What is a PL mini-grant: Teachers in the Sitka School District are eligible to receive up to $1,500 to offset the registration, travel and/or per diem costs necessary to attend a conference/learning opportunity requiring travel outside of Sitka. The SSD PL Committee typically has a total of $26,000 to award to teachers each year for opportunities that take place outside of Sitka and an additional $14,000 for opportunities that occur within the district.

When to apply for a PL mini-grant: There are three application periods (fall, winter, & spring). Applications may be made for future periods, though mini-grants will only be awarded at the end of the period in which the professional learning opportunity will take place/open for registration. Contact your building committee member or see the dates below for application period deadlines.

2024-2025 Application Deadlines:

                                Fall – October 11th

                                Winter – December 13th

                                Spring – April 11th

2024-2025 Building Committee Members:

                                XTS – Jacquie Hedrick

                                KGH – Jeanine Brooks

                                BMS – Alex Dailey

                                SHS – Stacy Golden

PHS – (vacancy)

How to apply for a PL mini-grant: If you are interested in applying for a PL mini-grant, complete the Microsoft Form linked below

PL Mini-Grant Application

Before applying, please review the following information the Professional Learning Committee will consider when determining which applications to award each period.

• The number of mini-grants the applicant(s) has received from the PLC in the past 5 years.
• Whether or not the learning opportunity relates to your teaching position.
• How the conference/learning opportunity relates to the Sitka School District goals.
• When travel occurs and then number of applicants taking part in the learning opportunity (if travel occurs during contract hours, you will NEED permission from your administrator prior to applying).
• How you plan to disseminate the skills/information learned to district colleagues.
• Your rationale as to how this opportunity will contribute to your own professional growth as well as how it will positively impact your students/classroom/building.

Additional Notes:

• The more detail you include in your application, the easier it will be for the committee to justify awarding a mini-grant. Please provide thoughtful and thorough responses to each question. PL committee members are willing to review applications and provide feedback prior to submissions.
• Your rationale for how this learning opportunity is aligned with district goals and how it will positively impact you, your classroom/building/district carries the most weight when the committee is determining which applications to award.
• Teachers applying as part of a group are encouraged to submit one application that includes all applicant names/information.
• Teachers selected to receive a PL Mini-Grant will be eligible to be reimbursed for a conference/learning opportunity attended within the fiscal year of the conference/learning opportunity.
• The Mini-Grants are NOT available for credit classes.
• The learning opportunity can include visiting with colleagues outside of Sitka to collaborate on a project or learning goal.

·         Below is the PL mini-grant rubric the committee will use to guide the determination of which applications are awarded.

Rating Components	0	1	2	3	Rating Given
Frequency of previously awarded PL mini grant travel awards within 5 years	Awarded more than 4 times	1-3 Awards	Never Awarded
Conference relates to hired position	No	Relates to secondary job duty	Relates to primary job duty
Conference relates to District goals	No examples given	Examples given	Strong examples given
PL Occurs	On district time	On district & personal time	On personal time
PL Participation	Individual	Group (unless a specialist position)
Plan to share information learned	No	Yes (unless a specialist position)
Rationale for individual, classroom, school or district impact	Questions exist regarding rationale	Clear rationale exists	Clear and compelling rationale	Innovative Rationale