The Canyons Education Foundation is pleased to announce it is now accepting applications for the 2018-2019 Innovation Grants.

The grants recognize and support excellence in teaching by providing funds – up to $10,000 – to enhance elementary, middle school and high school curriculum. Applications can be accessed now through 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018 on the Foundation’s website. Winners will be announced in November. 

All CSD educators are encouraged to apply. “It’s a chance to directly impact the classroom, students and raise the bar on exemplary teaching methods,” says Foundation Officer Denise Haycock.

Since its inception in 2009, Canyons District has been unwavering in its support of innovation in the classroom.

With rapid advances in technology, the sky’s the limit, but it takes an innovative teacher to put technology to effective use, says Haycock. “The seeds of innovation start with them.”

Since its inception in 2009, Canyons District has been unwavering in its support of innovation in the classroom. Last year, the Foundation competitively awarded $107,000 in grants to 16 teachers. Marcus Voght at Draper Park Middle used the money to invite more than a dozen professional musicians to work the band and orchestra. Others purchased virtual reality systems and 3D printers. Sunny Hafen at Oak Hollow Elementary was awarded $10,000 to purchase devices to facilitate communication among her Dual Language Immersion students.

“Because I was able to house the devices in my classroom, versus in a shared setting, I was much more able to research and play around with the possibilities of this technology,” Hafen says. “Thank you so much for supporting teachers who already have that vision and want to take their students further than current resources allow.”

Haycock says this year’s awards will be based on the educational merit of the projects that teachers propose. She encourages teachers to be specific about how their project would improve learning outcomes or the learning environment for students.