Financial Support for Teachers

GSA is unable to provide financial support for teachers to attend these trips. However we suggest you try seeking funding form the following sources:

1. Your school or school district. Often funding is available - but not widely advertised. Ask, ask and ask again. Even a small amount can make a different. Make sure you go prepared i.e. know how you will be able to share your experience to enhance the teaching in your school and/or district and how you will be able to disseminate materials to other teachers. Be able to show how your attendance will greatly enhance the teaching of Earth science for all.

2. Local chapters of service clubs (Lyons, Rotary etc). Again, be ready to offer them back a talk at a meeting with slides of what you did and saw and how it will enhance your students experience in the classroom.

3. Rural teachers - Rural Trust's Global Teacher Fellowship website at www.globalteacherfellowship.ruraledu.org. Up to 25 fellowships will be awarded in 2012 to support the professional and personal development of rural teachers. The awards (up to $5,000 for individual teachers and $10,000 for a team of two or more teachers) support teachers' participation in self-designed summer learning experiences and a two-day place-based learning institute in the fall.

Teachers are encouraged to center their learning in an international travel and study experience , out of which they develop interdisciplinary, place-based learning curricula aligned with their specific state and local content standards.

Eligibility: Any K–12 teacher working full-time and teaching at least 60% time in a rural community can apply for the fellowship.