Toyota Awards $900,000 in Grants to K-12 Teachers Across America for Innovative Science and Math
Since 1990, More Than 800 Teams of Teachers Have Received Grants Through Toyota TAPESTRY and TIME Programs
TORRANCE, Calif., April 7 -- There is no shortage of ideas from teachers for innovative science and math. With school budgets tight, more and more K-12th grade teachers across the country are looking to grant programs to help provide their students with unique learning experiences.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), this year is awarding 108 teacher grants of up to $10,000 each to help bring science and math to life in the classroom and lay the groundwork for a skilled and diverse future workforce.
Through its TAPESTRY (science) and TIME (mathematics) teacher grant programs, Toyota is donating $900,000 to classroom projects that demonstrate creativity, involve risk-taking, possess a visionary quality, and model a novel way of presenting science and math. Since TAPESTRY and TIME began in 1990 and 1997 respectively, Toyota has contributed $8 million in direct teacher grants and in doing so, has supported more than 800 schools nationwide, including several U.S. territories.
Some of the projects being funded include: "Urban Pesticides and Ecology of Philadelphia Watersheds" (a study of surface water contamination); "Comparative Air Quality" (a Seattle and Hiroshima, Japan, middle school collaborative); "Eye in the Sky" (high school physics students and sixth- graders will work together to investigate a scientific balloon vehicle; "Unraveling the Code" (a mathematics project that will program robots and study force and motion); and "On the Road with Math" (a New York math program using skills embedded in the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation auto technician certification).
"Toyota puts a strong emphasis on innovation and education, both within the company and in our community outreach efforts," said Michael Rouse, TMS corporate manager of philanthropy and community affairs. "We believe it's not just a privilege, but a necessity, to support educators who are working hard to bring quality science and math to our children."
Toyota TAPESTRY
TAPESTRY winners, who were awarded their grants on March 27, 2003, at the NSTA National Convention in Philadelphia, are selected from three critical areas for today's youth: environmental and physical science, and science applications that promote literacy.
The largest K-12 science teacher grant program in the U.S., TAPESTRY is sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and administered by NSTA. Toyota awards $550,000 to kindergarten through twelfth-grade teachers each year -- 50 teachers received grants of up to $10,000 each and at least 20 teachers receive $2,500 mini-grants.
"NSTA has been proud to partner with Toyota and learn first-hand about the company's strong commitment to education. TAPESTRY offers far-reaching opportunities for today's teachers -- to not only grow and develop as educators, but to challenge their students with new and creative learning experiences," said NSTA President Carolyn Randolph.
Since 1990, more than $5.5 million has been awarded to 594 teams of teachers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Saipan, part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Toyota TIME
The 2003 TIME (Toyota's Investment in Mathematics Excellence) grant recipients will be recognized on April 10, 2003 at the NCTM Annual Meeting in San Antonio.
TIME is a two-year grant that awards 35 K-12 teachers up to $10,000 each, totaling $350,000, for innovative projects that enhance mathematics education within the schools. Toyota also sponsors a summer workshop for grant recipients. TIME is sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc, through its partnership with NCTM and its Mathematics Education Trust Board.
To date 219 teams of teachers throughout the U.S. and its territories have shared more than $2.1 million in Toyota TIME grants. Toyota's total investment in the program is $4.7 million.
"Since TIME began in 1997, Toyota has demonstrated that it values mathematics education and shares NCTM's belief that education is the foundation for personal achievement and economic success. Programs like TIME have a tremendous impact on the quality of math education in our schools," said Johnny Lott, NCTM president.
About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Established in 1957, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. is the sales, marketing, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota and Lexus in the U.S., marketing vehicles and services through 1402 dealers. TMS and its dealers directly employ more than 88,000 people in the U.S. Last year, 1.7 million vehicles were sold throughout the 49 continental states.
In 2002, Toyota USA contributed nearly $20 million to U.S. philanthropic programs, with 61 percent supporting education. Since 1991, overall donations reach nearly $196 million. The company's education-related efforts include teacher grant programs, scholarships, literacy initiatives through the National Center for Family Literacy, and technical training.
About National Science Teachers Association
The National Science Teachers Association, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is the largest organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership of 55,000 includes teachers, administrators, science and business and industry representatives.
About National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has nearly 100,000 members and more than 240 Affiliates in the United States and Canada. It is the world's largest organization dedicated to improving mathematics education for all students from pre-K through grade 12. The Council's Principles and Standards for School Mathematics provides guidelines for excellence in mathematics education.
