Secrets to Funding Creative Education Projects in Public Schools
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
03/21/22
•23m
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In this S1E6 interview, discover how Executive Director Steve Manley and educator Joyce Putnam with the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) transformed the Ithaca City School District by creating innovative funding solutions that support teachers, boost student engagement, and strengthen parent involvement. In this inspiring episode, learn from Steve Joyce about building sustainable community partnerships that provide real resources for classrooms.
What You'll Learn:
• How to create independent school foundations that work alongside districts
• Three different grant types that fund everything from supplies to $10,000 projects
• Proven strategies for connecting classrooms to community partners
• Creative fundraising ideas beyond traditional events
• How to build home-school connections through collaborative programs
• Steps to enhance student engagement through experiential learning
• Ways to support new teachers and provide ongoing teacher support
Perfect for:
Teachers seeking additional classroom resources, education coaches looking for funding strategies, school administrators wanting to improve school culture, parents interested in supporting their schools, and anyone passionate about education transformation.
Key Takeaways:
- IPEI has supported innovative teaching methods for 25 years
- Grants range from $500-$10,000 supporting teacher impact and student success
- Community partnerships create lasting change in education
- Simple application processes with teacher coaching support
- Programs like "Kids Discover the Trail" build connections between schools
Episode Mentions:
Ithaca Public Education Initiative
- Mission, Vision, Values
- Staff and Board of Directors
- Grant Information & Applications
- Events:
- Kids Discover the Trail (KDT)
- Support IPEI
- Donate to IPEI
- Contact IPEI
Whether you're a teacher, parent, school leader, or education advocate, this conversation offers practical solutions for creating thriving students and empowered educators in your community.
Chapters
0:00 - Introduction to IPEI and Guests
1:12 - Inspiring Educators Discussion
2:53 - What is IPEI and How It Started
5:23 - Mission and Community Connections
7:26 - Real Impact Stories from Local Schools
8:13 - How to Apply for Grants
9:06 - Three Types of Grants Available
13:05 - Success Stories: 3D Printing and Ancient Civilizations
16:05 - Fundraising Events and Community Engagement
19:03 - Kids Discover the Trail Program
21:28 - Building School Connections and Final Thoughts
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
The Ancient Tribal Wisdom We Ignore in Modern Education
March 7, 2022
•19m
In this S1E5 interview, Dr. Anthony Craig (Yakama Nation) shares how he transformed his school by bringing Native elders into classrooms as cultural guides, creating a revolutionary approach to student engagement and classroom management.
This addressed the challenges of disruptive students and low engagement by pairing certified teachers with cultural guides from the Tulalip Tribe. Instead of traditional discipline methods that remove students from learning, they developed culturally responsive teaching strategies that kept ALL students engaged and motivated.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• How to handle difficult students without exclusion
• Why traditional classroom management often fails Native students
• The 'circling up' approach to student behavior
• How to create inclusive classrooms that honor community wisdom
• Professional development that transforms teaching practice
• Building authentic home-school connections with families
Ideal for teachers, education coaches, school administrators, and anyone seeking innovative teaching strategies to support student success. This isn't just about Native education - it's about creating inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms where all students thrive.
Chapters
0:00 - Introduction to Dr. Anthony Craig
0:29 - Personal Story: What Inspired His Work
1:03 - The Most Inspiring Educator
2:05 - The Culture Mismatch Problem in Schools
3:08 - Understanding Critical Historicity in Education
4:18 - Introducing Cultural Guides into Schools
5:55 - Building Community Around Children
6:47 - How Cultural Guides and Teachers Collaborate
7:36 - Real Example: Transforming First Grade Engagement
9:33 - The Problem with Removing Students
10:18 - The 'Circling Up' Approach to Behavior
11:59 - Why This Approach is Complex and Nuanced
13:12 - Teachers Experiencing Tribal Community
14:56 - Learning from Ceremony and Tradition
16:36 - Seeing Students as Leaders, Not Problems
17:00 - Research Insights: Focusing on Future Possibilities
18:27 - Building Schools for Communities, Not Assimilation
19:16 - Closing Thoughts and Gratitude
Dr. Craig's Published Writing:
- Tradition Becomes the Teacher: Community Events Enrich Educators’ Professional Learning.
- Classroom Teachers and Cultural Guides: Collaborating to Transform Teaching and Learning Through the Use of Traditional Tribal Knowledge.
- Transforming Teaching and Learning Through Indigenous Strengths and Ways of Knowing.
- Indigenous Knowledges to Transform Public Education.
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
The Truth About Limited Book Choices in Schools
March 28, 2022
•22m
In this S1E7 interview, high school English teacher Morgan Jackson reveals the critical difference between diversity and equity in classroom libraries - and why it matters more than you think.
Morgan reveals the critical difference between diversity and equity in classroom libraries - and why it matters more than you think. She teaches 11th and 12th grades at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, breaks down why simply having diverse books isn't enough. She explains how trauma-centered diverse literature can actually harm students and shares practical strategies for creating truly equitable representation in your classroom.
What You'll Learn:
• The difference between diversity vs. equity in education
• Why trauma-based diverse books can be harmful to students
• How to create inclusive classrooms that truly serve all students
• Effective teaching strategies for difficult conversations
• Student engagement techniques that honor every child's identity
• Pro-kid mindset approaches to book selection
• Culturally responsive teaching methods that work
Episode Mentions:
Morgan’s Published Writing:
Morgan’s Recommended Resources:
- Booksource. (2022). Why Incidental Diversity is Important In Your Classroom Library.
- We Need Diverse Books
- Dr. Bichmore’s YA Wednesday blog
- The Brown Bookshelf - United in Story
Other Notes:
Perfect for: teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, homeschoolers, teacher mentors, instructional leaders, school counselors
Chapters
0:00 - Introduction & Welcome
0:27 - Meet Morgan Jackson: From Middle School to High School
1:12 - The Inspiring Teacher in Morgan's Life
2:13 - Defining the Problem: Diversity vs. Equity Confusion
4:01 - The Power of Rudine Sims Bishop's Mirror/Window Quote
4:45 - Why Diverse Representation Isn't Enough
6:42 - The Pitfalls of Trauma-Centered Diverse Literature
7:18 - The COVID Analogy: Understanding Trauma Fatigue
9:08 - Moving Beyond Trauma: What Students Actually Need
9:42 - Resources for Equitable Book Selection
11:01 - The Cognition Piece: Who Are We Putting Forward?
12:02 - "If a Book Doesn't Belong, The Kid Doesn't Belong"
12:45 - Addressing Book Banning and Censorship
14:16 - Teaching Critical Thinking Over Content
15:50 - Having Difficult Conversations with Students
17:59 - Handling Parental Pushback
19:48 - Student-Centered Approach to Literature
20:32 - Final Thoughts: It's Not Just About Seeing Yourself
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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