Teacher Grant Program
IPEI encourages innovative projects that bring community partners into the classroom. Funds to support this program come from individuals and businesses that sponsor teams at the annual Adult Spelling Bee - including the Tompkins Trust Company’s event sponsorship - and from gifts to our annual community campaign.
In 2006, the Tompkins Trust Company established a $100,000 endowment honoring Charles E. Treman, Jr., a 1926 graduate of Ithaca High School and the bank's longtime President and Chairman. The income from this fund will provide IPEI with additional funds for annual grants for teachers' classroom projects involving community partners.
- See a list of 2009-2010 Teacher Grant recipients
- Read about what some of the recent grant recipients have accomplished.
Proposal Guidelines
IPEI's Teacher Grant program provides grants up to $1,500 to ICSD teachers interested in implementing an innovative educational project. Any proposal designed to enhance the education of ICSD students will be considered provided that the described project:
- directly involves and/or benefits students
- enlists the support of a Community Partner with whom the project will be completed
- cannot be funded through existing avenues of school district support
Any ICSD teacher or group of teachers are eligible to apply for a grant.
Application Procedure
Applicants should submit their proposals by November 2 using the Application Form available through IPEI's web site, the ITA office, or the Board building on Lake Street.
Two copies of the application are to be submitted and applications may be dropped off at the ITA office or mailed to:
Ithaca Public Education Initiative
P.O. Box 4268
Ithaca, NY 14852
Review Process
Proposals are reviewed on a competitive basis by a committee of community and school district representatives using the established set of evaluation criteria set forth in the grant application materials. Notification of awards will be made within six weeks of the application due date.
Read the following links to learn more about the Teacher Grants program and to obtain help in developing and preparing a winning proposal:
At the conclusion of the grant project, IPEI asks for a brief report and tally of the project costs:
- Teacher Grant Summary Report form (in Word format)
- Teacher Grant Accounting form (in Word format)