Dozens of Milwaukee schools and education nonprofits will benefit from a $5.5 million investment from the Northwestern Mutual Foundation.
The Northwestern Mutual Summer Teacher Grant Program, now in its fourth year, is supporting 307 teachers across 85 projects at 70 Milwaukee public, private and charter schools and nonprofits. The projects look to develop learning experiences, teaching approaches and student support through hands-on learning and new curriculums.
This summer, teacher grants total to $382,233 and will go toward almost 100 more teachers than last year.
“Strong student outcomes begin with supporting educators and the work happening every day in the classroom,” foundation President Steve Radke said in a news release.
Milwaukee teacher says funding helps education system
Cheyenne Brown, a math teacher at St. Marcus Lutheran School in Milwaukee, said supporting Milwaukee’s students is a communitywide issue.
Northwestern Mutual’s investment is one link in the chain of a “village” coming together to improve education in Milwaukee, she said.
This summer, Brown plans to use funding from Northwestern Mutual to develop a new curriculum at St. Marcus. It will focus on how health and nutrition affect childhood development, and gives Brown the opportunity to blend academics with skills that are useful beyond the classroom.
Who is supported by this investment?
This year, the projects are based in 17 schools, including Rufus King, Notre Dame, Carmen and St. Marcus. Projects tackle reading proficiency, technology in classrooms, dual language programs, art programs, classroom strategies and more.
Over a dozen projects this year aim to increase student reading proficiency. The Journal Sentinel found that for the last decade, fewer than 10% of children in Milwaukee are proficient readers.
Teachers at Northwestern Mutual’s partner schools are invited to apply for the grant. From there, school leaders submit the projects they believe will most benefit students to the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, which evaluates how to fund as many projects as possible.
Northwestern Mutual partners with 22 schools and 48 educational organizations.
Partner schools include Milwaukee College Prep, St. Marcus Lutheran School, Milwaukee Academy of Science, Rufus King High School, Golda Meir and more. K-12 partner programs include Boys and Girls Club, Teach for America, College Possible, Forward Scholars and Employ Milwaukee Inc.
Northwestern Mutual is also connected to Milwaukee Area Technical College, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Marquette University and Milwaukee School of Engineering.
What is the Northwestern Mutual Foundation?
Since 1992, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation has given over $575 million to improve the lives of children across the nation, whether that’s in education, healthcare or neighborhoods.
In Milwaukee alone, over $75 million contributed to improving education in Milwaukee within the last three decades.
The foundation’s educational investments have financially supported nearly 200 projects and over 190 post-secondary scholarships. The foundation’s mission is to work with schools and community partners to expand students’ opportunities and improve the city’s success, Radke said.
Contact Elena Metinidis at emetinidis@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Northwestern Mutual invests $5.5 million in Milwaukee education
Reporting by Elena Metinidis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Elena Metinidis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
