65 Grants to TUSD Teachers for Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering Projects
November 5, 2018
Torrance, CA – $49,500 in grants from Torrance Education Foundation (TEF) will support __ STEM related learning projects at Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) schools during the 2018-2019 Academic Year.
Lead Teachers for each project have just received notification of their grants. Grants support projects at all grade levels from Kindergarten through High School. Applications were open to all teachers in Torrance Unified School District. Grant funds will pay for materials and supplies, competition entry fees, and in one case will even purchase a competition arena for CombatBot wargames.
All funded projects provide extracurricular learning that complements classroom activities for students in the STEM disciplines: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Dr. Chad Mabery, President of the TEF Board of Directors, states, “Our STEM Initiative helps teachers build excitement around STEM subjects by giving students more hands-on experience. It also gives teachers a chance to collaborate so that more students can benefit. Mastering STEM subjects is crucial for student success today, so all of us at TEF are delighted this program has seen such strong growth.”
“The Torrance Education Foundation’s focus on enhancing and expanding STEM learning opportunities for all our students is to be commended,” says Superintendent Dr. George Mannon. “State funding for school districts always falls short and TEF helps us fill that gap. TEF has become the catalysts through which the District has been able to strengthen and grow many of our STEM programs, such as the elementary science labs project.”
“I would like to thank the thousands of parents and our business community for continuing to invest in our students through their ongoing support of TEF. We are extremely grateful for our enduring, strong partnership with TEF.”
About the STEM Initiative Grants
Now in its 5th cycle, the TEF STEM grants were launched in 2014 to provide teachers with financial support for new and sustainable STEM learning opportunities for K-12 TUSD students that promote collaboration among all schools.
The STEM Initiative has experienced robust growth each year since 2014, with total grants expanding 712% and numbers of schools participating doubling in four years.
| 2014 | 24 grants | $21,000 | 13 schools |
| 2015 | 31 grants | $25,500 | 16 schools |
| 2016 | 48 grants | $39,500 | 21 schools |
| 2017 | 65 grants | $50,000 | 24 schools |
| 2018 | 65 grants | $49,750 | 24 schools and 2 district grants |
| Totals to Date | 233 grants | $136,000 |
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Initially focused on only five prescribed programs, growth in interest and participation has led to the addition of four more programs for a current total of nine:
After-school Engineering Clubs
CyberPatriots Coding Club
Family STEM Night
Hour of Code
Math Counts
Robotics
– FIRST Lego League
– TorBots, TUSD’s flagship robotics club
Science Olympiad
Stellar Explorers
CombatBots Competition
Torrance Education Foundation (TEF) promotes and supports academic excellence for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students in the Torrance Unified School District. TEF recognizes outstanding teachers and education contributors; develops strategic alliances with business organizations, parents and the community; supports innovation and curiosity; and champions an inspirational, well-rounded education for all students served by the TUSD. Founded in 1992, TEF is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity. In partnership with Torrance Unified School District and the community, TEF gathers and channels financial support from Torrance families, businesses and area philanthropies to ensure that all students have access to the widest variety of exciting, cutting-edge, enriching educational and learning opportunities.
The TEF STEM Initiative Grants Program is open to all teachers in TUSD with an interest in promoting STEM subject learning. Applications are accepted each fall, soon after the school year begins, for qualifying expenses to coordinate and execute one of the targeted activities. Interested TUSD teachers should contact Torrance Education Foundation for more information.
About Torrance Education Foundation
In the past five years, TEF has provided major funding totaling more than $2 million to TUSD. In addition to the annual STEM Initiative Grant Awards and a variety of other annual grants and programs, TEF has recently provided $269,000 to equip the Elementary Science Labs built in Phases I and II at nine TUSD Elementary Schools. Fundraising continues for Phase III, to equip the eight labs still under construction. All labs will be complete and operational by the end of this academic year in June, 2019.
In partnership with local businesses and family sponsors, TEF annually provides college scholarships to graduates from all five District High Schools, as well as financial support for a wide variety of District needs, including but not limited to Academic Decathlon teams, middle school leadership workshops, and direct support for myriad school-based projects and priorities.
TEF also operates tuition-based summer school for Torrance Area students. Since 2009, the TEF-owned South Bay Enrichment Academy has enrolled more than 16,000 Torrance area children in fully WASC-accredited summer school for grades K-12.
About Torrance Unified School District
Torrance Unified School District (TUSD), established in 1947 and unified in 1948, includes 17 elementary, 8 middle, and 4 high schools, 1 continuation school and 1 alternative high school. The District also has 3 adult school campuses and 1 pre-school for children with special needs.
TUSD is nestled in the South Bay, in the western part of Los Angeles County. TUSD is bordered by the Palos Verdes Peninsula on the south, cities of Redondo Beach and Gardena to the west and north, and the city of Carson on the East. The District encompasses all of the city of Torrance. The District’s jurisdiction includes approximately 21 square miles.
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