COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FOUNDATION
FEBRUARY 2021
NEWSLETTER
INVESTING IN SOUTH FLORIDA
The CFP Foundation and 2021 Miami Host Committee Focused on Local Teachers and Schools
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he 2021 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship was more than one night of football. The event was a huge win for the South Florida region, especially for local schools and students. The CFP Foundation and the 2021 Miami Host Committee, along with local partners and school districts, have invested more than $3 million in resources, recognition and professional development for teachers and students in South Florida schools. And this investment effort will continue long after the game is over. Fueled by the giving of more than $1.5 million from the CFP
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INNOVATION SPACES
More than $3 million has been invested to create 24 new learning hubs for South Florida kids. Foundation and 2021 Miami Host Committee (and an additional more than $1.5 million in combined matching funds by the Broward,
Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County school districts), the Extra Yard Makeover Program has resulted in the renovation and enhancement
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of 24 innovation spaces and technology hubs at Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County schools and community centers. This impactful work was rooted in the belief that by investing in innovative changes, unique social, emotional, and academic needs of teachers and their students can be met. Many of these makeovers will also impact future students who haven’t even been born yet. The Extra Yard Makeover Program is an extension of the CFP Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers platform, which elevates the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers. The year’s efforts culminated in the unveiling of new innovative learning spaces, including area middle schools and at the Chapman Partnership’s Homestead Campus. In addition to the renovations, the CFP Foundation and 2021 Miami Host Committee also donated stateof-the-art virtual reality and technology equipment.
SPREADING THE LOVE
Capital One Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms helps unveil a new innovative learning space at Chapman Partnership on behalf of the Miami 2021 Host Committee and the CFP Foundation.
to see the new innovative space. Virtual makeover unveils at Belle Grade Elementary in Palm Beach and Stranahan High School in Ft. Lauderdale, respectively, were also celebrated. We are proud to support this The efforts were incredible work in transforming highlighted in the middle school experience for the unveiling of children in Miami-Dade County. a new innovative learning space JUDGE MICHAEL B. CHAVIES, CHAIR, at the Chapman 2021 MIAMI HOST COMMITTEE Partnership, a homeless National championship game assistance center which sleeps up week in early January featured to 500 nightly residents. The new a makeover reveal at JFK Middle space included new furnishings, School in Miami-Dade, where small computers, Promethean Boards, group tours were made available virtual reality headsets and
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accompanying curriculum, and video and sound equipment. The refreshed space also offers ageappropriate learning areas. Faced with the incredible challenges of homelessness and e-learning during the pandemic, the enhanced innovation lab will provide a safe, state-of-the-art facility for children and families to use.
In early 2020, the CFP Foundation announced it would team up with Veative to provide virtual reality and web content to schools as part of the ongoing Extra Yard Makeover projects. Together with Veative, the CFP Foundation was able to quickly pivot to providing participating schools with access to learning content that was then available to students during the pandemic for at home learning.
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VEATIVE
JFK MIDDLE SCHOOL
A new technology-rich innovation space was unveiled on January 5.
SCHOOL SPECIALTY
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School Specialty is a long-time supplier and partner of the College Football Playoff Foundation. Together, it has provided over 25 Extra Yard Makeovers. As the CFP Foundation’s Makeover partner, School Specialty gave away 10 $50 merchandise vouchers to help teachers get what they need as part of the Extra Yard Summit. These merchandise vouchers can be used for student purchases for the next six months for any product(s) on SchoolSpecialty.com.
CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP HOMESTEAD The makeover included new furnishings, computers, video and sound equipment.
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THE MIAMI MIDDLE SCHOOL REDESIGN EFFORT
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he Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Innovation Space makeovers are part of the district’s Middle School Redesign (MSR) initiative. The intent of MSR is to address the social emotional needs of students by creating positive relationships with school staff, increasing engaging elective offerings for students and empowering school staff to problem-solve using designthinking strategies. Objectives that the innovation space makeovers are designed to achieve include:
+ Creating a culture that promotes a safe and caring school environment
+ Providing students with relevant and engaging academic opportunities
+ Allowing for a personalized approach at each middle school in order to address school site specific challenges and goals for students
+ Engaging students through 21st century learning opportunities
Each Innovation Space makeover is fully customized to create a 21st century learning environment. Typical enhancements include new carpet tiles, painting, removal of shelving and old furniture, new modular furniture and soft seating, wall wraps, white board walls, and technology (e.g., laptop carts, green room space, virtual reality goggles and curriculum, etc.).
