2025 Boost for Teachers/Mentors Award by Grant Roberts Area Disability Supports

Please share this information with your Special Services staff.

Important dates:

Monday, January 6, 2025, Boost for Teachers/Mentors announcement is made.

Friday, February 14, 2025, Boost for Teachers/Mentors applications are due.

Thursday, February 20, 2025, GRADS Board will review applications.

Monday, February 24, 2025, Boost for Teachers/Mentors winner(s) will be announced.

Please fill out, copy, and paste the six questions below and email the information to: charlie48@live.com or mail it to Charlotte Athey, 14476 5th Avenue, Big Stone City, SD 57216.

Overview: Grant Roberts Area Disability Supports (GRADS) is awarding $100. Boosts to MS/HS teachers, mentors, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and/or guidance counselors who are providing instruction in the area of job skills, self-help skills, communication skills, socialization, meal preparation, and/or empowerment to students with disabilities in the Grant and Roberts County area.We know that teachers/mentors invest much of their own time and money into classroom activities and we would like to recognize their efforts. With that in mind, one hundred dollar checks will be directly awarded to the winning applicants on Monday, February 24, 2025. Proposals may be submitted from now until the deadline of February 14, 2025.

Target Audience: The target group is middle school/high school students with special needs and adults who are being mentored because of a disability. This may include individuals who are involved in job skill training, independent living, have communication needs, need support in the ares of mental health, those who those who are approaching a transitional phase in their education, or adults within the community who receive mentoring services.

Summary: Teachers/mentors who are selected for the Boost for Teachers/Mentors Award will need to provide a brief summary of their project by May 2, 2025. The summary will be posted on the GRADS website, gradisabilitysupports.org.

Questions:

1. Is this for a specific individual need or for a group?

2. How many individuals with disabilities will benefit from your proposal?

3. If applicable, how many individuals with disabilities will be included in your activity? For example, the activity may be done in an inclusive setting.

4. Include a brief explanation of how you will utilize the $100. to assist individuals who have disabilities and are acquiring job skills, self-help skills, communication skills, socialization, meal preparation, and/or empowerment, such as using public transportation.(1 page or less)

5. Budget: Please identify how the one hundred dollars will be utilized. This could be an estimate for supplies/materials to facilitate your activity. For example, applicants could purchase food to make meals as a cooking activity.

6. Submit this form by Friday, February 14, 2025.