St. Louis, MO. – The Innovative Technology Education Fund (ITEF) awarded $163,843.81 to seven area schools, grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000. These competitive Catapult Grants allow schools in our region to obtain basic technology and elevate the technological playing field for K-12 students.
The 2023 Catapult Grant recipients are:
- Brittany Woods Middle School (District of University City): The school will receive funding to conductprofessional development, enabling their educators to expand their technology usage, lesson sharing and learning opportunities. Awarded: $10,000
- City Academy (Independent): The school will receive 27 laptops to enable educators to increase teacher efficiency and organization, offer access to a broader scope of digital resources, enable portability and provide seamless integration to classroom technology. Awarded: $29,699.73
- Holy Cross Academy (Parochial): Twenty HP Chromebooks, 19 Thinkbooks and two Dell servers will increase the number of students who are 1:1 with devices, enhancing their learning and use of technology applications. Awarded: $26,000
- Lafayette Preparatory Academy (Charter): Fifty HP Chromebooks, 20 headsets, microphones, charging carts and professional development supports the school’s commitment to excellence, including a focus on English learners and students with special needs so all students are 1:1 with devices. Awarded: $25,764.50
- Normandy Middle School at Lucas Crossing (Normandy Schools Collaborative): To increase student learning with 1:1 devices, the school will receive 63 IdeaPad Lenovo Chromebooks, headphones, charging carts and professional development. Awarded: $30,000
- St. Rose of Lima Catholic School (Parochial): The school will receive two 65” Clevertouch interactive boards, six Lenovo Thinkbooks for educators, four Chromebooks for students and corresponding charging/storage units. Awarded: $12,380
- Washington Elementary School (Normandy Schools Collaborative): Teachers and staff will receive 24 HP laptop computers and 18 Brother printer/copiers to increase classroom efficiency and student engagement. Awarded: $29,999.58
“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, independent, 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, independent, charter, or parochial school in the greater St. Louis region.