What is the Olathe Public Schools Foundation Educator Excellence Program?
The Educator Excellence Program (or E2 Award) is a program to reward excellence and innovation in Olathe Schools. The award gives a $500 unrestricted grant to two teachers each month August through April each school year who excel in three areas:
- Excellence in working with colleagues and staff in the educational environment;
- Excellence in meeting the diversified needs of students within the classroom; and
- Excellence in communicating with parents.
Back to Top
How do I nominate a fellow teacher?
You can nominate any teacher or certified staff member (principal, counselor, music teacher, etc.) by completing the nomination form from our website. (click here for form) Submit your nomination form with letters of recommendation from a parent, a colleague (another teacher or principal), and a student (current or former). You may submit up to two letters from each group.
Back to Top
What is the deadline?
The deadline for submission is the first of each month. However, the OPSF keeps all nominations for one full calendar year. So, if your candidate is not awarded the month that you submit the nomination, they might receive it sometime in the near future.
Back to Top
Where do I mail my nomination form?
Send your nomination form and attached letters of recommendation outlining all required criteria to the Foundation office located at the North Lindenwood Support Center via gray mail, e-mail a pdf to cpondernlsc@olatheschools.com, or you are always welcome to drop it off between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m at 315 N. Lindenwood, Olathe, KS 66062. Please put all submissions to the attention of Cindy Ponder.
Back to Top
Who can I nominate?
You can nominate any certified staff member. That might be a principal, classroom teacher, “specials” teacher such as art, music, band or P.E., resource teacher, counselor, etc. If you have a question, your school principal can help or call Cindy Ponder at 780-7878.
Back to Top
Who judges the nominations?
The Olathe Public Schools Foundation Educator Excellence committee is made up of OPSF board members, staff and community members who meet monthly to review the nominations and determine which current nomination best meets the criteria requested on the form.
Back to Top
How will I find out if my teacher is selected?
You will be contacted and invited to attend the surprise Prize Patrol visit. If you are not contacted, remember that we keep all nominations on file for an entire calendar year and review each one monthly.
Back to Top
Mini-Grants
What is the Olathe Public Schools Foundation Mini-Grant program?
The Olathe Public Schools Foundation awards mini-grants to teachers for classroom grants. Grant applications will be considered in two steps. First, applications will be screened for compliance with our minimum eligibility standards. Applications that meet the minimum eligibility standards will be compared to other proposals using competitive standards in the following areas:
- Innovation
- Demonstrated need
- Educational outcomes
- Student success
Back to Top
How can I apply for a mini-grant?
Download and complete the form from this website or click here. Once you have completed all documentation, have your building principal sign your request and send to the Foundation office via gray mail to the attention of Cindy Ponder, NLSC.
Back to Top
What’s the difference between a Bright Light or Spotlight mini-grant?
The Foundation awards Bright Light mini-grants to teachers for classroom grants up to $1,000 as well as school wide Spotlight grants to teachers or administrators up to $5,000.
Back to Top
Who may apply for a Foundation mini-grant?
With their principal’s approval, all certified staff may apply for a mini-grant.
Back to Top
What is the deadline for grant submissions?
Applications must be received in the Foundation office by 4 p.m. on that cycle's deadline date. Deadline dates are posted on the mini-grant webpage. For more information, call (913) 780-7878.
Back to Top
Who determines which grants are awarded?
The Olathe Public Schools Foundation mini-grant committee is made up of OPSF board members, staff and community members along with one representative from the district’s curriculum team who meet monthly to review the nominations and determine which current nomination best meets the criteria requested on the form.
Back to Top
How will I know if my program receives a grant?
The Foundation prize patrol will surprise you a few weeks after the grant deadline. If you are not selected, you will receive a letter of explanation. You are welcome to resubmit your grant application for the next grant cycle.
Back to Top