Teacher Grant Program

IPEI encourages innovative projects that bring community projects into the classroom. Funds to support this program come from individuals and businesses that sponsor teams at the annual Adult Spelling Bee - including True Insurance's event sponsorship - and from gifts to our annual community campaign.

In 2006, 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.

Proposal Guidelines

IPEI's Teacher Grant program provides grants up to $1,000 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 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 eight 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:

  • January 2006, in announcing the Charles E. Treman, Jr. endowment in support of IPEI Teacher Grants, Trust Company President Steve Garner said,
    "The community meant so much to Charlie. This will ensure his name will forever be associated with this most valuable community asset - our public schools."
Email: ipei@ipei.org    Phone: 607.256.IPEI (4734)    IPEI, P.O. Box 4268, Ithaca, NY 14852-4268