Are you a PreK-12 educator with engaging, educational classroom activities that could benefit other teachers? Apply to share a written activity or instructional video with the AdoptAClassroom.org community and you can earn a $1,500 Teacher Leader grant to purchase supplies on the AdoptAClassroom.org Marketplace!
Watch a short video from AdoptAClassroom.org Program Manager Cristina to learn more:
Overview
Licensed PreK-12 educators or certified staff members at an accredited K-12 public, private, or charter school in the United States can apply for a $1,5000 Teacher Leader grant. Applicants will submit a photo, biography, and their Teacher Leader submission demonstrating highly-effective practices that meet all specified criteria, outlined below.
Check out this example for inspiration:
Want to see more examples from real Teacher Leaders? Log in with AdoptAClassroom.org and click the “Teacher Resource Library” tab!
Evaluation Criteria
The Teacher Leader program invites AdoptAClassroom.org educators to submit content incorporating teaching best practices and featuring materials purchased with AdoptAClassroom.org funds. This content may be shared with the wider AdoptAClassroom.org community.
Submissions should be related to one of the following areas:
- Arts
- Crowdfunding
- Inclusive Classrooms
- Racial Equity in Schools
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Submission Requirements
- General Information
- Name
- School
- Position
- Biography
- Please write a brief (3-4 sentences) biography we can use if we publish your submission.
- Your Photo
- Please upload a photo of you we can use if we publish your submission. Do not include anyone but yourself in this photo. School photos work great!
- File types accepted: .png, .jpg, .gif, .pdf; max file size 10 MB
- Submission Details
- Note: Submissions may be either an instructional video (think “tips and tricks”) or a written activity plan. AdoptAClassroom.org reserves the right to revise your submission for clarity or communication purposes.
- Submission Title
- Brief Description of Submission
- Please write a 2-3 sentence description of the activity
- Target Grade Level(s)
- Target Subject Area(s): (e.g. English Language Arts, Biology, Music)
- Subject Topic(s): (e.g. Close Reading, Genetics, Chords)
- Your Teacher Leader Content (submit one of the following):
- Video
- Upload a short (3-5 minutes) video highlighting materials you purchased with AdoptAClassroom.org funds and explaining how you use them to engage your students. If you are having trouble uploading your video, please email [email protected]. If you are including a student in this video, they will need this release form signed by a parent or guardian.
- Format details: Maximum file size: 1 GB; file types accepted: .mov, .mp4, .avi, .mkv, .webm
- Upload a short (3-5 minutes) video highlighting materials you purchased with AdoptAClassroom.org funds and explaining how you use them to engage your students. If you are having trouble uploading your video, please email [email protected]. If you are including a student in this video, they will need this release form signed by a parent or guardian.
- Written Activity Plan
- An action plan for an activity you have done using materials from AdoptAClassroom.org. It should include an explanation of how the activity supports student engagement and learning in the classroom, along with a document providing detailed instruction to other educators on how to execute the activity in their classroom. To prepare to fill out the form, applicants can also fill in this template and may submit additional supporting documents as needed. If you are including a student’s name or likeness in any materials, they will need this release form signed by a parent or guardian.
- Intended Student Learning Outcome(s)/Objectives/Skills
- Materials used from AdoptAClassroom.org’s Marketplace and/or other materials used
- Directions
- Additional planning notes for educators
- Upload any other supplemental materials you created yourself, if needed (graphic organizers, slides, etc.)
- Accepted formats: maximum file size: 100 MB; file types accepted: .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .csv, .txt, .rtf, .html, .zip, .mp3, .wma, .mpg, .flv, .avi, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .ppt
- Please note: You must submit materials and activities that you own. Any submissions that include copyrighted materials will not be considered for the grant.
- Video
| Points | Option 1: Video Submission | Option 2: Activity Plan Submission |
| Content (2 points) | Video Includes: Introduction, educator name, position, grade band Mentions specific item(s) purchased from/available in the AAC Marketplace and the vendor Explains/demonstrates how the item has made a difference in the classroom/instructionIs a minimum of one minute and does not exceed three minutes | Submission includes: Completed Application Form Adequately completes all sections of Activity Template: Teacher information, grade level Identifies materials purchased/available on the AdoptAClassroom.org Marketplace, including the vendor Includes teacher created supplemental materials if needed (graphic organizers, powerpoints, etc.) Clear step-by-step directions |
| Quality (6 points) | Clarity (2 points) Picture and sound quality Clarity of message (how easily can another AdoptAClassroom.org teacher incorporate these tips?) Tips (3 points) Provides at least one tip for using the highlighted item and describes full process (more credit for additional tips) Provides parameters for using these tips (e.g. grade level, content where appropriate) Creative and innovative (e.g. supports high student engagement, teacher time-management, has multiple applications) Relatable to Teachers (1 point) Is engaging and relatable to potential AdoptAClassroom.org teacher viewers | Clarity (2 points) Submission is legible (clear formatting, etc.) Does not require additional materials other teachers might not have (eg. specific text book)Is clear and replicable in other classrooms (Includes step-by-step directions for execution from beginning to end of the activity. Could a first-year teacher follow the plan?) Is created by the teacher and is not from a copyrighted source. Content (3 points) Is grade-level appropriate. Cites any external sources (websites, etc.) Supports student engagement and learning in Social-Emotional Wellness Relatable to Teachers (1 point) Is the activity engaging and relatable to potential AdoptAClassroom.org teacher viewers? |
| Creativity (2 points) | Features materials bought with AdoptAClassroom.org funds/available on the AAC Marketplace Additional point possible for unique and engaging presentation | Features materials bought with AdoptAClassroom.org funds/available on the AAC Marketplace Additional point possible for unique and engaging content |
Each application will be evaluated by at least two AdoptAClassroom.org staff and scored out of a total of 10 points.
Winner Notification
Entries will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the summer of 2023, so please apply as early as possible. Winners will be notified by September 15, 2023.
Eligibility Requirements
- Any licensed PreK-12 educator or certified staff member, employed at an accredited K-12 public, private, or charter school in the United States is eligible to apply.
- Educators who apply for funds give consent for their application content, name, photo, biography, and the name of the school where they teach to be published in communications by AdoptAClassroom.org and/or their partners in order to promote our mission and/or partnership.
- Educators must agree to and follow AdoptAClassroom.org’s Terms of Use to apply and receive funds.
- Educators must have an active AdoptAClassroom.org classroom page by the application deadline. Log in or register to create your classroom page.
- Educators who have had $50 or more of AdoptAClassroom.org funds expire from their account due to a failure to spend funds prior to the 12-month expiration date of donations may be deemed ineligible for Teacher Leader grants.
- Educators must submit materials and activities that they have created and own. Any submissions that include copyrighted materials will not be considered for the grant. If submissions are found to include copyrighted materials after the grant has been awarded, AdoptAClassroom.org may remove the remaining grant funds from the educator’s account.
- AdoptAClassroom.org reserves the right to revise application materials for clarity or communication purposes.
If you are unsure if you qualify for this grant opportunity, please contact our team at [email protected].
If you are a school administrator and your school is in need of funding, click here to learn more about our School Program. You can also contact us for more information at [email protected].