The Santa Barbara Education Foundation (SBEF) is excited to announce the distribution of 96 grants, totaling $203,000, to support innovative teaching projects across the Santa Barbara Unified School District. This year, the program received an impressive 121 applications from 21 schools, underscoring the increasing demand for resources to enhance student learning opportunities.
Since 2018, SBEF’s Teacher Grant program has provided critical funding for project-based supplies, instructional tools, and field trips, encouraging creativity and innovation in classrooms. With the conclusion of this year’s grant cycle, SBEF has awarded 483 grants, distributing over $888,000 to local educators and directly benefiting thousands of students.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, including a $50,000 contribution from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, the Teacher Grant program continues to enhance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education and ensure students have access to cutting-edge resources and opportunities.
“At Google, we are committed to being good corporate neighbors and supporting the communities where our employees live and work,” said Javier Gonzalez, Head of Local Government Affairs and Public Policy for California. “We appreciate the opportunity to support Santa Barbara Education Foundation’s efforts to invest in STEM education and provide students with the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century.”
Assemblymember Gregg Hart also praised the program’s impact, stating, “Thanks to the Foundation and its private sector partners, our local educators can open new doors of opportunity for students in our community. The innovative work taking place in our classrooms is cultivating tomorrow’s cutting-edge ideas, driving student success, and inspiring the next generation.”
One notable example of a STEM project funded by the Teacher Grants program comes from Santa Barbara Community Academy teacher Casey Cleland, who used the grant to purchase a 3D Printer. The printer allowed 208 TK through 6th grade students to explore the world of 3D printing and bring their creative ideas to life.
“During our recent stop-motion animation unit, students requested different props than what I had on hand. One of the suggestions was to print some alligators,” said Cleland. “The students were ecstatic when they saw the alligators the following week. Our 3D printer didn’t just create props for student-created animations—it unleashed a wave of creativity, turning our classroom into an academy of animators with our school mascot as the star!”
“We are truly grateful for the tremendous community support for our teachers from individual donors, local businesses, and community partners,” said Pedro Paz, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation. “Their support is critical to the success of this high-impact program. These grants will go a long way in providing educators with the tools they need to inspire a love of learning and directly impact Santa Barbara Unified students.”
Other major supporters of the Teacher Grant program include the Gainey Foundation, the John C. Mithun Foundation, and the Gretler Foundation, as well as numerous other individual donors and local businesses.
Founded in 1985, the Santa Barbara Education Foundation promotes private support of Santa Barbara’s public education system, serving nearly 12,000 students in 21 schools. For more information, visit santabarbaraeducation.org.
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