San Francisco Public School Teachers Awarded More Than $78,000 to Help Students Build Literacy, STEM and College and Career Readiness Skills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Emily Morris, emorris@sfedfund.org
Office: 415-695-5400 ext. 3004
SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Education Fund has awarded more than $78,000 in grants to teachers, principals and other staff at 10 high-need schools in the San Francisco Unified School District to help them bring their ideas to life this school year.
The Education Fund awarded funding to projects designed to improve literacy achievement in elementary school, math performance in middle
school or college and career readiness in high school.
“Educators have incredible ideas for helping their students learn, but they often do not have the resources to make these projects a reality,” said Kimberly Wicoff, the San Francisco Education Fund’s Executive Director. “We want students in public schools to have the kinds of challenging and engaging opportunities they deserve.”
Examples of funded projects include:
- A Readers Theater project from El Dorado Elementary School first-grade teachers Anna Pepito and Ariana Contreras that helps students build literacy skills through the arts. Students will learn from a professional theater troop and put on their own plays for families using new books ($4,616).
- A math acceleration program aimed to help students who are far behind catch up fast. The grant helps Everett Middle School educators Lauren Ponti and Esther Fensel buy materials to help students learn math concepts during small group instruction and work with instructors to develop their teaching of acceleration curriculum ($4,323).
“The San Francisco Education Fund’s support allows me to dream of and seek out the best for my students — the most effective curriculum and texts, the most authentic learning experiences — and make them happen,” teacher Anna Pepito said. “I have no doubt my readers will grow as a result of this project. This will be the first time many of my students perform in front of an audience, and that kind of experience can be a game-changer.”
Nearly 30 educators received these one-year grants, including staff at Bessie Carmichael K-8, James Lick Middle School, Dr. George Washington Carver Elementary School, Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, June Jordan School for Equity, Junipero Serra Elementary School, Mission High School and Phillip & Sala Burton High School.
The San Francisco Education Fund is a nonprofit that trains community and corporate volunteers who dedicate time in schools, awards grants to teachers to bring their ideas to life and provides college scholarships to help public school students follow their dreams. Since 1963, the Education Fund has awarded more than $7 million in grants to educators.
