The Sharing the Dream grant, funded with generous support from the Met Life Foundation, enables principals to test ideas on how to:
- Involve and engage their communities to build wider ownership for the work of the school by sharing leadership and decision-making;
- Keep all stakeholders informed about all school news—good and bad; and
- Create a school climate that fosters open communication, safety and security, respect for every individual, and the idea that the school is the center of the community and welcomes all of its members.
Each year since 2004, MetLife and NAESP have awarded 30 grants for projects representing a diverse group of schools and ideas. Projects are selected based on principals’ ability to: articulate their vision for parent and community involvement in their schools; explain how their approach is linked to one of the six standards described in NAESP’s benchmark publication (Leading Learning Communities: What Principals Should Know and Be Able To Do, Second Edition); identify data sources to measure involvement throughout the year; and connect their project to student and school success.
The principals that received this grant looked at the needs of their schools, families, and communities and found innovative and practical ways to integrate community into the work of the school.
Take a look at the list of 2009 winners. Bookmark this page and check back for the 2010-2011 grant application in the spring.
Past Winners
For more information, call NAESP’s Diverse Learning Communites team at 703-684-3345 or toll free at 800-386-2377, or send an e-mail message to students@naesp.org.