LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Nevada National Security Sites surprised staff at Helen Anderson Toland International Academy with a $5,000 scholarship check to mark the start of Teacher Appreciation Week.
The new Educators Excellence in Learning scholarships will fund extended learning and professional development for teachers at the Global STEM magnet school, which focuses on science, technology, engineering, math and environmental studies.
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NNSS said the idea for the scholarship came from conversations with the school’s principal about what teachers need.
“She really expressed the needs for them to continue their professional education, professional development, and the costs associated with getting them to these trainings and conferences,” said Brianna Majdanac, outreach coordinator for NNSS. “So, we thought that this would be a really impactful way to impact the teachers, which in turn will impact these students in the long run. Not only the students in this current school year, but years to come.”
Supporting new STEM focus
Principal Ayoka Snipes said the funding will help teachers develop expertise in the school’s relatively new magnet theme.
“Our magnet theme switched to Global STEM with a focus on environmental studies about two years ago, and so it’s still fairly new to us,” Snipes said. “So that’s why it’s very important that we find opportunities so that our teachers can be educated in that specific content area. So then that way, what they learn can directly impact students.”
Snipes said the $5,000 gift is unique and personal.
“We’ve never had partners that have really listened to what our needs are and then walk away and within 24 hours turn around and say, we want to be a part of that,” Snipes said.
NNSS has partnered with the campus for more than 25 years through the Clark County School District Focus School Program. The organization is located about five minutes from the school.
Officials said they plan to make the scholarship program an annual tradition.
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