ieSonoma Innovation Fund Launched to Support Creative Learning Strategies

09/07/2017 -

ieSonoma this fall is launching an Innovation Fund that will provide grants of up to $2,500 to kick-start efforts by schools, teachers, or nonprofit organizations seeking to make a difference in the lives of students by thinking outside the box.

The purpose of the Innovation Fund is to support the implementation of leading edge ideas and approaches to teaching and learning. Schools, districts, individual teachers, and/or nonprofit organizations working with school-age youth are eligible to apply.

The ieSonoma Innovation Fund was launched on the 5th anniversary of the ieSonoma partnership between the Sonoma County Office of Education, Sonoma Country Day School, and Sonoma State University. The annual ieSonoma event is meant to foster innovation in Sonoma County schools through inspirational speakers and panels. For the past five years, the event has entertained and energized local educators and community members with world-renowned innovative thinkers like Sir Ken Robinson, Sugata Mitra, and Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, as well as panels of local student innovators.

The fund was made possible with significant contributions from Sonoma Wine Country Weekend and ThermalSun Insulated Glass Products.

“The launch of the ieSonoma Innovation Fund is a significant milestone in the ieSonoma partnership, as it allows us to now begin to provide funding to jumpstart the types of innovations we have been advocating for the past five years,” said Dan Blake, director of innovation and partnerships at SCOE.

Applications for the 2017-18 school year are due by Friday, October 6, 2017. Interested parties can learn more and apply at https://www.iesonoma.org/innovation-fund.