GSTA District Mini-Grants (accepting applications until September 6, 2024)

District Mini-Grants are designed to fund small classroom projects that support student learning. GSTA provides a grant up to $300 per project. GSTA awards two mini-grants per GSTA District. Recipients of the mini-grants should complete the project specified in the application during the 2024-2025 school year. To be eligible, applicants must meet and follow the general criteria and guidelines outlined above. 

Recipients of the mini-grants are required to submit a brief article about the project to be shared in the eObservations newsletter and/or social media by May 31, 2025. (Information about article submission will be provided to grant recipients at a later date.) District Mini-Grant recipients will be notified in late September 2024.

Application Process: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ENPgrG4-UJ0bzuANiKgavEvXuAfx7oZQ/view?usp=drive_link

To apply for a GSTA District Mini-Grant, applicants must complete Parts 1 and 2.

Part 1: Register for the GSTA District Mini-Grant application submission process here: 

 https://georgiascienceteacher.org/event-5818461  

After completing the registration process, applicants will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the GSTA District Mini-Grant Application.  

Part 2: Compose a single document with the information for each section listed below. The information included in the application should be in section order and adhere to the general criteria and guidelines described above. Using the link provided in the registration confirmation email, complete the GSTA District Mini-Grant Application and upload your document as the last item in the application. All information submitted in the application must be visible without the use of links.

Section 1: Biographical Information & Photo. Provide your first and last name with a current photo of yourself. Also include your current employment information: school name, district/system name, and grade level(s) with subject(s) taught. The submitted photo will be used by GSTA in the awards program, eObservations newsletter, social media, and website should you be selected as a GSTA District Mini-Grant recipient. 

Section 2: Project Title & Description. Provide the title and description of the project including a summary of activities or learning experiences the students will engage in that promotes mastery of specific science standards, making sense of phenomena or designing solutions to problems, and excellence in science teaching.  

Section 3: Expected Outcomes. Explain how the project will enhance student learning in science and contribute to your efficacy as a science teacher.

Section 4: Timeline & Budget. The timeline should include the proposed dates of activities for the project. The budget should include a list of materials and the associated costs of each to complete the project.

Section 5: Approval Form. This form should be completed by the school level administrator (dean or principal) who approves of the completion of the project described in the application.

GSTA Teacher of the Year (Award application cycle begins September 9, 2024 and closes on November 1, 2024)

GSTA Teacher of Promise (Award application cycle begins September 9, 2024 and closes on November 1, 2024)

GSTA Project Grants (Award application cycle begins September 9, 2024 and closes on November 1, 2024)

Project grants are designed to fund class projects that support student learning. GSTA provides a grant up to $750 per project. Recipients of the project grants should complete the project during the 2024-2025 school year.  To be eligible, applicants must meet and follow the general criteria and guidelines outlined above.

Recipients of the project grants are required to submit a brief article about the project to be shared in the eObservations newsletter and/or social media by May 31, 2025. (Information about article submission will be provided to grant recipients at a later date.)

Application Process 

Evaluation Rubric: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oelVCzTZnaXnjrPx2OTN8Q3l0NUkZArm/edit

To apply for a GSTA Project Grant, applicants must complete Parts 1 and 2.

Part 1: Register for the GSTA Project Grant application submission process here. After completing the registration process, applicants will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the GSTA Awards & Grants Application. 

Part 2: Compose a single document with the information for each section listed below. The information should be in section order following the general criteria and guidelines outlined above. Using the link provided in the registration confirmation email, complete the GSTA Awards & Grants Application and upload your document as the last item in the application. All information submitted in the application must be visible without the use of links.

Section 1: Biographical Information & Photo. Provide your first and last name with a current photo of yourself. Also include your current employment information: school name, district/system name, and grade level(s) with subject(s) taught. The submitted photo will be used by GSTA in the awards program, eObservations newsletter, social media, and website should you be selected as a GSTA Project Grant recipient. 

Section 2: Project Title & Description. Provide the title and description of the project including a summary of activities or learning experiences the students will engage in that promotes mastery of specific science standards, making sense of phenomena or designing solutions to problems, and excellence in science teaching.

Section 3: Expected Outcomes. Explain how the project will enhance student learning in science and contribute to your efficacy as a science teacher.

Section 4: Timeline & Budget. The timeline should include the proposed dates of activities for the project. The budget should include a list of materials and the associated costs of each to complete the project.