2003 Toyota TAPESTRY & TIME Grant Recipients Alabama Jacqueline Lampley Birmingham TIME Scynda Fickert Opelika TIME Alaska Sheryl Sotelo Cooper Landing TAPESTRY Edward Hillman Koyuk TAPESTRY Troy Abel Tok TAPESTRY Arizona Melinda Bell Flagstaff TAPESTRY Jennifer Valentine Tucson TAPESTRY Arkansas Bonnie Moody Linoke TAPESTRY California Matthew Cheeseman Sacramento TAPESTRY Michelle McCarthy Temecula TAPESTRY Monica Tully Van Nuys TAPESTRY Randy Cucco Chatsworth TIME Perry Wiseman Redlands TIME Monica Rook Visalia TIME Colorado Katherine Young Mancos TIME Connecticut Charles Renshaw Clinton TAPESTRY Jill Bracksieck New Haven TIME Florida Wendyla Valle Coral Springs TAPESTRY David Niederprum Sarasota TAPESTRY Nicole Machenheimer Sarasota TAPESTRY Ivan Mish Umatilla TAPESTRY Becky Bride Palm Harbor TIME Georgia Monica Nichols Armuchee TAPESTRY Idaho Vana Jean Richards Emmett TAPESTRY Illinois Kevin Erlinger Champaign TAPESTRY Debra Dradi-Du Casse Grayslake TAPESTRY Susan Wotal Arlington Heights TIME Carol Catlett Dekalb TIME Indiana Art Klinger Granger TAPESTRY Amy Cole Tipton TIME Iowa Jody Stone Cedar Falls TAPESTRY Hector Ibarra Iowa City TAPESTRY Kansas Alan Gleue Lawrence TAPESTRY Fred Davids Leavenworth TAPESTRY Janice Crowley Wichita TAPESTRY Jeff Smith Derby TIME Nancy McDonnell Parker TIME Kentucky Reeda Stamper Hart Falmouth TAPESTRY Louisiana Misti Thomason Walker TAPESTRY Maine Anita Patrocelli Bedford TAPESTRY Maryland Joshua Merrill Pasadena TIME Massachusetts Mary Rudolph Gloucester TAPESTRY Katherine Flaherty Leominster TIME Nancy Silva Manomet TIME Donna Cycz South Deerfield TIME Michigan Conni Crittenden Williamston TAPESTRY Minnesota Deborah Scheil Faribault TAPESTRY Harold Fenske Tenstrike TAPESTRY Evan Jones St. Paul TAPESTRY Raphael Lucas St. Paul TAPESTRY Mississippi Peggy Carlisle Flowood TAPESTRY Ronnie Shumaker Enterprise TIME Missouri Nancy Elliott Mooresville TAPESTRY Montana Jane Micklus Missoula TIME Nevada Steve Adamson Panaca TAPESTRY North Carolina Marilyn Logan Matthews TAPESTRY Jan Schuettpelz Durham TAPESTRY Myra Halpin Pittsboro TAPESTRY Patrick Fitzpatrick Raleigh TAPESTRY North Dakota Deanna Reynolds Minot TIME New Hampshire Ruth Krumhansl Amherst TAPESTRY New Jersey Susan MacDougall Brick TAPESTRY Lois Spangler Great Meadows TAPESTRY Olympia Lortz Haskell TAPESTRY Aldona Skrypa Florham Park TIME New York Uma Mehta Henrietta TAPESTRY Stefanie Deringer Melville TAPESTRY Joan Marcello Rochester TAPESTRY Colleen Lafountain Plattsburgh TIME Ohio Sandra Rasom Mansfield TAPESTRY Sherri Malek Beachwood TIME Barbara Bell Cincinnati TIME Jennifer Costello Cincinnati TIME Tom Reardon Poland TIME Angie Anderson Sidney TIME Oregon Malia Hee Corvallis TAPESTRY Michele O'Brien Oregon City TAPESTRY Jodie Harnden Pendleton TAPESTRY Terry Shlaes Portland TAPESTRY Janet Muller Portland TAPESTRY Michael Lampert Salem TAPESTRY Pennsylvania Gary Popiolkowski Houston TAPESTRY Patty McGinnis Pottstown TAPESTRY Amitabha Basu Swarthmore TAPESTRY Pamela Gray West Chester TAPESTRY Sharon Warnere Friedens TIME Rhode Island Mary Nixon Barrington TIME Ronald Patenaude Pawtucket TIME South Carolina Amy Lowder Columbia TIME Tennessee Dorothy Davis Pleasant View TAPESTRY Texas Kirstin Bucsh Austin TAPESTRY Jane Elmore Dike TAPESTRY Utah Bryce Passey Hyde Park TAPESTRY Diana Suddreth Dammeron Valley TIME Vermont Evan Ellerson West River Junction TAPESTRY Virginia Melissa Booker Vienna TAPESTRY Donna Coe Fairfax TIME Washington Patty Sleasman Bremerton TAPESTRY Sheryl Schaaf Forks TAPESTRY Darin Detweiler Kirkland TAPESTRY Carol Boyer Montesano TAPESTRY Roxane Moir Mount Vernon TAPESTRY Rebecca Timson Seattle TAPESTRY Carey Knifong Milton-Freewater TIME West Virginia Susan Hvizdos Wheeling TIME Wisconsin Thomas Mellon West Bend TAPESTRY Katherine Knight Oconto Falls TAPESTRY
