FIVE ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS

Teaching Excellence

The Menlo Park City School District has made teaching excellence a priority because it is a key influence on student achievement. The MPAEF continues to expand its support of teaching excellence with renewed funding for professional development of teaching faculty and an increase in the amount of money earmarked for annual Jeanie Ritchie teaching grants.

These funds help provide:

• Professional development in our District focuses on leadership training, differentiated instruction and technology integration in the classroom;
  
  
• Approximately $1,000 per teacher annually for professional development, an increase of about 30 percent;
  
  
• Summer study grants and collaborative planning
  
  
• Jeanie Ritchie (link) teaching innovation grants and professional development programs such as differentiated instruction, technology integration, and leadership training. 
  
  
• National Board Certification for 3 of our District teachers

“I can’t tell you how fortunate we are to have these grants. The opportunity to pursue any idea, make any subject REAL and exciting for our students is more than I can describe. The best part about it is, the students REMEMBER!!! The Jeanie Ritchie Grants are the lessons that really stick!”