Spanish teachers may teach at the elementary, secondary or college level and are eligible for grants or funding through a variety of sources. Teachers need money for classroom projects, professional development, and supplies or materials. Spanish teachers can apply for awards from teaching associations, for travel stipends for summer study in another country or for grants through associations and organizations.
Awards
Spanish teachers can receive money through award programs offered by teaching associations. For example, the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese awards $500 each to four teachers every year through the AATSP Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards program. This award has four categories: elementary level for teachers of grades kindergarten through eighth, secondary level for grades ninth through 12th, two-year college level, and college or university level. The association also offers $250 to a high-school Spanish teacher through the Intercultural Student Experiences Language Matters Award program. Deadlines for the programs vary annually.
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese 900 Ladd Road Walled Lake, MI 48390 248-960-2180 aatsp.org
Travel Stipends
Spanish teachers can also receive money as travel stipends from various organizations. For example, the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese offers up to $500 to a Spanish or Portuguese teacher for travel to the annual conference and up to $750 through the Summer Study-Abroad Program. This program is for full-time Spanish teachers of grades kindergarten through 12th, and the money comes as reimbursement after the trip. Travel can be to Bolivia, Ecuador, Perú, Costa Rica, Mexico or Spain. Deadlines for these programs vary each year.
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages offers travel stipends to ACTFL members who teach Spanish in high school. This program awards money for tuition and learning material to teachers studying Spanish in Mexico over the summer. College Spanish teachers can apply for a stipend through the ACTFL-COINED Scholarship, which provides funds to study Spanish in Argentina or Chile.
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese 900 Ladd Road Walled Lake, MI 48390 248-960-2180 aatsp.org
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages 1001 N. Fairfax St., Suite 200 Alexandria, VA 22314 703-894-2900 actfl.org
Grants
Spanish teachers can also find funding through various grant programs at the local or national level. For example, the National Education Association Foundation awards grants to public school teachers of all subjects through two programs. Student achievement grants are up to $5,000 for equipment, learning materials, transportation, software and other materials needed to carry out a project. Learning & Leadership Grants are up to $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for groups for professional development, workshops and seminars. Both programs have three application deadlines annually. Recent recipients include Glastonbury High School in Connecticut for professional development for its foreign language teachers and to a teacher at Matthews Elementary in North Carolina for Spanish language professional development.
The NEA Foundation 1201 16th St., NW Washington, DC 20036 202-822-7840 neafoundation.org
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