LINKS TO LEARNING
This program provides educators in the Washoe County School District with monetary awards
to fund projects to enhance student learning. There are two types of awards.
Teacher Awards for Fall 2024 are Now Open
Applications must be Submitted by September 27, 2024
TEACHER AWARDS are now available to teachers who teach in selected elementary schools with low socio-economic student populations. Schools are eligible on a rotating basis.
Teachers from selected schools will be notified and may apply for up to $500 each for
projects that directly involve students and focus on student achievement. Groups of up
to four teachers may apply for a joint award of up to $2,000.
Last year approximately 10,000 students benefitted directly from Links to Learning Teacher
Awards. This included the purchase of library books, technology, and equipment such as
science materials and math manipulatives.
ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT AWARDS were open in the spring to any team of four or more teachers in the Washoe County School District. The six winning teams will receive awards of $10,000 each. Projects must be standards-based, directly involve students, focus on student achievement, and have measurable objectives.
WINNERS FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR ARE:
McQueen High School. Connecting Special Education Students with Guitar Through Peer Mentors. High school music and special education teachers will collaborate to provide hands-on music lessons to students in the Comprehensive Life Skills program using student mentors.
Mt. Rose K-8. Books in English and Spanish and iPads for the school library will provide increased opportunities for students in grades 4-8 to read and interact in both Spanish and English.
Rita Cannan Elementary. Phonics for Reading Intervention. Teachers in grades 3-5 will purchase a research-based intervention program to support students according to their academic data, especially students who are performing below grade level expectations.
Pleasant Valley Elementary. Building a World of Readers. Second grade teachers will purchase the Heggerty Bridge to Reading and Bridge to Writing programs. This is an expansion of a program that was funded for first grade teachers last year resulting in outstanding gains in student reading scores.
Smithridge STEM Academy. Cracking the Code with Phonics. Second grade teachers will purchase books and materials to teach phonemic awareness and build good readers with comprehension and critical thinking skills.
Alyce Taylor Elementary. The Foundation for Learning and Literacy. K-1 teachers will purchase materials to supplement and enhance reading instruction. This includes Guided Phonics and Beyond, Decodable Text Sets, and 3-year eBook license.
