GOSA today announced the five winners of the 2017-2018 Innovation in Teaching Competition, a recognition and reward opportunity for teachers who utilize innovative instructional strategies to advance student achievement. This year’s competition rewarded teachers focused on one of the following priority areas: applied learning with a focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education, blended and personalized learning, innovative practices to close the achievement gap, and birth through age eight language and literacy. The competition is available through Georgia’s Innovation Fund, a competitive grant program. 

“The winners of the Innovation in Teaching Competition are exemplar educators for teachers both in Georgia and across the country,” said Rebecca Ellis, Director of Innovation at GOSA. “We are excited to honor them for their hard work and dedication to students, as well as share their resources with educators across the state.”

Each teacher will receive a $5,000 stipend, and each teacher’s school will receive a $10,000 grant to support innovative instructional strategies. In addition, Georgia Public Broadcasting will film each winning educator teaching his or her unit and conduct an interview about preparation for the unit. The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement will make these videos, along with the unit plans and supplementary materials, available online to other educators, institutions of higher education, and other stakeholders. The videos, unit plans, and supplementary materials from former rounds of the competition are currently available on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s website.

The five winners along with the grade level(s), priority area, and subject area(s) of each winning unit are listed below.

Chandra Brandel

Sixth grade, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Visual Arts

Applied Learning with a Focus on STEAM Education

Coleman Middle School

Gwinnett County Public Schools

Tara Perryman

Fourth grade, English Language Arts and Social Studies

Blended and Personalized Learning

New Hope Elementary School

Henry County Schools

Erica Louise Richards

Third – fifth grades, Computer Science, English Language Arts, and Mathematics

Blended and Personalized Learning

The Kindezi School at Old Fourth Ward

Atlanta Public Schools

Angela Sisk

Second grade, Physical Science

Birth through Age Eight Language and Literacy

Kennesaw Elementary School

Cobb County School District

Beth White

Ninth – twelfth grades, Engineering, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Visual Arts

Applied Learning with a Focus on STEAM Education

Charles R. Drew Charter School Senior Academy

Atlanta Public Schools

Download this pdf file. Read summaries of the winning plans.

Read about the Innovation Fund here.