Envirolution Announces Funding Partners for 2018-2019
In this special edition newsletter, Envirolution is pleased to announce its funding partners for the 2018-2019 school year and beyond. Over the next 5 years, Project ReCharge plans to partner with 45+ new schools, provide training,curriculum and classroom resources to 125 new teachers, engage 100,000 new students and assist in the development and implementation of at least 100 student proposals that can save school districts thousands in energy costs.
“Project ReCharge helps prepare students with a solid STEM background that gains them valuable life and career skills including problem solving, creativity and innovation, collaboration and cooperation,” said Vanessa Robertson, Executive Director for Envirolution. “This investment will help give students across the state the chance to get excited about sustainability and STEM early on in their education and give them the skills needed to succeed in this career.”
$262,700 Grant from Tesla
An initial disbursement of $262,700 has been granted by Tesla as part of a multi-year plan to expand Project ReCharge’s interactive STEM energy program across Nevada. Tesla is investing $37.5 million on initiatives that support K-12 STEM and sustainability education in the state, as part of the Nevada DoE Education Gift Fund. Envirolution will be using the investment to expand the Project ReCharge inquiry based STEM education curriculum and training program into 5 new schools, providing curriculum and materials to 100 teachers who will engage up to an estimated 10,000 new students for the 2018-2019 academic year.
“The demand for STEM jobs in Nevada will continue to grow dramatically over the next few years,” said JB Straubel, Tesla’s Chief Technology Officer. “That is why we’re investing in initiatives that inspire students to choose a career in STEM and sustainability, and give them a foundation for success.”
$60,000 NGOE Grant Awarded for Project ReCharge
Funding from the Nevada Governor's Office of Energy (NGOE) will be used to support Professional Development of 20 Project ReCharge STEM teachers for the 2018-2019 school year and to supply them with necessary classroom curriculum and materials needed for a successful year.
“The NGOE is pleased to be a partner in Project ReCharge. It is exciting to see and assist in promoting the development of young leaders in the energy industry,” said Angela Dykema, Director at NGOE.
NV Energy Supports Project ReCharge with 2nd Round of Funding
The NV Energy Foundation provided Envirolution in June with a $8,000 grant that will provide classroom materials to the 2018/2019 teachers. This grant follows a $7,000 grant in December, 2017 that helped support existing Project ReCharge teachers throughout Northern Nevada with updated curriculum, classroom materials and ongoing assistance.
“NV Energy is proud to help support Envirolution and its Project ReCharge program,” said Mary Simmons, NV Energy’s Vice President of Business Development and Community Strategy. “The program helps keep students engaged in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and will help students and teachers alike be successful.”
2018-2019 Professional Development to be held at Swope Middle School in Reno July 23rd-25th, 2018
Each year, the Project ReCharge year begins with professional development (PD) for teachers that have committed to be part of the program. Teachers experience the hands-on energy lessons in the curriculum and receive all of the necessary classroom materials and training, making it easier for implementation in the classroom. The summer PD is followed with additional trainings during the school year with STEM professional guest speakers, guidance from Project ReCharge Master Teachers and additional hands-on training.
Teacher Quotes:
"The hands on activities kept us engaged all day and made me excited to
teach the curriculum."
"I enjoyed actively participating in the lessons that we are going to be teaching."
Envirolution continues to support all its teachers with materials, resources and follow up training after the initial year. We now will have close to 100 Project ReCharge teachers in Northern Nevada and expect to expand the program across the state in the next 3-5 years.
Interested in joining the Project ReCharge team
or know a teacher that would be?
Contact renoinfo@envirolution.org
Project ReCharge Delivers!
To date, Project ReCharge has:
Been implemented in 22 schools across 5 school districts in Northern Nevada
Partnered with over 75 middle & high school teachers by providing them with over 4,900 hours of hands-on professional development training
Provided our partner schools and teachers with over $160,000 in essential classroom resources
Engaged 8,500middle and high school students with hands on STEM energy lessons
Improved student content knowledge up to 33% while increasing student interest in STEM careers
Driven the implementation of seven student LED lighting projects that are reducing Washoe County School District’senergy use by 1.4 gigawatt hours, saving $153,000 annually, while mitigating the release of 1.2 million lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere.
There are many ways you can support Envirolution. Find out how!
Envirolution is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders and workers who will drive the growth of a sustainable economy. EIN: 20-8274660.
