Congratulations to Ms. Lisa Young, a middle school math and science teacher at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, who has been awarded a $500 Classroom Grant to purchase a mat-cutting kit with safety knives and poster board.

Ms. Young noted that because she works in a STEM school, the curriculum includes building many models and prototypes. For example, a 6th grader unit on architecture requires building a model of a single story house. An 8th grade project requires that students build a wind-powered, simple machine. Unfortunately, without the necessary supplies, Ms. Young has had to shoulder responsibility for cutting out the materials for student models which severely cuts into her teaching time.

Ms. Young shares NWPE’s focus on growing educators as professionals.  She thinks that the professionalism of educators can be raised by adjusting the pay for those that choose teaching as a second career.  “Those that have already had a previous career should join the pay scale as a more experienced teacher than those for whom teaching is their first occupation. This will encourage experts from other fields to join the teaching profession. Currently, the first year teaching wage might be a turn off for someone thinking of making a career change. Recruiting teachers from other fields would increase the talent pool and diversity of teachers. It would provide real-world experience in the classroom and a professional base of employees.” 

NWPE is happy to provide Ms. Young with this grant to enhance student learning.  It is certainly well-deserved as she seeks ways to increase student achievement. We are proud to reward her for her hard work and creativity in the classroom.  We and her colleagues also appreciate knowing that the tools she purchases can be easily shared with other teachers!

A member of NWPE, Ms. Young noted that she joined NWPE because she trusts her administration’s recommendations as well as the importance of liability insurance and non-biased information on current events in the field.

We are excited to award Ms. Young with this grant and the opportunity to help meet the needs of her students!

NWPE awards $500 teacher scholarships and classroom grants twice a year. Teachers who are new to the profession or their classroom are also eligible for $250 New Classroom Start-Up Grants.  All educators are eligible for the awards although NWPE members receive first preference.  The next application deadline for the $500 awards is March 1, 2013.  The application for the $250 New Classroom Start-Up Grants is December 31.

See www.nwpe.org for more information.

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