The Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation is delighted to welcome seven new teams of California teachers as recipients of the 2022 Leveraging Innovation by Growing and Honoring Teachers (LIGHT) Awards. Launched in 2014, the LIGHT Awards recognize creative and passionate teachers seeking to pursue high quality professional learning opportunities. The program is designed to honor the influential role that educators play in our society, and to provide the funding and resources to help teachers thrive as professionals.
The LIGHT Awards provide a unique opportunity for teachers to choose the professional learning which is most relevant for their classrooms, schools and communities. Intrepid believes that teachers will gain more from professional training which excites, engages and inspires them. The awarded teams receive up to $30,000 over two years to fund a chosen learning journey. The goal of the projects is to allow teachers to enhance their skills and passion as a team of professionals, as well as renew their commitment to the career of teaching.
The Intrepid team, which includes Advisors who are experienced educators, worked together to select projects with a strong emphasis on teacher-focused learning. The 37 teachers who comprise the newest cohort will join over 400 other educators in the Greater Bay Area LIGHT Awards network.
Karen Leshner, founder of Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation, shared, “On behalf of myself and our Advisor team, I offer heartfelt congratulations to the teachers who are a part of our ninth cohort. The last two years have been incredibly challenging for educators and students. Today, more than at any other time in our program’s history, we understand the importance of supporting teachers. It’s our hope that your projects will bring inspiration and positive energy to you, your students, and your communities.”
Projects selected for the 2022-2024 cohort include:
- A team of math educators serving both Middle and High School grades will collaborate to develop a lesson study team, with the goal of creating a community to follow students through their seven years of secondary school education, supporting and advancing their math learning and agency.
- Six elementary school teachers across grades and content areas will develop competence with new technology platforms allowing students to control the pace of their learning and progress.
The 2022-2024 LIGHT Awards cohort consists of teams from the following eight schools:
- The Academy of Alameda, Alameda
- Bancroft Middle School, San Leandro
- Dolores Huerta Elementary School, San Francisco
- Healdsburg Junior High and High School, Healdsburg
- International Community School, Oakland
- San Leandro High School, San Leandro
- Schafer Park Elementary School, Hayward
For more information about the Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation, please visit intrepid-philanthropy.org.