Washington teachers awarded Gates Learning Foundation grants

REDMOND, Wash. -- The Gates Learning Foundation's Teacher Leadership Project today distributed grants worth a total of $3.1 million to support 5th through 7th grade teachers in Washington state with a hands-on opportunity to think and learn about the best ways to use technology for learning in the classroom. Teacher Leadership Project grants — which include $9,000 for classroom hardware and 11 days of training on how to use technology to assist students in reaching the Washington Essential Academic Learning Requirements — were distributed to 214 teachers from 100 districts and 28 private schools from all corners of the state.

"Teachers have an incredible responsibility placed upon them to educate our children. Our goal is to assist them in meeting this challenge by providing them with resources to enhance student learning through the use of technology," said Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Gates Learning Foundation.

The grant money will go toward purchasing computers for student use and a laptop computer for the teacher, and also includes workshops, seminars, and inclusion in a growing network of TLP teachers who share and support one another's efforts to make technology an integral part of the everyday classroom experience. The program curriculum, guidelines, and structure were designed by a group of teachers from across the state and are overseen and evaluated by this same network. Separately, Microsoft Corporation will donate $500,000 worth of software to teacher grant recipients for student use in their classrooms.

"Teachers are the key to the use of technology in the classroom. They know their subject areas and they are always seeking ways to enhance student learning. They are eager for the training and the resources to use technology across all subject areas," said Kathy Klock, a former public school teacher and administrator, and director of the Teacher Leadership Project of the Gates Learning Foundation. "It's not about replacing the 3 Rs with computers; it's about enhancing and supporting basic education using the best technological resources available and sharing ideas and best practices so we can have the highest standards of education for our kids."

"This is an exciting opportunity for teachers to come together and determine the best way technology can support and enhance student learning. The Teacher Leadership Project encourages teachers to work together to creatively use technology to assist students in meeting the Washington Essential Academic Learning Requirements. We are grateful to the Gates' for their support of teachers and students in the community," said Patty Chacon, Teacher Leadership Project participant and teacher at South Shore Middle School.

Grant recipients will also receive a library of software; access to the special "Schoolkit Website" for all teachers in the participant's school; and travel and lodging expenses for all training sessions.

To receive a grant, teachers had to be in a district that has a formal technology plan; commit to keeping the computers in the teachers classroom and have technical support available for three years; and be able to provide substitute teachers for training days.

"The anecdotes from the pilot program we ran last year were so exciting," said Patty Stonesifer, president of the Gates Learning Foundation. "Teachers told us great stories about kids who weren't normally considered 'leaders' yet who caught on with computers and became real stars with their peers. We heard other stories of kids who couldn't wait to come to school early and stay late. One teacher said she decided to stay late one night just to see how long her students would stick around. They outlasted her and she finally had to turn out the lights and show them the door.

"If, by using computers in the classroom, we can help turn kids into passionate learners, this will be an exciting project to be part of. We are proud to be working with so many committed teachers doing such great work."