Fifteen Teachers Vying For Half A Million Dollars As Part Of Thank America's Teachers Dream Big Teacher Challenge
America Can Vote Daily During the Month of October for Their Favorite Teacher Proposals at ThankAmericasTeachers.com
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Across America, Farmers Insurance℠ has set the stage for a national competition for 15 Dream Big Teacher Challenge finalists competing for one of six $100,000 educational grants to help bring their proposals to life.
In the Western United States, one teacher would build a jungle gym manufactured entirely out of musical instruments. Another teacher would build an interpretive outdoor learning center; another would build a state-of-the-art kitchen and restaurant; another would use technology to incorporate physical education for students; and finally, another teacher would incorporate technology to help reinforce critical thinking skills.
In the middle of the country, who will it be? The teacher who would develop micro libraries to encourage reading; the teacher who would integrate coding programs into the school's curriculum; one who would purchase the latest in band equipment for the school's marching band; another who would effectively incorporate technology into the school's curricula; or one who would purchase a new science curriculum in French and Spanish?
In the East, the competition pits a teacher who would help create a community greenhouse and garden; another who would build an inclusive playground for special needs students; another who would develop a school-to-work program to benefit the community; another who would build a media center and library for students and community; and one who would develop a cutting-edge STEAM program to use technology in the school.
Today through October 31, America can determine which of these teachers will be among the six winners of the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge, by voting daily at ThankAmericasTeachers.com.
Launched at the 2015 Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego, California, the Thank America's Teachers program enables Americans everywhere to say thank you to teachers who made an impact on their lives. In addition to awarding 180 grants valued at $2,500 throughout the year to recognize the great work that teachers do every day, Farmers Insurance took the program one step further by developing the Dream Big Teacher Challenge, offering teachers a chance to compete for six $100,000 educational grants. In total, Farmers will give teachers across the country more than $1 million in educational grants in 2015.
"We received so many incredibly insightful and creative proposals from teachers across the country, and through a competitive review process, we chose an impressive group of 15 teacher proposals to compete for the final six $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge educational grants," said Kelly LaMar, Managing Lead of Thank America's Teachers for Farmers Insurance. "At Farmers, we are proud to be able to provide teachers with funds necessary to help advance education in their classrooms, and we encourage everyone to vote daily for any of the 15 teacher proposals beginning today at ThankAmericasTeachers.com."
America is encouraged to vote daily in October to determine the six winners. While the public can only vote for each proposal once per day, Farmers encourages America to show their support for the most inspiring proposals by voting for multiple proposals daily at ThankAmericasTeachers.com.
Farmers will announce up to six $100,000 educational grants in December to the two proposals with the highest vote count in its three operating zones in the Western, Central and Eastern United States.
Throughout August and September, Farmers Insurance agents and district managers from across the country personally surprised local Dream Big Teacher Challenge finalists with the news that their proposals had been selected for the final stages of the Dream Big Teacher Challenge. Each of the 15 Dream Big Teacher Challenge drop-ins showcased the genuine excitement and pride of the students, principals, community, Farmers agents and district managers.
To encourage America to vote for their top 15 Dream Big Teacher Challenge finalists, background information on each of the finalists and corresponding proposal summaries appears below. (Editor's Note: All teacher proposal videos can be found at ThankAmericasTeachers.com. Individual teacher videos available upon request.)
