Freida J. Riley Teacher Award (85.103)

Program

85.103 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award

Federal Agency

Agency: Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation

Authorization

Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coins and Fellowship Foundation, Title IV, Section 400-429, Public Law 102-281, 106 Stat. 139-145, 20 U.S.C 5701-5708.

Program Number

85.103

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To identify and reward an American teacher (grades K-12) who has overcome tremendous personal adversity, or made an enormous sacrifice in order to positively impact students.

Types of Assistance

Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use

Uses and Use Restrictions

As the recipient chooses.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Applicant must be an American teacher (grades K-12) who works with a personal physical disability, teaches in an especially challenging educational environment or has performed a heroic act by making an exceptional, personal or physical sacrifice on behalf of students.

Beneficiary Eligibility

U.S. citizen, teacher (grades K-12).

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. In public/private partnership with the West Virginia Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Committee, the Foundation will present the Freida J. Riley Teacher Award to a current full-time U.S. teacher (grades K-12). Applications are limited to certified classroom teachers who presently teach full-time (grades K-12), in an accredited U.S. public, private, or charter school, �with a physical disability, dealing with an especially challenging educational environment, or who has performed a heroic act on behalf of his/her students." The award will not be given posthumously. Applications (Nomination forms) may be downloaded to nominate individuals who meet the eligibility requirements stated above. Completed Nomination forms must be received by March 2, 2009. Only Nominations that meet the eligibility requirements stated above are accepted. Nominations will be accepted from all 50 States, territories and possessions. Individuals that wish to nominate a teacher for the Award must download the Nomination form from http://www.columbusfdn.org/freidajriley/default.asp. Information may be requested from the West Virginia Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Committee, Post Office Box 4157, Clarksburg, WV 26302, or the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, 110 Genesee Street, Suite 390, Auburn, NY 13021. The Nomination packet must include: a Nomination Letter: Typed double-space, not to exceed three pages; completed and signed Basic Data Sheet; a completed and signed Nominee Consent Signature form; a typed Biographical or Nominee Autobiographical Sketch not to exceed five (5) pages, preferably narrative; and Letter(s) of Support - at least one letter, and no more than three letters, from colleagues, administrators, students or parents.

Award Procedure

Nomination packets are reviewed by the West Virginia Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Committee. The packets are then reviewed and evaluated by a panel of national judges. The West Virginia Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Committee selects the winner. The Award will be presented by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, in partnership with the West Virginia Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Committee on May 5, 2009 in Bridgeport, WV.

Deadlines

Mar 02, 2009

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Not applicable. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Audits

Not Applicable.

Records

No Data Available.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: As of fiscal year 2008, nine Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Awards have been presented. The 2008 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award was presented to Teresa E. Loving, Special Education Teacher and Founder of S.O.A.R. Academy in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Through great determination and perseverance, Teresa overcame her own disadvantaged childhood and severe learning disability to achieve her dream of becoming a Special Education teacher. When funding cuts threatened early intervention services to local children with special needs, Teresa began a grassroots campaign to try to save these services. When community efforts to reinstate these much needed services failed, Teresa resigned her teaching position to fulfill her new dream of opening a school where children with special needs would be able to learn and thrive in a place tailored to their needs � a place where their individual education and therapy needs are met under one roof. Thus, the S.O.A.R. (Success, Opportunity, Achievement and Rewards) Academy was born, with the help of her friends, teachers, parents, nurses, therapists, and other community members to provide services to children with special needs in a three-county area in South Carolina. Fiscal Year 2009: As of fiscal year 2009, ten Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Awards have been presented. The 2009 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award was presented to Alan Bronstein, Chemistry teacher at Central High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Paralyzed from the chest down due to an auto accident, Alan has overcome many challenges. Selling his business and choosing to relocate to Philadelphia after his rehabilitation, Alan then focused on a new career choice. He chose to return to teaching, which he had done briefly after college. Upon presentation of his Masters degree, he was surprised when his college gave him special recognition for �overcoming adversity.� Rather, Alan viewed it as �doing what had to be done and doing what makes life worth living� not �overcoming adversity.� Alan has the gift of making science come alive to his students and peers alike by incorporating real-life situations into his science classes, thus making the lessons both relevant and memorable. He loves to create �the look of wonder on the faces of fellow teachers and students � then I know I�m doing what science is supposed to do for people: amaze them and make them wonder; arouse their curiosity - the �wow� factor!�. Fiscal Year 2010: Program is now sponsored and administered by the National Museum of Education, Akron, OH, email: info@nmoe.org.

Financial Information

Account Identification

76-0100-0-7-502.

Obligations

(Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use) FY 08 $10,000; FY 09 est $10,000; FY 10 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$10,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Not Applicable.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Judith Shellenberger 110 Genesee Street, Suite 390, Auburn, New York 13021 Email: JUDITHMSCOLUMBUS@CS.COM Phone: (315) 258-0090 Fax: (315) 258-0093

Web Site Address

http://www.columbusfdn.org

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.