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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2001

News Release

NEA Announces Urban Grant Winners

Cash awards for creative solutions to current education problems

Washington, D.C. - The National Education Association (NEA) has highlighted its commitment to improving the quality of public education by dipping into its own pockets and awarding 25 winners of the 2001-2002 Urban Grants Program $5,000 each to further efforts to improve teaching and learning.

The grants support grassroots initiatives that school staffs develop primarily in under-served urban schools. Projects focus on such issues as improving teacher quality and retention, providing orientation programs for new teachers, creating diversity awareness and forming family literacy programs.

"The Urban Grant winners deserve high praise for devising creative solutions to meet today's pressing education challenges," said Bob Chase, NEA president. "NEA is proud to provide the resources to put these reform plans into action."

The 25 grant winners come from 15 states. Oregon and Utah boast the most winners with three recognized programs each. Local NEA associations, frequently partnering with their school districts, will receive the grants. (Program descriptions listed in state order follow.)

The awards are a part of a larger NEA effort to improve the quality of education in America's public schools. Over the past decade, NEA has invested more than $100 million in public school improvement projects that empower teachers and school employees to address specific issues. More than 200 grants have been awarded since the program's 1985 inception.

Many of this year's winners created innovative mentoring programs for teachers new to the profession. With a growing shortage of teachers, these programs aim to provide new teachers with an experienced mentor to help them develop their skills and approach in the classroom. By both attracting potential teachers and assisting those already in the classroom, the ultimate goal of mentoring programs is to increase the retention rate of teachers in public schools.

URBAN GRANT WINNERS

Arizona

This joint Arizona Education Association/Washington District Education Association/Washington Elementary School District project will research, design and implement a teacher leadership model for teachers in the third year of their beginning teacher induction program. The first years emphasize management and the act of teaching. The third year program will assist the school district in helping teachers to develop skills that will build a Washington School District teacher-leaders. These teacher leaders will then play an important role in affecting decisions on all levels throughout their career in the educational system. (They are a three-time grant winner.)

California

The Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association organizes family literacy activities and training in the Association office. These include after-school activities for children in the school district, specifically in the neighborhood where the office is located. Evening activities will expand to include training for parents, including literacy tutoring, ESL classes, and strategies to help their children with homework and reading. Future activities will include art projects, reading events, a lending book library and outreach to local agencies.

The Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA), Center for Research and Teaching Excellence (CRTE), and Area Congregations Together (ACT) will conduct a parent institute at three elementary schools. The CRTE is a SCTA partner with the Sacramento City Unified School District. The goal of the CRTA is to work with schools to align curriculum to state standards, and provide ongoing staff development. ACT has established the teacher home visit project with the school district.

Colorado

A project of the Aurora Education Association provides additional support to first year teachers before they enter their classrooms and serves to meet the needs of new teachers in the areas that research indicates are the highest priorities - classroom management and organizational strategies. By using veteran association members as professional colleagues and innovative resources, the Association is providing a foundation for a successful year and career.

Building upon the multi-year effort to support the Assets for Colorado Youth initiative, the Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA) will continue to reinforce assets development within their school committees. This year, they will increase their efforts to involve faith-based communities and parks and recreation districts. (The JCEA is a three-time grant winner.)

Florida

The Seminole Education Association began a program this year entitled, "New Kids on the Block." The program was designed to pair up each new teacher with experienced teachers in each of the school settings. The plan is to extend the program by adding classes that will cover such areas as contract and classroom management. The Association is challenging itself to develop a full day class for new teachers to introduce them to Seminole County.

The United School Employees of Pasco plan to integrate a four-day mentoring program paired with some additional resources into the current driver-training program for Pasco County transportation employees. The goal of the project is to retain some of the newer drivers, while at the same time allowing the expertise of the experienced drivers to be channeled and focused through an effective mentoring program. This project is also expected to increase the local's visibility throughout the district, and aid it in recruiting new members.

Georgia

The Organization of DeKalb Educators (ODE) project is an effort to improve the parenting skills of caregivers of low-achieving students and to build partnerships supporting public education. ODE will build on the relationships now being developed to expand the project by holding parenting classes in three additional churches and to provide life-skills development training for working directly with students. Retired members and community volunteers will assist active members with childcare, interpreting, publicity and coordinating sessions.

The Organization of DeKalb Educators will continue the community organizing effort with a literacy and storytelling program. The purpose of the Literacy and Storytelling Project is to break the cycle of illiteracy in low-income areas of DeKalb County and to improve literacy among immigrant children whose second language is English. (This is the program's second year as a grant winner.)

Illinois

In order to facilitate discussion about diversity, the Schaumburg Education Association, Schaumburg Educational Employees and the Bilingual Division of the Schaumburg School District 54 in conjunction with the Anti-Defamation League will develop a three year training program to develop skills in challenging prejudice and discrimination. After noticing strained relationships among staff, the Associations created this program to prepare the staff and community for the growing diversity in schools. (The SEA is a five-time grant winner.)

Kansas

NEA-Shawnee Mission plans to provide a series of workshops and forums on topics related to special education. The workshops will provide additional professional development opportunities for teachers and paraprofessionals as well as a possibility of study and support groups. Participants will be able to gain professional development points or graduate credit hours for the workshops and study groups.