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Western Zone Finalists |
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| Teacher/School |
Bryan Alvarez of Roots International Academy in Oakland, California |
| Proposal Summary |
The Maker Space Music Park Roots international Academy is a Title One public middle school in East Oakland. Nearly 100% of Roots students are on free/reduced lunches and never had access to electives until Alvarez was hired in January to develop the music program. By May, Alvarez had brought in thousands of dollars of donated instruments and technological resources from national and local Oakland businesses, along with volunteer support from the Oakland community. The program is now thriving, and students are learning to play music and record/produce their own songs. What’s next? What if, while learning music and exploring their own creative voices, these students could learn professional skills that would greatly impact their future success? Alvarez would use the $100,000 to build the "Maker Space," an engineering and 3D printing lab where students will learn prototyping, computer programming, and manufacturing skills while they design their own musical instruments, ultimately collaborating with each other to help create a music park made entirely of larger-than-life musical instruments accessible to the entire school community. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
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| Teacher |
Paula Brockman of Lowell Scott Middle School in Boise, Idaho |
| Proposal Summary |
Thinking Outside The Classroom Box Research has shown that outdoor experiences can help stimulate learning and make real-life connections for students. If Brockman were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, she would use the money to build an outdoor learning center that includes interpretive learning stations sparking each student’s creativity and curiosity. The outdoor learning center will feature a greenhouse and extended garden area, a fish farm station, a circular seating area for group lessons both covered and uncovered, and other creative spaces. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
| Teacher/School |
Laura Denue of Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Proposal Summary |
Learning from Experience: A Pathway from Garden to Table As part of Clark County School District’s Turnaround Zone for chronically under-performing schools, Desert Pines High School is in desperate need of a program that can help its at-risk students find a passion and educational direction. If Denue were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, she would use the money to convert a classroom into a state-of-the-art kitchen and restaurant for students to learn food preparation skills and how to successfully operate a restaurant that will be open to all members of the surrounding community. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
| Teacher/School |
Doris Merzweiler of Hayes Middle School in Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Proposal Summary |
Exercise with Xbox 360 Kinect Technology for Special Needs Students New Mexico ranks 50th (last in the nation) for child well-being. Within Albuquerque Public Schools, 80% of the students are minority and 70% live in poverty with significant numbers of at-risk youth. The financial and economic challenges for our families that have children with special needs are enormous. If Merzweiler were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge Grant she will use the money to develop an Adapted Physical Education (APE) program for special needs students utilizing the technology of the Xbox 360 Kinect to help students enjoy daily exercise and age appropriate socialization in the classroom. Merzweiler has been recognized on numerous occasions for her contributions to her students and to the community as 2010 APE Teacher of the Year for New Mexico Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. She is the recipient of 2013 Southwest District APE Teacher of the Year through The American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She also received the 2015 Golden Apple Fellow Award which is New Mexico’s most prestigious teaching award. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
| Teacher/School |
Katherine Tacea of Lafayette Elementary School in Long Beach, California |
| Proposal Summary |
Equity and Access for All: Closing the Technology Achievement Gap for Children and Families in Poverty One-hundred percent of the students at Lafayette Elementary School come from poverty stricken homes and many of them do not have access to computers or other forms of technology. If Tacea were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, she would use the money to buy computers and iPads to help reinforce Common Core State Standards to help students develop critical thinking skills in their pursuit to become lifelong digital learners. |
| Local Farmers District Manager Sponsor |
| Central Zone Finalists |
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| Teacher/School |
Kathleen Bartin of Conroe High School in Conroe, Texas |
| Proposal Summary |
Leaping Libraries Initiative At Conroe High School almost 60 percent of the students are living at or below the poverty line with a portion of those being limited English proficiency. If Bartin were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, she would use the money to develop micro-libraries in up to 60 classrooms to encourage students to develop a passion for reading. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
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| Teacher/School |
Lisa Fox of St. Joseph Grade School in Shawnee, Kansas |
| Proposal Summary |
CODING – Collaborative Opportunities for Differentiated Inquiry to Navigate the Globe The growth in the field of technology and the demand for skilled workers has become a consistent issue in most schools today. For this very reason, if Fox were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, she would use the money to purchase computers to integrate coding into St. Joseph’s curriculum, helping reduce barriers to technology for its students and teachers. |
| Local Farmers District Manager Sponsor |
| Teacher/School |
Christopher Green of W.H. Adamson High School in Dallas, Texas |
| Proposal Summary |
Adamson High School Band Equipment Nearly 100 percent of the students at W.H. Adamson High School come from poverty stricken homes and do not have access to musical instruments. With a growth of 12 to over 200 students in 5 years, there are not enough instruments to match the students wanting to be a part of band. If Green were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, he will use the money to purchase band equipment so that every student has an instrument to perform on. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
