University High School science teacher nets $5,000 grant for classroom innovation

University High School science teacher Kristen Creese has been awarded a CenturyLink Teacher and Technology grant worth $5,000 for her efforts to improve authentic learning in her classroom.

“These students are born in the 21st century; they’re on their phones all the time … they want things that are really technical,” Creese said of her physics students. “We are kind of behind the bell curve when it comes to technology,” so this grant allowed Creese to purchase a full classroom set of PocketLab sensor technology that instantly streams and records data to devices.

The Teachers and Technology program, designed to improve how classrooms leverage technology and innovation, has awarded more than $11 million since its inception in 2008, according to a CenturyLink news release. The program awards grants of up to $5,000 per project to schools in CenturyLink’s local service and corporate locations on behalf of pre-K through 12th-grade teachers who have developed plans to implement technology in their classrooms.

“CenturyLink recognizes the importance of introducing young people to science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM,” said Sondra Smith, CenturyLink director of corporate social responsibility, in the release. “STEM competencies help students think more creatively, view the world through a different lens and search for new possibilities.”

Ten additional awards were made to Washington schools, totaling more than $50,000.

“The grant is amazing,” Creese said. “It really helped.”