Kentucky

The Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCTA) and the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) have engaged in a collaborative endeavor to support and assist early career educators in the district. A major focus group in this category is teachers who hold emergency certificates. The New-Teacher Mentoring Program is dedicated to working with these individuals to assimilate them to the rigors and requirements of teaching through professional growth experiences and mentoring opportunities. (The JCTA is a three-time grant winner.)

Louisiana

The Caddo Association of Educators will award mini-grants to CAE classroom teachers in high priority schools. These teachers will work with children in grades 4 and 8 who have not successfully achieved the required scores on the Louisiana Education Assessment Program (LEAP) Test to advance to grades 5 and 9. (The CAE is a three-time grant winner.)

Massachusetts

The goal of the project developed by the Springfield Education Association - the Beginning Teacher Resource Center - is to support beginning teachers by providing them with necessary resources to establish a standards-based classroom. If given the proper foundation during the first year, the ultimate goal is the retention of teachers from year to year. To accomplish this, a publication of a new teacher photo newsletter will be sent to all local businesses with a request for resources.

Minnesota

Education Minnesota-Osseo, Osseo Schools and the Osseo Principals Association are collaboratively supporting the development and implementation of a series of competencies that new staff should be expected to demonstrate during the first three years of employment in the district. The purpose of the Osseo Professional Standards is to help develop a learning community of high quality professionals with shared skills and expertise that support student achievement.

Oregon

The Oregon Education Association and the Hillsboro Education Association plan to continue the Union America program they established with grants from the National Education Association. Union America is a cohort of Hispanic licensed staff committed to mentoring and encouraging Hispanic classified staff and students into the field of education. The OEA and HEA will focus on the obstacles and the successes facing the Hispanic population, staff and students, in the area of education. (The HEA is a two-time grant winner)

The Portland Association of Teachers has developed a collaborative relationship with a community-based organization, the Portland Schools Alliance. This project will provide outreach, training, and mentoring of teachers in community organizing. Through this training and ongoing organizing, the Association will build members' capacity to ensure that all students receive a quality education and to develop a community base of support for public education.

The Springfield Education Association will expand its Urban Garden Study Center of the Goshen School with the Goshen Ecology Project. The Goshen Ecology Project is a thematic program that uses the world around us to create a learning environment where students can actively transfer their core academic skills to real life situations. Students will blend core academic skills with an ecology curriculum strand that utilizes an urban garden as its experimental laboratory. This program combines academic instruction with active learning projects that will be held in our garden student center.

Texas

The Education Austin Labor-Faith Project will be a collaboration between Education Austin, the Texas State Teachers Association and Austin Interfaith, a consortium of local religious communities affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). Education Austin will work with Austin Interfaith in three areas: Living Wages for School District Employees, Job Training and Support for ESPs studying to become teachers, and parent/teacher/school/community partnerships through the Austin Interfaith Alliance Schools Program.

Mading Elementary School in Houston, Texas, has a program to invite community entrepreneurs into the school. Community entrepreneurs who may have simply started with an idea and have made a successful living will share their stories, showcase their talent, and promote school/community relationship. This will involve public, parental and business engagement and partnering in student learning. These segments will include artists, bakers, florists, restaurant owners, lawyers, photographers and others. This project is supported by the Houston Education Association.

Utah

The Granite Education Association is working with Eisenhower Junior High to implement the Urban Learning Center Comprehensive Reform model. The Urban Learning Center is a nationally recognized program that has successfully supported reform for schools in an urban setting. The primary focus of the reform will be to increase literacy, improve school climate, enhance parent and community involvement, and empower teachers, support personnel, parents, and students to take an active role in decision-making, professional development, and program implementation. Programs will target at-risk and minority populations, and will emphasize family and community involvement.

Developed by the Ogden Education Association and the Ogden City School District, the Teacher Leader Program, a component of the New Teacher Academy, is an integral part of the OCSD's strategic plan. The goals are to nurture and provide learning, growth, and leadership opportunities for their provisional teachers. (OEA is a two-time grant winner)

The Salt Lake Teachers Association will receive an urban grant that will provide opportunities for training in an interest-based approach in negotiations, problem solving, organizational development, consensus building, dispute resolution and conflict management. These skills will be utilized in advocating for quality education in the Salt Lake City Public School system and in the Shared Governance format the Salt Lake Teachers Association and the Salt Lake School District embrace. (SLTA is a two-time grant winner)

Virginia

The Fairfax Education Association looks to continue the NEA's MegaSkills training that has been provided to teachers in Fairfax County public Schools. The MegaSkills program is designed to help teachers use character-building activities to instill the positive attitudes that are necessary for children to succeed. Character development is believed to be an essential part of academic performance. (The FEA is a two-time grant winner)

The Hampton Education Association believes that support and mentoring is crucial to the recruitment and retention of new teachers. Teaming with Hampton City Schools, the Virginia Education Association and the Education Departments of Christopher Newport University and Old Dominion University, HEA has created a new teacher induction and mentoring program for pre-service and novice teachers. The main goal of the program is to ensure that teachers enter the profession with as much experience and training as possible. (The HEA is a two-time grant winner)

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.