Applications are open for educators seeking funding for innovative projects

The Innovative Delaware Educator Awards (IDEAS) is in search of inspiring high school educators with classroom project ideas that are beyond their budgets.

University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship program is part mini-grant, part collaborative cohort of educators. Selected educators receive grants of up to $500, a June workshop, networking, mentorship and coaching.

“Entrepreneurial teachers have the unique potential to transform young lives by facilitating the discovery of passions and purpose, therefore enhancing students’ capacity to adapt and thrive in our rapidly changing world,” said Julie Frieswyk, assistant director of youth programs at Horn, in a statement about the program.

Eligible educators must be full-time, secondary classroom-facing and have taught in a Delaware public, vo-tech, private or charter high school for at least one year. Applications include an innovative project framework to describe the idea, which should be an experiential lesson or project.

The 2020 13-person cohort includes projects like Karen Ferrucci’s CTI Goes Virtual (William Penn), Corinne Hofman’s Bringing History to Life with Virtual Reality (Polytech) and Dennis Leizear’s Middle School Podcast Project (Padua Academy).

Applications for 2021 grants are open through Feb. 21.