Suzy Zucker Esstman Educational Grant
for Parkway Teachers

The Parkway Alumni Association (PAA), through the Suzy Esstman Charitable Fund (SECF), is offering grants to Parkway teachers for projects that enrich the education experience for their students.

Projects can be designed to enhance any area of the Parkway curriculum inside or outside the classroom, or in a virtual environment. The ideal project will maintain an educational component while encouraging students to think freely. Preference is given to projects that inspire learning through fun and creative approaches. Grant requests could be materials for literature, manipulatives, equipment, digital resources, field trips, guest speakers, admission/travel expenses, and other things that support learning for students. The grant is not intended for professional development.

The maximum individual grant amount is $500.

REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for a grant, teachers must be certified and currently teaching in a Parkway preschool, K-12 school or K-12 program (including the Spark! and Fern Ridge programs, but not including before/after school programs). In addition to regular classroom teachers, these teachers include guidance counselors, coaches, specialists and Special School District teachers who teach students in Parkway.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Teachers should complete the Google form at the bottom of this page.  Applications should be submitted by February 17, 2023 at 5 p.m.

The SECF Board of Directors will review and judge all applications. The supervising principal for each selected applicant will be contacted to review the application for compliance with Parkway’s educational mission. All grant awards will be determined by the SECF Board. The PAA will announce the winners of the awards in early March 2023.

MAXIMUM AMOUNT PER GRANT
$500

TERMS
Grants will be for expenses incurred while executing the program, not to exceed the total amount requested in the grant application or $500. Teachers will need to purchase all of the supplies, materials, etc. and turn in receipts to Sandy Riutcel, executive director of the Parkway Alumni Association, for payment. Grant funds will not be dispersed before the receipts are received by the PAA. 

TIMELINE
Applications will be accepted January 24, 2023 - February 17, 2023 at 5 p.m. The project described in the grant application may be executed in the Spring 2023 semester.  Grants must be executed within the timeline reported in the application, unless teacher-grantee receives approval from the PAA and SECF Board. 

RECOGNITION
The SECF Board intends to recognize the award recipients, perhaps at a Parkway BOE meeting, the annual Parkway Appreciation Event or any time mutually agreed upon by the SECF and PAA.

ABOUT THE SUZY ESSTMAN CHARITABLE FUND
The SECF was created in memory of Suzy Zucker Esstman [PNH ’81, Alumni HOF ’08] by her family. Its mission is to improve the lives of people in our local community in a way that embodies the spirit and embraces the values of Suzy Esstman. Suzy loved growing and building communities, and one of those was Parkway. She championed ideas which created educational experiences for students and pushed their thinking in fun ways, such as the Pop Open a Book summer reading initiative at Green Trails Elementary.