Opportunities
Professional development
NEA webinars
The National Education Association is regularly hosting webinars to help educators navigate this new, stressful environment and connect with students. To see the full list of resources, go to www.nea.org/professional-excellence/professional-learning/resources. There is also a section specific to training for education support professionals. Those offerings can be found at www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/esp-webinar-recordings.
AFT online resources
AFT’s Share My Lesson website has dozens of professional development webinars, lesson plan collections and more to help educators navigate the current learning landscape. Find links to these webinars and more at https://sharemylesson.com/partner/share-my-lesson-webinars.
Classroom resources
STARBASE Minnesota STEM kits
STARBASE Minnesota, a nonprofit that focuses on STEM education, is offering free STEM kits for all fifth-grade students. STARBASE Minnesota has already distributed over 18,000 STEM kits to over 185 schools and they hope to provide these kits and curriculum to an additional 26,000 students this year in the state. The Destination Mars kids include supplies for each student and a teacher guide and website resources. Go to starbasemn.org/stemkits to learn more and to register for your free kits.
C-SPAN educator podcast
C-SPAN has launched a new bi-weekly podcast for educators, “C-SPAN in the Classroom.” Each 15- to 20-minute episode features C-SPAN clips and C-SPAN Classroom resources that highlight current events, topical discussions or key historical moments. The C-SPAN Education Relations team features occasional appearances from guests in the education community, and discusses strategies for incorporating C-SPAN resources into class discussions, as well as activities to use with students. Listen at c-span.org/podcasts, on the free C-SPAN Now video app or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Grants
Financial literacy grants available
United Educators Foundation will provide up to a $500 grant to teachers, departments or schools to support financial literacy efforts with their students. Submitted applications should support instruction of content related to budgeting, credit, money management, economics, saving and investing, or other personal finance topics. Applications for grants must be postmarked by Dec. 17. Go to www.expeditioncu.com/about/united-educators-foundation.html for more information on the grants and how to apply.
United Educators scholarships
United Educators Foundation will grant one $2,000 Educator Award for educators who wish to attend an accredited institution for professional development, one $1,500 Education Major Award for current college students studying education and three $1,000 Student Awards to high school students who are members or dependents of United Educators Credit Union members and plan on attending college in the fall of 2021. The deadline for these awards is Feb. 4. Application requirements and instructions on how to apply are available at www.expeditioncu.com/about/united-educators-foundation.html.
DNR No Child Left Inside Grant Program mini grants
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is offering mini grants through the No Child Left Inside Grant Program. These grants help more children cast a line, study animal tracks, hike or bike or simply learn more about nature. Public entities and non-profit organizations serving youth under age 18 are able to apply for mini grants. A total of $200,000 is available for programs all around Minnesota. The minimum request is $500 and the maximum is $5,000. Applications can be submitted starting on Dec. 2, and awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. The application period will close once all the money is awarded. All the reimbursable grant project work must be completed by June 30, 2023.
