Carmichaels teacher receives Toyota Tapestry Grant
Toyota and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) awarded Carmichaels Area School District teacher Kevin Willis a $10,000 Toyota TAPESTRY grant for excellence and innovation in science education.
Willis was one of 50 teachers from across the nation selected to receive the grant this year, which marks the 21st anniversary of Toyota’s and NSTA’s efforts to support educators who are making a difference by demonstrating distinction and creativity in science education through the Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers Program.
Willis’ proposal calls for students to work on a restoration project along the Carmichaels Area Nature Trail by cultivating native plants in a greenhouse and then transferring them to the Trail to replace invasive plant species that threaten the local ecosystem.
They will also be tasked to publish information about the project through brochures, video and the web to help educate the public about the value and diversity of the native plants in the area. Students will gain a better understanding of how to conduct a scientific investigation, as well as how to help protect their local environment.
As a result of the Toyota TAPESTRY program, numerous educators have gone on to win prestigious awards, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, the NSTA Distinguished Teaching Award and the Einstein Fellowship Award.
Additionally, teachers have had the opportunity to expand their science-based projects beyond their classrooms, and impact their communities and even state legislatures. Frequently, this includes garnering substantial additional funding for the teacher’s program and school.