Leaders Education Foundation awards more than $35,000 to local teachers

JACKSON, Tenn. — Teachers across the region are being honored for making a difference in the lives of students.

It’s a special recognition given every year to represent educators that go above and beyond to impact their classrooms.

The L.E.A.D.S. Grants Program awards grants to local educators whose initiatives empower students to learn , experience, advocate, dream, and serve.

To be eligible for these grants, educators are required to be in a public and private k-12 schools, technical schools, universities and colleges in the west tennessee region.

“Teachers are winning grants tonight through the L.E.A.D.S. Educator Grants program. There are three different grants that they are receiving: Grants for classroom projects, teachers appreciation, and development,” said Shea Brown, director of community impact for Leaders Education Foundation.

This year, 25 classroom recipients were given a $1,000 each through social media engagement with more than 100,000 people and more than 13,000 likes and shares flooding the feeds of many online users via Facebook.

“Some are applications where they fill out there need in their school and then classroom grants are video based. They submit a video, that’s actually voted on by on social media,” said Brown.

Teachers are encouraged to pour the money back into their classrooms. They will be able to use the funds towards new books for students, school-wide projects, or a stem initiative.

Six educators received professional development grants and ten teachers were awarded appreciation grants applied for by their principal or administrator in the amount of $500.

The Leaders Education Foundation awards more than $35,000 to West Tennessee educators making a difference in the lives of student.

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