By Erinn Lynch for Santa Barbara Education Foundation
Santa Barbara Education Foundation hosted its annual Teachers Grant Award Ceremony on Jan. 8, awarding 56 teachers with $84,982 in grants. Funds will be applied to support the purchase of needed supplies and tools, as well as to encourage the development of creative and innovative teaching in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.
“This is one of the big highlights of the year for the Santa Barbara Education Foundation,” said executive director, Margie Yahyavi about the event that was held in the Santa Barbara Central Library’s Faulkner Gallery.
“We were tremendously impressed with the quality of the grant requests and the commitment our teachers have in igniting a love for learning with local students,” she said.
Funded grant projects included books, musical arrangements, solar cars, flexible classroom seating, a printing press and field trips to New York City. Grants were awarded in three funding categories: up to $500, up to $1,500 and up to $5,000.
At the ceremony, appetizers and sweets were provided by the San Marcos High School Culinary Program, and Dos Pueblos High School String Orchestra provided entertainment. More than 80 people attended, including Schools Superintendent Cary Matsuoka, SBUSD principals, and board members of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation.