Establishing a group of outstanding math and science teachers

Secondary school science and mathematics teachers are at the heart of the foundation’s work and our efforts are designated to attract talent, nurture their skills and assist these teachers in improving their practice. Therefore, consulting with and engaging teachers in the foundation’s work is a cornerstone of our developing DNA. We believe that gaining the trust of teachers and earning their respect is crucial to our success and therefore we must always be attuned to the needs of teachers and the actual realities of schools and classrooms.

In the past year we have been very careful to make sure that teachers are involved in our funded projects, as professionals, consultants and steering committee members. However we feel we need a more direct and continuous contact with teachers and to that end we propose forming a ‘teachers club’ which will be linked to our work. We wish to convene a group of six members, all excellent high school teachers of mathematics and the sciences, who would be asked to consult with us and to help us improve our work.

The club will be organized on a one-year pilot basis and will be comprised of recommended practitioners currently involved in foundation-funded programs, and selected finalists of the Trump Master Teacher Award. Members of the group will meet several times throughout the year and will be asked to help the foundation review aspects of new and existing strategies and grants; actively participate in panels and attend education conferences; write blogs and give interviews to the media.  They will participate in meetings with the foundation’s Board of Directors in Israel, as well as with the Advisory Council and visiting experts from Israel and abroad.

The group will be exclusive, recognizing the teachers for their professionalism and insights, and we hope its members will be proud to be invited to join. Both individually and as a group they will be expected to demonstrate high quality teaching to the public and to help give a voice to teachers as serious professionals. In recognition and thanks, members will be given a modest annual scholarship, entrance fees to relevant professional conferences, and will be invited to the foundation’s events. They will also be given access to experts visiting the Foundation whenever possible.

* The text presented above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation Board / Grant 60