Local school divisions score dollars from provincial Teachers' Idea Fund

A trio of school divisions in the region are getting a slice of $3.2 million in provincial funding through the Teachers' Idea Fund this year.

In total, the Manitoba government is investing in 38 new projects under the Fund.

“Manitoba’s Teachers’ Idea Fund provides teachers, staff and school leaders with the resources needed to develop innovative projects that support high-quality learning and positive outcomes for their students,” said Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko. “Our government is pleased to approve projects that will support the mental health and well-being of students and educators and help make classrooms and schools across the province places of innovation, discovery and excitement.”

This investment is in addition to the funding of 25 multi-year projects announced in December 2021, which will continue this school year for a total of $1.7 million. 

During its 2022-23 spring intake, the Fund received proposals focused on one or more of the following mental health and well-being strategies:
talking about mental health
training for teachers
incorporating mental health into teaching
providing appropriate tools and supports for students; and
taking care of teachers and staff

As a result, $97,978 has been award to Roseau Valley School in Dominion City for its Achieving 'the good life' program.
    
Plum Coulee School will use $59,350 to purchase regulation tools to support mental health. 
    
Winkler's Pine Ridge Elementary will use $90,000 to create physical movement and safe spaces to support students' mental health, and another $56,498 to create mental health awareness through drama.
    
Finally, just over $86,050 is going to the Prairie Rose School Division for its divisional mental health initiative. 

To date, the $25 million Teachers’ Idea Fund, launched in March 2021, has approved 162 projects in 29 school divisions for total funding of $11 million targeting learning supports, models of teaching and learning, mental health and well-being, transitions in kindergarten to Grade 12 education and engaging families and parents.