St. Louis, MO. – The Innovative Technology Education Fund (ITEF) awarded $160,843.07 to seven area schools, grants ranging from $14,162 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 2022 Catapult Grant recipients are:
- Barrington Elementary School (Hazelwood School District): The school will receive five new ClearTouch interactive display screens. Awarded: $25,626.97
- Berkeley Intermediate School (Ferguson Florissant School District): Thirty Dell Chromebooks with charging cart for the library will enable extension of the classroom curriculum. Awarded: $14,162.10
- Bernard Long Elementary School (Madison CUSD 12): The schoolwill receive ten Dell Chromebooks with charging cart, 38 iPads with protective cases, a digital camera with tripod and professional development training. Awarded: $28,200.00
- Ferguson Middle School (Ferguson Florissant School District): Eight classrooms will receive Smartboards. Awarded: $29,200.00
- Maplewood Richmond Heights School District (Maplewood Richmond Heights School District): A new Smartboard, six MacBook Air laptops and 120 adapters will be funded. Awarded: $15,954.00
- St. Rose of Lima Catholic School (Parochial): The school will receive110 Acer Chromebooks with four charging carts, two laptops for educators and funds to modernize the wireless access points. Awarded: $29,770.00
- Wedgwood Sixth Grade Center (Ferguson Florissant School District): Five classrooms will receive Smartboards. Awarded: $17,930.00
“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.