Darlington School offers faculty members the opportunity to apply for funding through the Thatcher Faculty Development Fund and the Carla and Leonard Wood Distinguished Faculty Fellowship endowed grants. A committee reviews the proposals and selects projects for funding based on their alignment with the school's strategic goals and their potential to enhance professional growth, educational engagement, and the overall success of the school.
The purpose of these grants is to support projects that:
-
Foster professional growth and goals of employees.
-
Enhance established programs, student and employee engagement, or school success.
-
Align with and advance Darlington's Strategic Plan.
For the 2024-25 school year, 25 Thatcher Faculty Development proposals were awarded. Here are summaries of a few of these grants:
-
Upper School math teacher Breonna Blankenship received funding to pursue a Master of Education degree at Kennesaw State University. Breonna expressed gratitude for the grant, emphasizing its impact on her professional development and her ability to enhance student learning.
-
Pre-K to 8 Librarian Mary-Kate Fowee will attend the American Library Association Annual Conference to improve the research curriculum at Darlington. Mary-Kate views the grant as a vote of confidence in her professional abilities and an investment in her growth.
-
Middle School math teacher Chris Eberhart will attend the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) conference to enhance student engagement through real-life/inquiry-based labs using technology. Chris praised the grant program for providing opportunities to enhance his teaching and leadership skills.
-
Leah Lynn, technology integration coordinator, received grants to send faculty members to technology conferences, including the Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GaETC) and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference. Leah highlighted the school's commitment to professional development and its impact on faculty and student learning.
-
Communication Arts teacher Ethan Pender will travel with students and a colleague to the Journalism Education Association Advisers Institute to enhance media literacy. Ethan emphasized the grant's role in building a stronger curriculum and preparing students for the digital world.
-
Pre-K to 8 Counselor Bebe Zazarro will participate in Responsive Advisory Training to improve the Middle Grades Advisory Program. Bebe emphasized the program's impact on student support and development.
Two Carla and Leonard Wood Distinguished Faculty Fellowship grants were provided and will be funded for two years:
Creating an Upper School Student Leadership Program by Tara Inman (dean of students for global education)
Tara Inman's project aims to create an Upper School Student Leadership Program to develop leadership skills and community engagement among students. The program will provide training and leadership opportunities for all Upper School students, fostering a culture of leadership and engagement.
Developing an Instructional Coaching Program with the Academic Leadership Team by Rebekah Kinney (professional development coordinator)
Rebekah Kinney's project focuses on developing an Instructional Coaching Program with the Academic Leadership Team to enhance teaching practices and support faculty development. The program will train the leadership team in coaching techniques to improve teaching strategies and support faculty growth.
These grants reflect Darlington School's commitment to supporting faculty professional development and enhancing the educational experience for students.
