The Distribution Committee of GAR Foundation announced $350,000 in funding to 33 teams of educators through its annual Educator Initiative Grant (EIG) program. The EIG program offers grants to teams of K-12 educators in Summit County’s public and private schools who present classroom innovations that will drive student success. Educators from Akron Public Schools’ Bridges Learning Center were awarded $7,300 for the Bridges Bulldogs Broadcast Network. This initiative will immerse students in real-world experiences to create a quality school news program. Students will gain transferable digital literacy skills, be exposed to media production, and glimpse into a future career. 

A number of grants were awarded to the Seton Catholic School, including The Intelligent Classroom: Exploration in Virtual Reality. This project will allow students to break the barriers of physical challenges and economic differences – creating an environment of experiences open to all. Using virtual reality technology, students will “travel” to parliament, walk the streets of London, and swim with sea creatures.  

Summit County educators are encouraged to attend GAR Foundation’s Annual Educator Conference on October 4, 2018. The free conference brings together K-12 educators to uplift innovative strategies for student engagement and success. Information for the conference is available on the GAR website. 

The schools receiving support include: 

1. Bath Elementary School, $9,600, Tiny Houses 
2. Bolich and Roberts Middle Schools, $10,000, Sphero Robotics Competitions 
3. Bolich Middle School, $14,300, Digital Creation Studio 
4. Bridges Learning Center, $7,300, Bridges Bulldog Broadcast Network 
5. Chapel Hill Christian School North, $15,000, Coding into Critical Thinking 
6. Cuyahoga Falls High School, $15,000, Tiger Time News 
7. Cuyahoga Falls High School, $14,300, Publications for the 21st Century 
8. Cuyahoga Falls High School, $9,000, The Renaissance Coalition 
9. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, $4,000, The Big Read 
10. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, $1,100, Mentoring Mathletes 
11. DeWitt Elementary School, $9,300, Greener and Cleaner at Dewitt Elementary School 
12. East Woods School, $15,000, How Does Design Matter 
13. Glover CLC, $6,100, The Big 3 
14. Hudson High School, $9,900, Creating the “perfect pack” and the Evolution of a Freshman 
15. Immaculate Heart of Mary School, $14,700, MakerSpace is More Than Just a Room 
16. Immaculate Heart of Mary School, $14,400, What’s On Your Mind? 
17. Immaculate Heart of Mary School, $9,900, Coming to America? 
18. Kimpton Middle School, $9,600, Academic, Behavior, and Heath Benefits of heart rate monitoring  
19. Litchfield CLC, $9,700, Growing Student Mindsets That Invite Excellence 
20. Manchester High School, $11,700, Composting to Save Water Organically 
21. Manchester High School, $5,400, Kids & You 
22. Mason CLC, $5,900, My Creativity My Future 
23. McDowell Elementary School, $14,400, How do I use models to learn from my work? 
24. Our Lady of the Elms, $15,000, Agricultural Exploration 
25. Preston Elementary School, $14,000, Preston Pride – News on Your Side 
26. Richardson Elementary School, $10,000, Wellness Begins With Me 
27. Seton Catholic School, $13,700, The Intelligent Classroom: Exploration in Virtual Reality 
28. Seton Catholic School, $7,700, Step Up and Be Heard! Listen…can you hear me? The Art of Soapbox Speaking, Seton Style 
29. Silver Lake Elementary School, $14,400, Makerspaces on the go! 
30. Springfield High and Junior High, $6,300, ChromaKey to Success: Giving the Green Light to Language Acquisition through TPRS 
31. St. Barnabas School, $9,900, First Edition 
32. St. Barnabas School, $9,200, “What a great I.D.E.A!” (Invention, Design, Engineer…Adventure) 
33. Woodridge Elementary School, $14,200, Park Talks 

For more information about the Educator Initiative Grant program, contact Lucille Esposito, EIG program manager, at espolucille@gmail.com or 330-550-6661. 

GAR Foundation 

GAR Foundation was established in 1967 by Galen Roush, co-founder and chief executive officer of Roadway Express, and his wife Ruth Roush. GAR Foundation’s mission is to help Akron become smarter, stronger, and more vibrant. Visit www.garfoundation.org for more information.