477 teachers share in classroom grants dedicated to the memory of Helen Bernstein. Improving math and science instruction is emphasised with Toyota support.

MARIA TALLUTO WILL USE her grant to host family math and science nights at Eshelman Avenue Elementary School. Cathie Johnson and her students at Haddon Avenue Elementary will learn about insects and spiders with her grant. Ben Vallejo's students at the North Hollywood High's Zoo Magnet will use their new funds to explore the rapidly changing world of biotechnology.

These are just three of the more than 200 innovative projects that will be created this year by classroom teachers with support from the Los Angeles Educational Partnership's Fund for Innovation. Engaging more than 475 teachers in the planning and development of innovative efforts to improve student learning, the 1996-1997 Fund for Innovation Grants awarded $101,077 in direct grants of up to $500 to teams of teachers in the Los Angeles, Long Beach and Torrance Unified School Districts.

This years Fund for Innovation Grants are dedicated to the memory of Helen Bernstein, the former UTLA president and education reform leader tragically killed in a traffic accident earlier this spring. As a member of the Board of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership, Helen helped to shape the grants program and with support from UTLA, underwrote the production of two videos used to disseminate the important work of creative teachers striving to help their students learn.

"Helen Bernstein believed in teachers and knew that with support and resources teachers can and do work miracles in the classroom," says Peggy Funkhouser, president of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership. "These grants are given in recognition of the talents of teachers and are intended to give teachers the resources to use where they are most needed, in the classroom. The innovation and initiative of these teachers grants celebrates the spirit of the lifework of Helen Bernstein and we are honored to dedicate them to her memory."

As in recent years, the majority of grants are focused on improving instruction in mathematics and science. With major funding from the Toyota USA Foundation, the 1996-1997 Toyota Innovation Grants in Mathematics and Science provided $82,297 in support of 168 classroom projects and engaging 386 teachers. These grants have the potential to impact the classroom experience of more than 17,500 students.

For a quick sample of the creative work of teachers developed with a grant from the Fund for Innovation take "A Walk In the Rain Forest," which profiles the work of Gloria Matoba and Jody Bubica and their project to help their students learn about the fragile rain forest ecosystem. A complete listing of this years Fund For Innovation grant winners is also available.

We also encourage you to take a closer look at the impact of the Toyota Innovation Grants in Mathematics and Science.