The Peyton Anderson Foundation announces the Teach to Inspire Project, an innovative, teacher-based grant program providing creative resources for Bibb County public schools. Through the Teach to Inspire project, the Foundation seeks to inspire education in Macon-Bibb by contributing additional monies to support extraordinary efforts. Up to $500,000 in funding is available for teachers’ best ideas for their classrooms, with grants awards ranging from $250-$10,000.

The announcement was made in honor of its founding benefactor Peyton T. Anderson Jr.’s 110^th birthday. Anderson placed a high value on education and opportunities to seek – and inspire – knowledge. Since 2009, the Foundation has awarded nearly $2 million in college scholarships to highly promising Bibb County students in honor of Anderson’s passion for education.

“As a place-based Foundation committed to Macon-Bibb, our Trustees recognize the importance of student engagement and how educators are in constant search of creative, innovative and sometimes, self-funded ways to help students excel in the classroom,” said Peyton Anderson Foundation President Karen Lambert. “Teach to Inspire is designed to empower our local school system by expanding opportunities for both our teachers and our students.”

The Foundation is seeking proposals from local educators for micro-grants that will directly benefit the students of Macon-Bibb. Successful grant ideas will:

• Demonstrate innovative, unique and efficient ideas to meet the needs of educating Macon-Bibb students within the approved curriculum;

• Contribute to more meaningful educational experiences;

• Have a lasting impact;

• And benefit the most students.

Teachers are encouraged to bring their best ideas forward. Funded projects will go beyond the basic needs of the classroom and take learning to a level that inspires educators and their students long after the school year is over.

“The Teach to Inspire grant project sponsored by the Peyton Anderson Foundation is another great example of community support for our school district,” said Superintendent Dr. Curtis L. Jones, Jr. “Teachers quite often have to go into their own pockets in order to pay for additional resources. They’re always looking for ways to better improve their practice and to help their students learn. This is an excellent way to allow teachers to be innovative and flexible in finding resources that will allow them to do this. As we increase the standards and the rigor in classrooms, and as we ask teachers to do more with less, this is an excellent example of how the community can support education, and we’re very thankful to the Peyton Anderson Foundation for this inspirational idea.”

Teachers will apply for the micro-grants for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year by completing an online application available at PeytonAnderson.org. They must be full-time educators employed by a Macon-Bibb County public school or charter school. They cannot be a principal, administrator, staff developer, substitute, volunteer or student teacher. Additional guidelines, the list of eligible schools and limitations can be found at PeytonAnderson.org/Teach.

The deadline for Teach to Inspire grant applications is June 11, 2017. The awards will be announced in late July.