St. Louis, MO. – The Innovative Technology Education Fund (ITEF) awarded $225,038.46 to eight area schools, grants ranging from $22,074 to $30,000. These competitive, Catapult Grants allow schools in our region to obtain basic technology, and level the technological playing field for students K-12.
The 2020 Catapult Grant recipients are:
- DeSoto School District (Public): “Freedom to Move About” allows teachers to use more effective virtual instruction practices while connecting with students using Awarded: $30,000.00
- Educational Therapeutic Support at Madison (SLPS): “Growth Through Innovation” supports special education teachers by providing Dell interactive touch equipment for students in a hybrid-classroom Awarded: $22,073.74
- North Side Community School (Charter): Educators expand their use of project-based learning and critical thinking with Promethean Smart Boards and Awarded: $30,000.00
- Our Lady of Guadalupe (Parochial): “Giving Hope to Students” creates a 1:1 learning environment with Apple and Chromebook Awarded: $29,862.00
- Francis Cabrini Academy (Parochial): “Moving Cabrini Forward” Funds support rewiring the building for internet connectivity so students can learn without constraint. Awarded: $30,000.00
- Louis Language Immersion School (Charter): “Language Learning Workstations for Project-Based Learning” creates French, Spanish and Chinese Apple language learning stations Awarded: $29,160.00
- Venice Elementary School and Venice CUSD #3 (Public): “Venice Elementary 21st Century Innovative Technology Program” enables educators to increase adaptive online learning and classroom instruction with Dell laptops and Awarded: $30,000.00
- Webster Groves High School (Public): “Thrive Entrepreneurship Incubator” provides Dell workstations so that student entrepreneurs can develop their business skills and soft skills, g., empathy and collaboration. Awarded: $23,942.72
“It is impossible for an educator to be innovative when they lack the basic equipment necessary for modern pedagogy. The Catapult grant makes space for the educators who want to explore innovative teaching and learning in their virtual or actual classroom.” said Charmaine Smith, Chief Executive Officer of ITEF. “We know that by providing resources for basic technology, we can remove barriers to innovation. All Catapult grant recipients are expected to apply for an Innovator’s Grant within three years of their award.”
ITEF is a St. Louis-based, charitable, non-profit foundation that supports innovation in education by funding basic technology through the Catapult initiative, that leads to advanced uses of technology in public, private, parochial, and charter school classrooms in the greater St. Louis area. ITEF also provides grants for professional development.
Since 2008, ITEF has provided more than $4 million in grants to St. Louis-area schools. introduced in 2019, the Catapult grant was created to ensure more schools are supported with funds for basic technology, ensuring innovation can occur without equipment or technology restraints.
ITEF board members select grant recipients from a pool of eligible applicants who meet requirements including being an accredited K-12 public, private, charter, or parochial school in the greater St. Louis region.