| Teacher/School |
Marybeth Mugavin of Weaver Elementary in West Memphis, Arkansas |
| Proposal Summary |
Access and Application: Providing and Integrating Technology Skills for the Future at Weaver Elementary Weaver Elementary serves an at-risk, low income population where students rarely have access to technology such as computers, tablets or internet access at home. If Mugavin were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, she will use the money to develop a Technology Lab as well as provide train teachers and parents in order to cultivate growth and development of technology skills in the school and community for future success. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
| Teacher/School |
Sandra Weller of Eisenhower International School in Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Proposal Summary |
Language Immersion School: Literacy Base Science Makeover Eisenhower International School has the unique problem of trying to teach science to English speaking students through full immersion in French and Spanish. Not to mention, the school’s current curriculum that was developed by the teachers is completely out-of-date. If Weller were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, she would use the money to purchase new science curriculum in French and Spanish to allow Eisenhower students to be able to use their target language to perform projects with their peers. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
| Eastern Zone Finalists |
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| Teacher/School |
Lori Lochran of Avella Area School District in Avella, Pennsylvania |
| Proposal Summary |
The Avella Youth Farmers Club Greenhouse Community Connection Project As a small rural town, Avella receives minimal State and Federal funding due to its lower population which has made it hard to implement and develop programs for its student population. If Mrs. Lochran were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, she will use the money to create a community greenhouse and garden that would be run by the students and provide plants and produce to the school, community members and the local food bank. |
| Farmers Agent Sponsor |
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| Teacher/School |
Emily Max of Fred Armon Toomer Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia |
| Proposal Summary |
Toomer's Inclusive Playground Project At Fred Armon Toomer Elementary, more than 70 percent of the student population receives free or reduce lunch and the school does not have adequate funds to provide the desired resources to many special needs students. If Max were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, she would build an inclusive playground that is accessible for the school’s special needs students. The play space would include low structures with ramps, low monkey bars, and balance building stations. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
| Teacher/School |
Charles Myers of Woonsocket Area Career & Technical Center in Woonsocket, Rhode Island |
| Proposal Summary |
21st Century Solutions: Working Together For a Better Tomorrow Due to the economic conditions in Woonsocket there are many abandoned homes which are potential targets for crime. This, in turn, can drive down property values in an area already experiencing depressed home values. Should Myers’ proposal win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, the money would be used to develop a program to allow students to work with members of the community. This work would involve demolition of decrepit homes to make way for the construction of energy efficient, single family dwellings. The learning opportunities provided by this project would allow construction students at the Woonsocket Career Center to gain real-life skills. From job shadowing to paid internships, involvement in this project would enable Career Center students to develop a skills set for utilization after graduation as well as providing them a way to give back to their community. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
| Teacher/School |
Emily Thurston of Evergreen Middle School in Brooklyn, New York |
| Proposal Summary |
Evergreen is Ever-Ready to Read According to a 2014-2015 literacy assessment, the average reading proficiency at Evergreen Middle School was a 4th grade reading level. If Thurston wins the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, she will use the money to develop school-wide passion for reading by transforming the school’s teacher center into a technologically advanced, resource rich, and inspiring library and media center for students and their families. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
| Teacher/School |
Victor Worthington of Rochelle Middle School in Rochelle, Illinois |
| Proposal Summary |
Full STEAM Ahead In April 2015, Rochelle was hit by a devastating EF4 tornado destroying many homes and farms in the area including the homes of several staff members from Rochelle Middle School. This district continues to face reductions in State aid. If Worthington were to win the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grant, he would use the money to develop a cutting edge STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) program for students that ties classroom learning to technology and mentorship from local business and agricultural leaders. |
| Local Farmers Agent Sponsor |
The public can visit www.ThankAmericasTeachers.com at any time to share their thanks for teachers who made a difference in their lives, and to learn more about the program.
About Farmers Insurance
Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is a leading U.S. insurer group of automobiles, homes and small businesses and also provides a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Farmers Insurance is proud to serve more than 10 million households with over 19 million individual policies across all 50 states through the efforts of over 50,000 exclusive and independent agents and approximately 22,000 employees. Farmers Insurance Exchange, the largest of the three primary insurance entities that make up the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies®, is ranked No. 264 on the 2015 Fortune 500 list of largest companies.
For more information about Farmers, visit its Web site at www.farmers.com or at www.Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance.
| Contact: |
Trevor Chapman |
| 323-327-1896 |
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