Ideas with IMPACT

Overview

STUDENTS SUCCEED WHEN TEACHERS HAVE THE RESOURCES, SUPPORT, AND APPRECIATION THEY DESERVE!

The Education Fund recognizes the straight line between student achievement and empowered teachers. We support M-DCPS teachers through our grants programs, trainings, annual Idea Expo Teacher Conference, and public recognition. 

Designed to recognize and reward innovative teachers, Ideas with IMPACT is an investment in success that brings out the entrepreneur in our classroom teachers. This initiative provides teachers who have developed successful classroom teaching methods with funds to package and export their curriculum to other teachers. Ideas with IMPACT also provides stipends to teachers who wish to adapt and franchise these winning ideas in their own classrooms. By cultivating teacher leaders, convening teachers to share best practices, and creating opportunities for teachers' professional growth, Ideas with IMPACT creates a network of support for teachers focused on improving student instruction and meeting student needs. The beneficiaries are the students who receive classroom instruction proven to promote learning and increase achievement.

The Ideas with IMPACT program has a variety of components that include the following:

The Idea EXPO Teacher Conference 
One of the largest "by-teacher, for-teacher" conferences in South Florida, the Idea EXPO brings more than 500 educators together once a year to network and share teaching strategies. The Idea EXPO features 70+ workshops led by teachers, a keynote address, free curriculum packets, breakfast, lunch, prize giveaways and much more. Click here to find out more now!  

Ideas with IMPACT Catalog   
An essential component to the Ideas with IMPACT program is the Ideas with IMPACT catalog, which is published and distributed annually to every teacher in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. This catalog is a resource of teachers' proven ideas, with each page containing a different teaching strategy, information on the students for whom it is appropriate, standards met when implementing the lessons, and contact information for each Disseminator teacher. The teaching ideas in the Ideas with IMPACT catalog, created by teachers for teachers, can be used exactly as they are or modified to meet a classroom's special needs. Subject areas covered include STEM/STEAM,  language arts, math/science, social studies, health, technology, varying exceptionalities, and interdisciplinary. Teachers are encouraged to use the catalog as an idea file and keep it handy for reference throughout the year. Ideas with IMPACT catalogs are available to view for every year since 1990. Download the Latest Catalog

Idea Expo Workshop Disseminator 
Application Status: OPEN for 2024-25 School Year
Earn $750 to lead a workshop at the 2023 Idea Expo Teacher Conference. Disseminator Stipends offer teachers who have a proven, successful teaching strategy the opportunity to package and market their ideas to other teachers by leading workshops at the annual Idea EXPO Teacher Conference.

Link:  2024 Idea Expo Workshop Disseminator Application

Ideas with IMPACT Innovator Grant
Application Status: OPEN for 2024-25 school year
Innovator Grants provide funds to teachers to develop and implement new, instructional projects that motivate and challenge students to learn. Submitted proposals should be innovative, unique classroom projects that enliven and enrich the curriculum. Many past grants have included interdisciplinary, active-learning, hands-on lessons. Others have reinforced learning through simulations or applied school work to real-life situations. Grants range from $300 - $1,000.

Link to Innovator Grant Application

Ideas with IMPACT Adapter Grant
Application Status: Closed. Apply after the 2024 Idea Expo (October)

Adapter Grants provide funds to teachers, wishing to adapt any of the projects featured in our Ideas with IMPACT catalogs or at the Idea EXPO - The Teacher Conference. Grants range from $150-$400. Here are the application steps:

Register for and attend the Idea EXPO (required, with exceptions made for teachers unable to attend due to religious observations and/or disabilities)

Select an idea from one of the Ideas with IMPACT catalogs, current or past.

Complete and submit an Adapter application. Be sure to include your creative modifications and detailed budget on how you will spend the grant funds. 

 

Idea Packets
An Idea Packet containing course outlines, lesson plans, resource lists, bibliographies, student worksheets, student samples, and other tools is available for every workshop offered at current and past Idea EXPOS. To view free Idea Packets, click here. 

For more information, please call:
305.558.4544, ext.113
or email Ideas with IMPACT Program Manager 

 

 

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