This spring, GEF awarded five Innovation Grants amounting to almost $10,000 to educators in Goleta Union School District!
The most prevalent theme in the winning grants this year was inclusion. Two grants were awarded to special education educators to support functional communication for students with the most intensive needs and functional technology skills for students with significant cognitive and/or physical disabilities. A third Innovation Grant was awarded to fund an after-school enrichment program to help special and general education students learn exercises and skills that will help them function better on the playground and beyond.
Two grants were also awarded in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math): a lunchtime ecology club and an outdoor learning environment. The lunchtime ecology club promotes responsible environmental practices at school and supports the lunchtime compost and food-share program implemented by the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department. The new learning space will allow for project-based learning experiences where students collaborate in groups of peers and parents to practice and apply the skills of critical thinking, creativity, and communication and inquiry.
Congratulations to our innovators in the Goleta Valley! Learn more at www.GoletaEd.org/innovation-grants.