January 11, 2019—The Shaker Schools Foundation and the District announced today that it will grant nearly $437,000 from its Innovation Fund to support Shaker Heights Schools’ i3 Initiative at all eight school buildings. The Innovation Fund was launched last March to bolster the International Baccalaureate curriculum and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) learning at all grade levels within Shaker Schools and is actively supported by parents and community partners who are involved in STEAM fields. The i3 Initiative—led by a committee of teachers, administrators, community stakeholders and business partners—advances opportunities for student inquiry, innovation and imagination through increased integration of design learning experiences, STEAM curriculum from grades PreK-12, and accessibility to and use of 21st century technology and tools.
Each school submitted an application for i3 grants from the Innovation Fund. The i3 Steering Committee and the Shaker Schools Foundation grant distribution committee evaluated the proposals to determine the following funding allocations:
- Shaker Heights High School will receive $70,000 to support the identified pathways in engineering, manufacturing, and the arts.
- Woodbury Elementary School will receive $81,919 to support a Makerspace, mobile STEAM projects and an Innovation Lab.
- Shaker Heights Middle School will receive $30,080 to support professional learning opportunities, site visits, curriculum writing, and software/hardware purchases.
- Shaker Heights Elementary Schools will receive a combined $255,000 to support professional learning opportunities, site visits, curriculum writing and additional materials/resources over three years.
The High School will use its grant money to equip art classrooms with CAD software and a 3d printer as well as to create an robotics and advanced manufacturing course. The grants will enable Shaker Heights Middle School and Elementary School staff to experience professional learning opportunities that support STEAM classroom learning. Woodbury will use its grant funding to create an “ecosystem of innovation” in the school library which will include a Makerspace with LEGOs, ozobots and more.
“In just a few short months, we’ve made great progress,” said Shaker Schools Foundation Executive Director Holly Coughlin. “You can tell this initiative is going to do great things for our students.”
For more information about the i3 Initiative, contact Dr. Terri Breeden, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, [email protected], or Dr. David Glasner, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction and Interim High School Principal, [email protected]. Contact Holly Coughlin, Executive Director of the Shaker Schools Foundation, [email protected], to learn how you can support the Foundation’s Innovation Fund.