Horace Mann School wins grant to promote science literacy among Deaf students

BOSTON – The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) has awarded a “Toyota TAPESTRY Grant for Science Teachers” to the Horace Mann School for the Deaf in Allston.

The $10,000 grant, presented at the recent NSTA national conference in New Orleans, will support a “Hands on Literacy” initiative at the school, integrating science, language and literacy. Led by teacher Fiona Bennie, and supported by Alice Speights and Elizabeth Santucci, the project integrates American Sign Language (ASL), up-to-date technology and innovative best practices to improve reading scores and scientific knowledge of Deaf and hard of hearing middle school students at Boston’s public school for the Deaf.

The project will engage students in hands-on learning at geological and biological sites in the Boston area, accompanied by leading scientists and other experts in the field. The grant will fund production of the first ever Deaf student-created Boston-based environmental field guide and classroom video blog, as well as science and language literacy-building vocabulary DVDs using ASL, English and print.

“The Horace Mann School for the Deaf is well respected for innovation to ensure that all students have full access to a rigorous curriculum,” said Dr. Carol R. Johnson, Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools. “This grant supports a wonderful project to strengthen science and literacy learning among Deaf middle school students. We thank and applaud these teachers for their tremendous creativity and initiative.”

“Supporting excellent teachers who can excite and energize their students is a great way to make an impact on future generations,” said Michael Rouse, Toyota’s vice president of philanthropy and community affairs. “TAPESTRY's reach over the past 19 years has allowed countless numbers of students to be inspired by the possibilities of science education.”

Sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and administered by the NSTA, Toyota TAPESTRY is the largest annual K-12 science teacher grant program in the United States. Award-winning projects are selected from three critical areas for today’s youth: environmental science, physical science, and science applications that promote literacy. Fifty grants of up to $10,000 are awarded each year, along with a minimum of 20 grants of up to $2,500 each. In total, Toyota awarded $550,000 in grants to 82 teachers in 2009. More than $8.5 million has been awarded to 1,064 teams of teachers throughout the program’s 19-year history.

This is the fourth Toyota TAPESTRY grant awarded to the Boston Public Schools since the program began in 1996. For more information about the NSTA / Toyota TAPESTRY Science Grants for Teachers, visit www.nsta.org/pd/tapestry.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Conference in New Orleans (left to right): Eric Crossley, Assistant Director, Corporate Partnerships, Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers; Page Keeley, NSTA President; Fiona Bennie, teacher, Horace Mann School for the Deaf; and J.L. Armstrong, National Manager of External Affairs, Toyota Motor Sales, USA.