Section 5: Approval Form and Letter of Recommendation. This approval form should be completed by the school level administrator (dean, or principal) who approves of the completion of the project described in the application. The letter of recommendation may be from another school administrator, colleague, or parent familiar with your work who can share how the completion of this project will enhance student learning.

GSTA Teacher Scholarship (Award application cycle begins September 9, 2024 and closes on November 1, 2024)

The GSTA Teacher Scholarship consists of a monetary award for science teachers to use toward continuing their education through the completion of college coursework, endorsement/certification programs, or summer learning programs. The amount of the award (up to $1000.00) will depend on the cost of the course or program including travel and/or lodging expenses. To be eligible, applicants must meet and follow the general criteria and guidelines outlined above. 

Recipients of the teacher scholarship are required to submit a brief article about the course or program to be shared in the eObservations newsletter and/or social media by October 1, 2025. (Information about article submission will be provided to scholarship recipients at a later date.)

Application Process 

Evaluation Rubric: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NzWTHB-CkihBWKEIDxc58MofpQ-WtNiH/edit

To apply for a GSTA Teacher Scholarship, each applicant must complete Parts 1 and 2.

Part 1: Register for the GSTA Teacher Scholarship application submission process here. After completing the registration process, applicants will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the GSTA Awards & Grants Application. 

Part 2: Compose a single document with the information for each section listed below. The information should be in section order following the general criteria and guidelines outlined above. . Using the link provided in the registration confirmation email, complete the GSTA Awards & Grants Application and upload your document as the last item in the application. All information submitted in the application must be visible without the use of links.

Section 1: Biographical Information & Photo. Provide your first and last name with a current photo of yourself. Also include your current employment information: school name, district/system name, and grade level(s) with subject(s) taught. The submitted photo will be used by GSTA in the awards program, eObservations newsletter, social media, and website should you be selected as a GSTA Teacher Scholarship recipient. 

Section 2: Course/Program Description. Describe the course or program including a summary of activities or learning experiences you will engage in that promotes excellence in science teaching and mastery of specific practices, content or science standards. Please include whether participation will occur in person (identify location) or virtually.

Section 3: Expected Outcomes. Explain how participation in the course or program will help you enhance student learning in science, meet your professional learning needs, and help you contribute to excellence in your professional learning community (grade level, team, department, school or district). Describe what actions you will take to share what you learn to promote excellence in science teaching and learning.

Section 4: Timeline & Budget. The timeline should include dates for the application and notification process, your acceptance status (if known), and the beginning and end dates of the course or program. If you must use professional or personal leave to participate, indicate whether the school has approved your leave of absence for the dates specified.

The budget should include the costs of enrollment, travel and/or lodging to participate in the course or program. If a substitute is required for the dates specified, indicate who will cover this cost. Identify any additional funding that has been applied or will be received to support your participation in the course or program. For example, the program cost is $1500, and you have received $500 from your science department, which includes funds to pay the substitute teacher.

Section 5: Letters of Recommendation. Provide two letters of recommendation—one from a school level administrator (dean, principal or assistant principal) who will approve your participation in the course/program and one from a colleague.

GSTEF Conference Grant (Award application cycle begins September 9, 2024 and closes on November 1, 2024)

The Georgia Science Teachers Education Foundation (GSTEF) Conference Grant supports teachers in achieving their professional learning goals through attendance at a state, regional, or national science conference. The amount of the grant (up to $750) will depend on the cost of registration, travel and/or lodging. TTo be eligible, applicants must meet and follow the general criteria and guidelines outlined above. Recipients of the conference grant are required to submit a brief article about the conference to be shared in the eObservations newsletter and/or social media by May 31, 2025. (Information about article submission will be provided to grant recipients at a later date.)

Application Process

Evaluation Rubric: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_Xd-3VhRct2uN2eJmaj6j7aeOYLTFZmL/edit#heading=h.1hpmvs4zgubd

To apply for a GSTEF Conference Grant, applicants must complete Parts 1 and 2.

Part 1: Register for the GSTEF Conference Grant application submission process here. After completing the registration process, applicants will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the GSTA Awards & Grants Application. 

Part 2: Compose a single document with the information for each section listed below. The information should be in section order following the general criteria and guidelines outlined above. Using the link provided in the registration confirmation email, complete the GSTA Awards & Grants Application and upload your document as the last item in the application. All information submitted in the application must be visible without the use of links.

