Quote:
Grant Summaries
The Teaching Tolerance Grants Program supports K-12 educators with funds to develop and implement innovative anti-bias projects in classrooms, schools and communities.
These grant summaries describe some of the most recent projects we've funded. Our magazine's Grant Spotlight offers a deeper look at a successful grant-funded project.
The Grant Application Guide explains how to apply.
Page 1 of 4
August 2006
Books to Bind
Adam Dovico, language arts teacher at Vienna Elementary School in Pfafftown, N.C., received a $1,000 grant to provide multicultural books helping students in the rural, homogenous setting develop appreciation and understanding of diversity. Students will research countries featured in the literature and build connections with students from those cultures through "personal story and package exchange" activities.
The Golden Rule through Comics
Yavneh Academy associate principal Elaine Weisfeld received a $1,700 Teaching Tolerance grant for students to create comic books in English and Hebrew to be the creative media for character- and tolerance-related education. The books will be shared with public schools and a sister school in Nahariya, Israel.
Our American Identity: A Study in Diversity
Rebecca Taylor-Sturdivant, a history teacher at Coffee County Central High in Manchester, Tenn., received a $1,995 grant to fund multicultural resources. The study will involve broad student interaction as they focus on building understanding of different ethnic and racial groups with an emphasis on immigrants and the effect of immigration on American society.
Multicultural Education Project
Cathy Novokowsky, a fourth-grade teacher at Windermere Preparatory School in Windermere, Fla., received a $750 grant to provide resources for a well-integrated multicultural/tolerance and diversity program. The collaborative project incorporates free Teaching Tolerance materials with professional development resources and student literature.
Anti-Bullies
Responding to a dramatic rise in bullying and gang-related issues at her school, Laura Buller, a teacher at Frank L. Smart Intermediate School in Davenport, Iowa, received a $500 grant for students to create their own tailor-made anti-bullying program. They will establish a protocol, learn to stand up for themselves and others, and practice techniques to diffuse bullying situations. Parents and community members will be involved in the project.
Lunch Bunch Kidz Club
Steve Caponegro, Director of Special Services at Florham Park Schools in Florham Park, N.J., received a $1,310 grant to implement character education and intergroup relations programs he designed especially for his school system. "Kids' Club" and "Mix and Mingle" will involve peer models and group interaction as strategies to address specific life skills (e.g. anger management and social skills) needed to succeed in and out of school.
Dialects, Stereotypes, and Tolerance
When two students, homeless after Hurricane Katrina, transferred into Valerie Bugni’s English class at Spring Valley High School in Las Vegas, their Southern accents and vernacular were openly mocked by some students. The stereotyping and put downs provided inspiration for Bugni to develop a grant project to teach students about the positive and negative social and cultural implications of the many dialects of our language, so students can begin breaking down their own prejudicial thoughts and become more tolerant of differences found within their own community. The $1,708 Teaching Tolerance grant will be used to encourage students to explore and understand the social and cultural underpinnings of various dialects by engaging in cooperative learning activities, Socratic seminars, and peer-to-peer conversation and inquiry.
A Tapestry of Difference
Edison Elementary principal James Martin received a $1,000 grant for a project using parental collaboration to creation writing portfolios and books featuring family histories and traditions. The stories will be shared during Family Night celebrations with school and community to encourage appreciation of diversity, family pride and literacy skills. A majority of the Salt Lake City school's students are immigrants with Spanish being the primary language spoken at home.
Respect for Diversity
Sandy Shevack, with the Quality of Life Afterschool and Summer Program at Lincoln Middle School in Passaic, N.J., received a $750 Teaching Tolerance grant to provide resources supporting student activism. As a long time activist, Shevack is a catalyst in developing projects fostering discussions across racial and ethnic boundaries, and empowering students to become active in human rights issues.
Using Business Concepts to Increase Tolerance and Test Scores
When a student survey at Woodridge High School revealed African American students felt less respected by teachers, administrators, staff and students than did white students, Peninsula, Ohio, teacher Johnna Vineyard responded. She received a $1,995 grant to implement a student-driven plan to improve acceptance and understanding of diversity. The high school students will team-mentor middle-school students and initiate a number of strategies including "ethics" cards with questions for students to consider when making decisions, and "lunch circles" to find common ground and build community.
Immigrant Nation
After hearing many derogatory remarks about immigrants, and with media attention on immigration reform, Coffee County Central Spanish teachers, led by Angelina Hensley, received a $2,000 Teaching Tolerance grant to implement strategies fostering tolerance. The Manchester, Tenn., foreign language students will participate in guided research, dialog and discussion, and launch a public awareness campaign to foster respect and appreciation of immigrants.
Art Works
Debi Barrett-Hayes, a professor at Florida State University School in Tallahassee, Fla., received a $2,500 grant for middle- and high-school students to create an aluminum relief cultural/historical totem as the culminating activity of a year-long study of the role stereotyping, racial & religious bigotry and hate crimes played in our nation's history. After interviewing elders, traveling to Washington to study the 1932-45-era national memorials and the events leading to their creation, students will develop a sculpture totem to communicate their own connection and understanding of the importance of tolerance.
Peace Committee/ Peace Program
After reading about a school receiving national attention for implementing a peace project, Creswell Elementary students in Creswell, N.C., were motivated to create their own project. Reading teacher Kim Jacobson empowered the students' Peace Program by helping them obtain a $1,090 Teaching Tolerance grant to form a Peace Committee comprised of members elected to a mentoring and leadership program. The committee will discuss, organize and carry out peaceful activities and programs throughout the year.
Changing Faces
Rhona Williams, special education teacher at Brentwood Elementary in Lake Charles, La., received a $1,625 Teaching Tolerance grant to provide resources for a well-developed curriculum promoting multicultural diversity. She hopes to affirm the different abilities within the school, and the increased diversity within the community.
Ban the Bullying
Kristine Howes, a counselor at Jennie P. Stewart Elementary in Centerville, Utah, received a $1,000 grant to promote a school-wide program to build harmony and end bullying. Students will engage in role-playing, puppet shows and games to build understanding.
Rebuilding After the Storm
Stacey Boitnott, a counselor at Bonne E'cole Elementary School in Slidell, La., received a $2,000 Teaching Tolerance grant to support intervention activities including "play therapy" for students who live with acute stress. In the aftermath of Katrina, there is a noticeable increase in extreme emotional responses expressed through increases in anger, bullying, illness, depression and even suicide.
Learning Tolerance
Jack Marcellus, a school counselor at Highland Park School in Gloucester, N.J., received a $300 grant to support a student-led school-wide promotion to create a safe school environment and eliminate bullying and name-calling. The program will begin with 7th- and 8th-grade students who will share the program and extend the outreach.
Who's Behind the Mask?
Global Studies teacher, Mike Kendrick, of Westminster, S.C., received a $2,000 grant to support a mask-making art project. The West-Oak High School students will use the project to demonstrate their understanding of different cultures and how the level of religious tolerance in society directly correlates with the amount of violence in current world conflicts.