RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS

"There will always be a new idea that teachers have that can make the classroom a more meaningful and exciting place for students. There is not always district funding. NSHSS has provided my classroom with funds more than once over the course of my entire teaching career. Whether it's an expanded film library or more production equipment, my students have had more opportunities to do college level work and feel like professionals because of NSHSS grants. Thank you, NSHSS! Please keep supporting teachers! Teachers, if you have an exciting idea and need support—apply!"

"The importance of offering AP classes has been well documented-study after study reveals that students who are challenged with college level classes have more persistence, better study habits, and greater financial flexibility if they pass the rigorous exams. An AP course structured with a bedrock in the inquiry arc allows students to experience learning at a collegiate level long before they enroll in an undergraduate institution. However, it is the underlying impact that offering college level classes has on an entire school community, whether enrolled in AP classes or not, that makes advanced placement a necessity for any high school. I have been teaching AP World History for four years to mostly freshman students in the south side of Chicago. Preparing students for a high stakes exam was not the reason I got into teaching. My teaching philosophy is rooted in the importance of inquiry and student choice, which allows students to see themselves in the history of the world. When I first began this journey of teaching AP World it seemed impossible to get the majority of my students to pass the exam for college credit, and at the same time fall in love with history as I had long ago. My passion for learning stems from asking tough questions about the hard truths of world history, and then searching for my own answers with the research skills I learned from my professors or teachers. I also knew that passing an AP exam for many of my students is a game changer in a higher education system where costs have skyrocketed for families. With the grant from NSHSS I will be able to better serve the needs of my students by curating a robust research library and bypass frustrating paywalls of the elite research databases. Thank you NSHSS for providing that rigor for my students!"

"I am grateful to NSHSS for awarding me this grant. With their support, I will be now be able to provide a better cross-cultural learning experience to students in my French classes. Without the support of NSHSS, I would not be able to make mastering a second language as authentic and meaningful for students as I now will. Thank you, NSHSS, for your generosity and support of teaching and learning."

"I am truly thankful for this wonderful blessing that was bestowed upon me in the form of a grant. NSHSS has been a truly awesome program that I am proud to be a part of, which is why I try to share it with my students as a teacher, advisor, and coach. The available opportunities are truly top-notch. Thank you."

"This has been a wonderful opportunity and I am so grateful for being able to get a grant. It reminds me of why I do what I do!"

"I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to support our robotics team through this generous grant. Operating a competitive robotics program comes with significant costs, but the skills and experiences these students gain are priceless. This funding will help us provide students with hands-on STEM opportunities that will be invaluable as they prepare for the challenges and innovations of the 21st century. Thank you for empowering our team to dream bigger and work towards a brighter future."

"I am very grateful that organizations such as these exist. It gives me that extra confidence that is needed in the education world to know that my students will not be negated an opportunity to be creative and be able to explore through research or academic coursework."

"I really appreciate being awarded this grant for my garden club! I have so many enthusiastic students who really love working in the garden this year - and our projects always cost money to complete! This money is really going to help set us up for successful winter gardening, as we are using it to construct cold frames for the exisiting beds!"

"I love the networking opportunities. Being a member of NSHSS has impacted my ability to fund industry-level chemistry investigations to my students. Without NSHSS, these rigorous investigations into chemistry would not be possible."