Mt. Airy Teacher Grants

Zach Smith Fund Teacher Grants

The Zach Smith Fund was created in 2009 with gifts made in memory of Zach Smith from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, and his family and friends.  

Annual grants are available for educators or administrators employed by Mount Airy City Schools or local charter schools, and they are chosen through a competitive process. The number and size of the awards will be determined annually by an advisory committee based on the scope of the projects submitted and the income available.

The minimum request amount is $250. The awards are not intended to replace the financial commitments made by the local or state school systems to Mount Airy City Schools or charter schools.

Criteria

Grants will support projects that provide professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators, with priority for those that:

• Encourage and enrich principal or teacher leadership
• Support student and/or teacher-originated activities in civic education, environmental education, local and state history, economic literacy, and leadership development
• Promote creativity in student and/or teacher originated arts and humanities projects

Priority is given to requests that demonstrate:

• The way in which initiative, creativity, and imagination are demonstrated in projects
• The proposed project's potential impact on students
• The strategic relationship between the proposed project and individual professional growth
• Funds will not provide college scholarships or to support athletic teams.
• Requests for technology and equipment are a low priority.

How to Apply

Zach Smith teacher grant applications are considered once a year in the fall; applicants will receive a decision after a three-month review period.

An appointed advisory committee comprised of representatives of the local contributing foundations, the Zach Smith family or close friend(s) of the family, and the Mount Airy community will choose grant recipients. Grants will be paid to schools and will be designated for the grant recipients.