Manitoba Government News Release–The Manitoba government is now accepting applications for the 2023-24 Teachers’ Idea Fund intake, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko and Mental Health and Community Wellness Minister Janice Morley-Lecomte announced today.
“The Teachers’ Idea Fund provides teachers, staff and school leaders with resources they need to develop innovative projects that support high-quality learning and positive outcomes for students,” said Ewasko. “Our government is pleased, once again for 2023-24, to focus on projects that support the mental health and well-being of students and educators, and help make classrooms and schools across the province places where innovative ideas are developed, encouraged and embraced.”
Launched in March 2021, the five-year, $25-million Teachers’ Idea Fund 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.
Submissions will be accepted from teachers, school staff, and school and division leaders employed in Manitoba’s kindergarten to Grade 12 public school system, and extended to First Nations schools that have agreements with school divisions. Proposals should focus on programming that supports one or more of the following mental health and well-being strategies for students and educators:
• 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 school staff.
“Discussing mental health and well-being openly and honestly allows the education system to flourish and to help students reach their full potential in school and in life,” said Morley-Lecomte.
Ewasko noted that this work would not be possible without the input and advice of the Teachers’ Idea Fund Review Panel that reviews applications and supports project implementation. The panel is made up of diverse specialists from post-secondary institutions, the innovation sector, mental health, government, and kindergarten to Grade 12 education.
“Through the Teachers’ Idea Fund, we are pursuing several initiatives to provide students with career exploration opportunities to improve mental-health outcomes,” said Shelley Amos, superintendent, Hanover School Division. “This initiative is supporting multiple classrooms across the division for a total of 75 Grade 6 to 12 classrooms, 1,800 students and 100 teachers.”