Freeport Schools Awarded STLE Grant Funding of $786,000 by NYS Dept. of Education
New York State Commissioner of Education John B. King, Jr. announced on Thursday, October 11 that 17 districts were awarded Strengthening Teacher and Leader Effectiveness (STLE) Grant funding at this time. Freeport is the only district from Nassau County to receive the award at this time. School districts applying for this grant were required to have a state approved Annual Professional Performance Review Plan and Freeport was one of the first in Nassau County to be in compliance with this criteria. STLE grants are awarded to support school districts utilizing, as part of the implementation of their APPR plan, a comprehensive approach in recruitment, development, support, retention and equitable distribution of effective teachers and school leaders.
The district was awarded $786,591 funded by New York State's Race to the Top federal funds. This money will be used to fund additional professional development including collaboration with Adelphi University and Nassau BOCES, professional mentoring programs, targeted professional development activities based upon identified needs, support for teachers becoming dually certified in special education or English as a second language and workshops for elementary teachers conducted by Adelphi University professors relative to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), as well as other content areas.
In addition, the funds will support the purchase of classroom sets of iPods, curriculum development using iPods and increased use of technology in the classroom including additional SmartBoards and sound enhancement technology for special education and self-contained classrooms.
"We are very excited to receive these much needed funds especially during these difficult financial times, when we must implement the Race to the Top requirements," stated Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kishore Kuncham. "These funds will greatly assist in providing additional ongoing professional development and mentoring programs for our teachers, advancing the STEM disciplines and increasing the use of technology, all of which will further support the needs of our students."
