period is Feb 1, 2011. More information can be found at neafoundation.org.

The ISEA is a professional organization made up of more than 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!

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