FIE ANNOUNCES 8TH ANNUAL GRANT CYCLE
September 11, 2024 | Foundations in Education | General Media Mentions News
Foundations in Education (FIE) is pleased to announce applications to the Innovation and Leadership Grants Program opened September 15, 2024.
The grants program promotes excellence in Catholic education by supporting teachers’ innovative and creative classroom projects and professional development. Grants funded through this program are for transformative innovative initiatives that may benefit multiple grade levels and have a long-term impact on student learning.
Now in its 8th year, this competitive grants program was the first of its kind in the diocese to offer innovation and leadership grants to Catholic school teachers and administrators.
To date, Foundations in Education has funded 152 transformative grants totaling over $900,000.
Educators within the Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools are encouraged to submit grant proposals from September 15 – November 8, 2024. The deadline has been extended this year to encourage greater participation.
A grants committee of Foundations’ Board of Trustees carefully reviews each proposal. Their recommendations are presented to Foundations’ Board of Trustees for approval. The committee is chaired by Henry Rondon, Foundations in Education Trustee and former Kolbe Cathedral High School Principal. The committee includes Foundations’ Trustees George Coleman, Dr. Julie McNamara, Paula Summa and Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ. They are joined by FIE Executive Director Holly Doherty-Lemoine, St Peter School and Immaculate High School alumnus and retired educator, Fraser Randolph and ex officio, Director of Innovation for the Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools, Al Barnicle.
“A generous challenge grant from the Elizabeth M. Pfriem Foundation in particular helped to make this program possible this year,” shared Foundations in Education Executive Director Holly Doherty-Lemoine. “Joined by generous donors passionate about quality education, they help make this exciting program possible. On behalf of the Board, we as a committee are exceedingly grateful for the opportunity to work diligently to consider projects that are innovative, creative, and likely to have tremendous impact on student learning.”
All Saints Catholic School in Norwalk was awarded grant funds this past year to purchase a STEM Pilot aimed at teaching students the theory of flight integrating science and math while they learn to fly on a flight simulator. The STEM Pilot training was integrated into a new Engineering program for Upper School.
According to Xavier Guzman, the Math, Science and Engineering teacher, “the program is helping students with problem solving skills, collaboration, and critical thinking process and teaching them principles of flight leveraging STEM concepts such as geometry, algebra, trigonometry, physics, meteorology, geography and topography.”
Principal Linda Dunn reported, “In just the first year, some students have improved their math, science, engineering and problem solving skills.”
Foundations in Education is an independent non-profit committed to strengthening and transforming the mission of Catholic education in the Diocese of Bridgeport by providing tuition assistance to families in need, supporting innovation in academic programs, and fostering opportunities for the professional development of school leaders.
To read more about the grants funded by Foundations in Education, or to contribute to this extraordinary initiative, visit www.foundationsineducation.org/innovation-leadership-grants.