|
|
The Pennsylvania State Organization Nancy Grove Visionary Fund awards a grant to in-service active teacher members to fund innovative ideas and activities related to Excellence in Education within the educational community. This annual award is administered by the Past State Presidents of the Pennsylvania State Organization and will be awarded at the annual state convention. The grant is to be used during the school year immediately following the state convention. It is imperative that the recipient be in attendance at the Pennsylvania State Organization Convention to receive her award.
At the end of her biennium in 1995, then Pennsylvania State Organization President Nancy Grove recommended the creation of a new fund to be known as the Visionary Fund. Nearing the dawn of a new Millennium and realizing the technological challenges that awaited our State Organization, President Nancy proposed that the fund be used for the future development and needs of the State at the discretion of the State President.
Since its creation the Visionary Fund has been used to start the development of the Creative Arts Retreat and to help finance meeting expenses and materials for the 2011 Northeast Regional Steering Committee in Hershey. Fast forward to today and keeping Nancy’s vision in mind, it was proposed that the Past State Presidents permanently manage the fund and that it help fund through the awarding of grants to active in-service educators innovative teaching ideas in their classrooms or community.
Beginning in the fall of 2015 the Visionary Fund has annually awarded $500 grants to teachers with innovative ideas. Its first recipient, Marcia Erickson of the Hollidaysburg Area School District, was able to create an Ancient Rome Travel Trunk for use in her seventh grade world history classes. The Ancient Rome Travel Trunk brought museum-like resources and activities into the classroom and provided an authentic, hands-on student experience that increased student interest and engagement. Annually awarded other recipients of the grant include Amy Dobbins, Gail Franko, Deborah Yargar – Reed, Andrea Rutledge, Sue Allen and Tina Smith-Gilbert. Whether working within one classroom or as a team, each project and idea was different, visionary and planned to enhance the education and learning environment of children.
A visionary plants seeds for the future and nourishes them by imagination, innovation, wisdom, and action. The Nancy B. Grove Visionary Fund has the means to turn innovation into action and bring ideas to fruition. What are your dreams? What is something new and innovative you’d like to try in your classroom? Let your imagination soar!
Application Deadline is February 1, 2023.
Application for Nancy Grove Visionary Fund
Rubric for Nancy Grove Visionary Fund
Nancy Grove Visionary Fund Description and History