TEACHER OF THE YEAR EXPERIENCE
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s part of the 2021 national championship game festivities in Miami, the CFP Foundation hosted the 2020 State Teachers of the Year from the home states of each Playoff Semifinal participating team: Ana Carolina Behel from Alabama, Katie Pourcho from Indiana, Leila Kubesch from Ohio and Chanda Jefferson from South Carolina. Florida Teacher of the Year Dre Graham was also on hand, as was area district Teachers of the Year (Vanessa Valle, Miami-
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Dade; Syndie White, Palm Beach; Cari Rodriguez, Broward County). The CFP Foundation was very proud to honor these great leaders and treat them as part of the National Championship Teacher of the Year Experience. Teachers were treated to a relaxing weekend at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa over
the weekend. They also enjoyed the Beachwalk and were recognized on the video board during
CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK: The CFP Foundation helped bring more than $3 million in impact and engagement towards the South Florida community. Much of the work will continue, but we celebrate the collaborative effort and showcasing teachers in partnership with the 2021 Miami Host Committee during Champ Week.
pregame festivities at the national championship game. Normally, the CFP Foundation would celebrate CELEBRATING all state Teachers of the Year TEACHERS at the national championship Teachers of game. Due to the ongoing the Year from 5 states and 3 pandemic, though, those Florida counties honorees who were not were guests able to travel to the game at the 2021 were still recognized with CFP National a special Teacher of the Championship. Year Extra Yard gift package that featured Nike gear, a personalized Teacher of the Year football and more.
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INVESTING IN TOMORROW’S TEACHERS
CFP Foundation Partners with Dr Pepper to Award Tuition Assistance to Deserving Education Majors
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n January and in support of the CFP Foundation’s Go Teach initiative, the CFP Foundation and Dr Pepper unveiled the recipients of this year’s tuition assistance program, a collective effort to award $1.5 million in tuition over the next six years to support student-athletes looking to become teachers. Five grandprize winners were each presented with $20,000 tuition grants and more than 60 student-athletes each received $2,500 in tuition awards. This fund is in addition to Dr Pepper’s Tuition Giveaway Program and allows Dr Pepper’s conference partners (including the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC) to provide support and recognition for student-athletes with education-related majors.
STUDENT-ATHLETES MAKE GREAT TEACHERS More than 60 student-athletes received tuition awards as part of Dr Pepper’s Go Teach Tuition Assistance Program.
with surprises and features on ACC Network, Big 12 digital media channels, Big Ten Network, CBS, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network. I am honored to support the CFP Former Dallas Foundation’s Go Teach initiative and Cowboy and the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway in CFP Foundation ambassador a fantastic effort to recruit studentDarren Woodson athletes pursuing teaching degrees. surprised many of the $2,500 tuition DARREN WOODSON, FORMER DALLAS COWBOY & CFP FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR award winners across the five Conference partners and conferences with the news on a networks shared in the celebration virtual group call. He also awarded
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one of the grand prizes to Baylor’s James Lockhart, winner from the Big 12. “I am honored to support the CFP Foundation’s Go Teach initiative and the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway in a fantastic effort to recruit student-athletes pursuing teaching degrees,” said Woodson. “Our country is facing a teacher shortage, and the need has never been greater for qualified people to educate our kids. The team culture that comes with being a student-athlete lends a skill set key to being a tremendous teacher. Congratulations to all the
winners — they’re all champions who will make an incredibly positive difference for the next generation.” “Dr Pepper has been a wonderful partner, and we are thrilled to have their continued support,” said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky. “Our Go Teach project is an exciting initiative to encourage student-athletes to pursue careers in education, and this generous tuition support will go a long way to ensure the continued expansion of the Go Teach project in the years to come.” The CFP Foundation and Dr Pepper are dedicated to growing the Go Teach initiative to place qualified teachers in classrooms across the nation. Launched in 2019 following a pilot program at the University of Texas at Austin, the Go Teach initiative quickly expanded to a dozen schools by the end of 2019. Today, more than 15 universities are participating in the Go Teach program, identifying creative ways to help studentathletes move into the teaching profession. “Dr Pepper has partnered with the CFP Foundation since 2015, and we are proud to expand our relationship to help even more student-athletes realize their dreams of becoming teachers,” said Derek Dabrowski, Vice President of Brand Marketing for Dr Pepper. “Dr Pepper is synonymous with college football. This year has looked different than most due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why it’s more than important than ever that we support students with big dreams who need the help in realizing them.”
