The Manitoba government has announced 27 successful innovative projects as the first set of proposals from the inaugural intake of applications for the 2021 Teachers’ Idea Fund.
Education Minister, Cliff Cullen says as a priority action of the Better Education Start’s Today strategy, we launched a new five-year, $25-million Teachers’ Idea Fund in March and received over 100 applications, “The fund will support innovative ideas from teachers, staff and school leaders to enhance classroom supports and improve student outcomes and well-being.”
Over 100 applications were received from 89 schools, representing 29 school divisions. The first round of funding will provide just over $425,000 to launch innovation in the education sector. Manitoba educators brought forward diverse ideas over the five themes: targeted learning supports, models of teaching and learning, mental health and well-being, transitions in kindergarten to Grade 12 Education, and engage families and parents. The proposed projects focused on meeting a need within the local school community and demonstrated creativity in their approaches to supporting student success.
Projects will help to support:
– students’ mental health and well-being impacts as a result of COVID-19 including developing a sensory pathway in a rural Manitoba school;
– exposure and career development experiences in high-growth economic sectors, such as film and television production;
– improvements in literacy in student outcomes using teaching sprints for both students with and without special learning needs;
– increase parent and caregiver engagement through the implementation of a walking school bus and breakfast/story time to improve attendance and academic performance; and
– Indigenous ways of knowing, being, living and learning, to allow for greater cultural exposure and learning experiences.
An Idea Fund Review Panel comprised of cross-sectoral stakeholders reviewed applications and recommended the projects for approval. The panel will continue to review applications and more projects will be supported in August. Applications continue to be accepted and will be reviewed on a continuous intake process. The application form for projects that are more than $25,000 or are multi-year will be available in August on the Teachers’ Idea Fund site.
“We continue our commitment to those who are on the front lines in our schools and classrooms,” added Cullen.
For more information on the Teachers’ Idea Fund, visit Teachers’ Idea Fund.
