www.fundforteachers.org

Let me catch you up...

Last November, Sheila Schatzke, the Technology Specialist at my school, and I decided we would write a grant together through the organization Fund For Teachers. It was started by a man named Raymond Plank who founded Apache Oil. He believed that besides his father, the biggest influence in his life was a teacher, so he started the FFT Foundation. His philosophy is that if a teacher is going to make a difference in the life of a child or society, they must first make a difference to themselves. We spent three months writing a fellowship to travel to Rome and Paris, as well as a few other cities outside those places, to study and explore the rich culture, history, art, and architecture of those locations. Our purpose was to create virtual field trips through the use of various technologies to bring these countries and artwork back to our classrooms. FFT funds $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for teams to go pursue their passion and bring what they have learned back to students as enrichment. Well.........we were chosen! Sheila and I, as a team, were awarded the funds to travel for 10 days to Italy and France and see first hand, famous works of art including the Mona Lisa, ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the statue of David and many other works too numerous to include. We will also be touring The Vatican, Colosseum, Pantheon, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and many other historical landmarks. We have also planned two day trips...one to Florence and the other to Giverny to see Claude Monet's house and gardens where he lived and painted. I will be posting photos, video, and journals about my experiences here in my blog, on Facebook, and on a web site Sheila and I will be creating. Saying I am excited is an understatement....I can't wait until June! We are leaving June 10th and will return June 21st. I will be posting more details about the trip as travel arrangements are made. Thank you Fund For Teachers!!!!!!