Follett Challenge Competition—$200,000 in Prizes

The Follett Challenge recognizes educators who use and design innovative teaching and learning programs that help students master 21^st century skills and abilities.  Individual school prizes range from $5000 to $30000. According to the rules, entries must show how a school or district has created a 21^st century curriculum. An application and a 3-5 minute video describing the project must be submitted by February 28, 2014.  Winners will be announced in April and May.

ISTE Inspiration Awards: Nominate Yourself or a Colleague

ISTE (The International Society for Technology in Education) recognizes individuals who inspire others through innovative use of technology. If you know of a teacher or school leader who deserves this recognition, be sure to fill in one of the nomination forms.  Categories for recognition include: Outstanding Leader Award, Outstanding Teacher Award, Outstanding Young Educator Award, Sylvia Charp Award for District Innovation, Public Policy Advocate Award, President’s Volunteer Service Award, and several more. Winners will receive recognition at the ISTE Conference and Expo, free registration, membership to ISTE, and other prizes and cash awards. Deadline: February 28, 2014.

AAA Traffic Safety Competition

Students at all levels are invited to create AAA Traffic Safety posters or Public Service Announcements emphasizing traffic safety. Prizes include VISA gift cards and AAA gifts. You’ll find competition activities listed according to grade level. All entries are due by February 14, 2014.

Make a Difference

Teachers, administrators, and technology specialists and coordinators can enter Tech & Learning’s 2013 Leader of the Year Program. If you use technology in innovative ways to help teachers teach and students learn, make sure to share your ideas on the Tech & Learning site. Entries are due by October 31, 2013. Award winners and prizes will be announced in the December issue of the magazine.

The Amazing 2013 Vultures Rock Competition

The Halloween Vultures Rock Poetry Competition is open once more for entries. This competition focuses on the plight of vultures, whose numbers are dropping around the world mainly because people know so little about them and why they need to be protected.  To honor the job that vultures do in cleaning up our world, children, ages 8-12, are invited to submit original poems that describe how they think vulture’s rock. Poems, which do not have to rhyme, are to be submitted to the Vultures Rock website by October 18^th, 2013. Winners will receive iPod Shuffles.

The competition is an excellent way to help students learn about the importance of vultures in our world and celebrate the fall season. Be sure to check the rules for entry on the site.

Incredible Bionic Man Challenge

Encourage your students to create a bionic body part for The Incredible Bionic Man Challenge.  According to the rules, students must be 13 or over, in Grades 9-12, and residents of a Cablevision service area in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania.

Winners will receive a trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. and $5000 for college. The contest begins on October 1^st and ends November 7^th.  Additional information is available on the Smithsonian Channel site. You’ll find guidelines to get your students started, help for teachers, contest rules, and FAQ. You and your students can also watch a preview of the Smithsonian Channel’s Incredible Bionic Man, which will premiere on October 20^th at 9 p.m.

Hispanic Heritage Essay Competition

Students in Middle and High School in the CableVision region of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut may enter the 2013 Hispanic Heritage Essay Competition. By writing an essay of 500 words or less, students have the chance to win a $2,500 scholarship, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a Kindle Fire. Students must submit original essay on the topic, “Name a Latino, past or present, with whom you would choose to spend a day and explain why.”  Submissions are due by November 1, 2013 and must be submitted online. Rules and entry forms are available on the site.

Colonial Dames Washington Seminar Essay Competition

The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in cooperation with the Washington Workshops Foundation offer a seven-day (June 21-27, 2014) seminar to high school essay winners. To enter, students must write an original essay on the topic, “To what degree can it be said that the decisions of John Marshall’s Supreme Court laid the essential groundwork for establishing a strong federal government?”

Highlights of the experience include interaction with guest speakers from the three branches of government, visits to Washington D.C. landmarks, housing at Marymount University, exposure to career opportunities, and much more.  Online submissions are due by November 28, 2013, and written submissions by December 1, 2013.

Back-to-School Supply Lists & Teachers’ Lounge Makeover Contest

The free online service, TeacherLists.com, is a place for teachers to post lists (back-to-school and wish lists) in order to share them with parents and other teachers. Once lists are posted, they can be “broadcast” on school websites where they can be downloaded by parents, printed, and/or posted through social media. Lists can be viewed on smartphones, tablets, and computers. 

To welcome everyone back to school, TeacherLIsts is sponsoring a $5,000 Teachers’ Lounge Makeover contest, a Tell-a-Teacher referral reward program, and school supply coupons for parents.  If 20 teachers in your school post lists, you’ll be eligible for Lounge Makeover drawing.

List of Grants & Contests

WE are TEACHERS maintains a list of grants, contests, competitions, and sweepstakes to help you get the resources or funding you need for your dream classroom projects. Two random drawings are currently on the list, but other types of grants/competitions will be added as they come available. If you try the educational software HP Classroom Manager, you will be entered in a drawing for prizes such as $1000 cash, $500 HP Gift Cards, and HP Tablets.  The Worth Ave. Group awards three i-Pads each month (until October 31, 2013) to educators selected in random drawings.