Sharing the Dream Grant

Sharing the Dream Grant
(Alexandria, VA—November 10, 2011) — The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Foundation and MetLife Foundation recently announced the recipients of grants in the 2011 Sharing the Dream initiative to help principals build closer relationships between schools and communities. Twenty-five principals from across the nation have each been awarded $5,000 for their schools to strengthen parent and community engagement and to create opportunities for students to gain the global perspective necessary for success in the 21st century.

The grants will support educators’ efforts to create globally oriented schools and international learning communities, and to engage students in transformative, multidisciplinary experiences and service learning projects that will help them succeed in the interconnected world of the 21st century.

“Sharing the Dream grants encourage the innovative development of learning communities that is the hallmark of effective principal leadership,” said NAESP Foundation CEO Ernest J. Mannino. “We are excited to be able to directly impact the important work that principals do to enhance communication and build capacity within school communities.”

This year’s grant-winning principals were carefully selected for the distinctive, but practical, programs they created to improve communications within their communities and better prepare students to succeed in a global environment. Recipient schools represent rural, urban, small, and large, elementary and middle schools. Awards were based on need, the creativity of the plan, and the commitment to program evaluation.

“We are pleased to join with NAESP in encouraging school leaders committed to engaging their communities and in supporting collaboration to increase student knowledge of the world,” said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation.

Richard Green Central Park Community School

in Minneapolis, led by Principal Catalina Salas, is one of the 25 winners of this year's grant.

Funded by MetLife

The Sharing the Dream grant program, funded by the MetLife Foundation, began in 2004 after the annual MetLife Survey of the American Teacher revealed a significant disconnect between the ways in which principals and other members of the school community view their schools and relationships with one another.

As Sharing the Dream enters a new decade, principals are being asked to define community in broader ways that can build global awareness. The new emphasis on global connections grows out of findings from the most recent MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Collaborating for Student Success, which found that 71% of teachers and 75% of principals believe that preparing students for competition and collaboration in a global economy is very important for improving student achievement.

For 2011-2012, NAESP and MetLife Foundation is awarding 25 elementary and middle school principals with $5,000 each to create globally oriented schools and international learning communities, and to engage children in transformative, multidisciplinary experiences and service learning projects that will help them succeed in the interconnected world of the 21^st century.

To view the list of 2011 Sharing the Dream grant recipients, visit NAESP.

Mission: The Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association is dedicated to promoting and improving education for children and youth, strengthening the role as educational leader for elementary and middle level principals, and collaborating with partners in education to assist in achieving these goals.

Leading schools toward excellence through the MESPA vision to be the premiere resource for preparing today's principals for tomorrow and a strong leading voice for public education.

Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association

1667 North Snelling Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108

651.999.7310 MN toll free 800.642.6807

Fax: 651.999.7311 E-mail: mespa@mespa.net