Section 1: Biographical Information & Photo. Provide your first and last name with a current photo of yourself. Also include your current employment information: school name, district/system name, and grade level(s) with subject(s) taught. The submitted photo will be used by GSTA in the awards program, eObservations newsletter, social media, and website should you be selected as a GSTEF Conference Grant recipient.  

Section 2: Conference Description. Describe the state, regional or national science conference including a summary of activities or learning experiences you will engage in that promotes excellence in science teaching and/or mastery of specific teaching practices, content or science standards. You may include information about the conference theme and/or session strands. Please include whether participation will occur in person (identify location) or virtually.

Section 3: Expected Outcomes. Explain how participation in the conference will help you enhance student learning in science, meet your professional learning needs, and help you contribute to excellence in your professional learning community (grade level, team, department, school or district). Describe what actions you will take to share what you learn to promote excellence in science teaching and learning.

Section 4: Timeline & Budget. The timeline should include registration deadline, conference dates, and dates of specific events (such as short courses, professional learning institutes, or field trips/tours) you plan to attend at the conference. If you must use professional or personal leave to participate, include whether the school has approved your leave of absence for the dates specified.

The budget should include the costs of registration, travel and/or lodging. If a substitute is required for the dates specified, include who will cover this cost. Identify any additional funding that has been applied or will be received to support your attendance at the conference. For example, your school will pay $355 for registration while you will cover the cost of travel, lodging and meals.

Section 5: Letters of Support. Provide two letters of support—one from a school level administrator (dean, principal or assistant principal) who will approve your attendance at the conference and one from a colleague.

GSTA Student Scholarship (Award application cycle begins September 9, 2024 and closes on November 1, 2024)

The GSTA Student Scholarship consists of a monetary award for students to use in continuing their science education through formal or informal educational programs including camps or undergraduate college programs/courses. GSTA members can nominate students in grades 6-12 or those attending a college/university in Georgia for the scholarship.  Nominated students can apply individually or as a group participating in the same program for an award amount up to $1000. To be eligible, applicants must be nominated by a GSTA member and  must meet and follow the general criteria and guidelines outlined above. 

Recipients of the student scholarship are asked to submit a brief summary of the program and what they learned from their experiences to be shared in the eObservations newsletter and/or social media by October 1, 2025. (Information about submission will be provided to scholarship recipients at a later date.)

Application Process 

Evaluation Rubric: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_Xd-3VhRct2uN2eJmaj6j7aeOYLTFZmL/edit#heading=h.1hpmvs4zgubd

The nominating GSTA member will complete Part 1 of the application process. The nominee will complete Part 2 of the application process after receiving the confirmation email from the nominator.

Part 1: The GSTA member will nominate and register for the GSTA Student Scholarship application submission process here. After completing the registration process, the nominating GSTA member will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the GSTA Student Scholarship Application. Please follow the instructions in the confirmation email to complete the application process and provide the nominee with one letter of recommendation to include in the application. 

Part 2: Compose a single document with the information for each section listed below. The information should be in section order following the general criteria and guidelines outlined above. Using the link provided in the registration confirmation email, complete the GSTA Student Scholarship Application and upload your document as the last item in the application. All information submitted in the application must be visible without the use of links.

Section 1: Biographical Information & Photo. Provide your first and last name with a current photo of yourself. For students in grades 6-12, include your school name, district/system name, and grade level. For college students, include your school name, year in college, and major area of study. If submitting the application as a group, include the appropriate information for all individuals in the group. The submitted photo will be used by GSTA in the awards program, eObservations newsletter, social media, and website should you be selected as a GSTA Student Scholarship recipient. 

Section 2: Program Description. Describe the educational program or course including a summary of activities or learning experiences you will engage in that supports your continued learning of science. Please include whether participation will occur in person (identify location) or virtually.

Section 3: Expected Outcomes. In one page or less, explain why you want to participate in the program and what you expect to learn from your experience.

Section 4: Timeline & Budget. The timeline should include registration deadline, program or course dates, and dates of specific events (such as field trips/tours) you plan to attend.

The budget should include the costs of registration, travel and/or lodging. Identify any additional funding that has been applied or will be received to support your enrollment in the program or course.

Section 5: Letters of Recommendation. Provide two letters of recommendation—one from a school level administrator (dean, program advisor, principal or assistant principal) and one from the nominating GSTA member. Students under 18 years of age must also have a letter of support from a parent or guardian (include contact information—home address, phone number, and email).