Summit public school teachers received some much needed funding from the Eileen Finkel Innovative Teacher Awards. The grants were awarded to teachers in a partnership between the Education Foundation of the Summit (EFS) and the Parent-Teacher Organizations at each school. “Our educational community is so fortunate to have a joint partnership between EFS and our school’s PTSA  to support special requests such as mine,” said Robyn Cornwell, literacy resource teacher at Summit Middle School.

When COVID hit this spring, and learning went remote, it became very challenging for teachers to provide the same quality of learning for their students. Teachers were frustrated with seemingly endless online activities that struggled to engage students in deep learning experiences. COVID created barriers to feelings of connectivity and community.

Teachers took those difficulties as a challenge to make things better, no matter what they may face this school year. Teachers applied to EFS for funding with innovative requests that responded to COVID education recovery. 

Teachers were thrilled with the news. “Yay! This will be so much fun! The STEAM learning in preschool with this Flight Lab will be amazing!” responded Julie Willis, Summit Cove Elementary preschool teacher.

Every Summit School District student will benefit from an award, as they reached across each school and grade. Awards included:

  • Outdoor learning and flight lab for pre-Kindergarten
  • More safety helmets for welding to limit sharing
  • Trades program for STEM labs—plumbing, electricity, wood-working
  • Outdoor fitness equipment to get kids off the screens and outside
  • Books that include culturally responsive literature
  • Technology for distance learning—voice amplifier and headphones
  • Lab equipment—magnets, motors, and flight 
  • Materials for the new physics course at Snowy Peaks Junior/Senior High
  • Support for the EVO3 Foundation drone course for high school slated to start in several months, which is an introduction to drones, coding, engineering, and career opportunities in technology
  • Snowy Peaks outdoor fitness stations

See the full awards list here, including past awards.

The awards were also made possible thanks to generous sponsors including F Cubed, The Summit Foundation, the Towns of Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne and FirstBank and other EFS Virtual Trivia Night sponsors. 

About the Awards

Eileen Finkel was a longtime educator who strongly supported the innovative and creative ideas of teachers that enrich educational opportunities for children. The Innovative Teaching Award was created to honor her.

The Award is available to any Summit School District teacher or principal who seeks funding support for creative ideas. A committee of Education Foundation of the Summit directors, Summit School District staff, and parents select projects. Creative projects have prior principal approval, and enhanced technology projects are supported by the district’s technology plan.

Posted in EFS Blog Posts