FEBRUARY 2021 HONOREE
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Regis Inge
hen Cameron Bell was in middle school growing up in Compton, California, he was a “delinquent kid,” as he described himself. “When I walked into his classroom, I wasn’t listening to nobody,” Bell said. “I had a lot of family dynamics that were messed up … I was a troubled child that did what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it.” Nevertheless, his seventh grade English and Social Studies teacher Regis Inge saw something else in him. “He saw a gifted, talented jewel who just needed someone to invest in them, someone to spend quality time with them, someone to care about them,” said Bell. Bell said Inge wouldn’t let him give up and recalled how he would come to his house, knock on his door, and “grab him” if he needed it. Bell is now a clinical therapist at a drug rehabilitation center, as well as an ordained minister. According to him, Inge was the most influential person in helping set him on his course. For 26 years, Inge has been teaching and mentoring middle school kids in Compton like Cameron, helping to change their life trajectories. Compton Early College High School principal Dr. Pamela Maddox recognized his high value. “Kids know Mr. Inge cares about them,” said Maddox. “It’s beyond the book. It’s beyond the academics. He cares about the whole person, not just how well they are flourishing academically, but emotionally and socially. He’s listening to them. He’s hearing them. And once you hit the campus and you’re his student, you’re his student. Even when you move on to seventh, eighth, ninth grade, you’re still his student.” For countless students, Inge has been, as Bell put it, “an angel in my life.” Read Regis Inge’s remarkable story at honored.org.
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INDY IMPACT
Indianapolis 2022 Host Committee Launches Legacy Initiative in Celebration of Being One Year Out From National Championship Game
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he 2022 CFP National in legacy Championship will be programs in hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium partnership with in Indianapolis on Monday, The Mind Trust. January 10. Now on the clock, the These programs Indianpolis 2022 Host Committee are the Indiana has launched its website, added eLearning Lab additional legacy initiatives and is and Teach Indy. making plans for ancillary citywide The CFP events. Foundation, in “We look forward to working partnership with closely with the great people of the Indianapolis Indianapolis in the coming year,” 2022 Host said CFP Executive Director Bill Committee, will Hancock. “The city and its leaders be recognizing and rewarding have a proven track record teachers who are participating of hosting some of the most in Training Camp or are a part of outstanding sporting events in the Teach Indy through weekly social country. Add to that the passion media posts beginning this spring. and enthusiasm The Indiana that always eLearning Lab is shines through a dynamic, virtual from their local hub for educators volunteers, and across the state to we know college access teaching football fans are content, share in for a special best practices experience at for eLearning, CAMP the 2022 national find community championship and grow game.” professionally. The In support of the Indiana eLearning CFP Foundation lab is a part of and its mission Extra Yard for to uplift teachers Teachers Training grades K-12, the Indianapolis Camp umbrella, which focuses 2022 Host Committee has already on the core pillar of professional committed to investing $1 million development for teachers.
TRAINING
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Teach Indy is a partnership between Indianapolis Public Schools, The Mind Trust and Indianapolis Mayor’s Office of Education Innovation created to support the recruitment, development, recognition, and retention of great teachers for Indianapolis Schools. In January, the Indianapolis 2022 Host Committee announced a third initiative in the funding of Extra Yard Makeovers at four area schools:
+ Southport Middle School (Perry Township)
+ Garden City Elementary (Wayne Township)
+ James and Rosemary
Phalen Leadership Academy (Lawrence Township)
+ Victory College Prep (Center Township)
The selected schools were identified based upon two criteria: the percentage of students served in each school from low-income households and the verified need for a media center makeover within the building. The makeovers will provide schools with resources to transform spaces with enhanced technology and creative design to meet the demands of 21st century teaching and learning.
We are excited about our ongoing work with the Indianapolis Host Committee and our friends at the Mind Trust. BRITTON BANOWSKY, CFP FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
“We are excited about our ongoing work with the Indianapolis Host Committee and our friends at the Mind Trust,” said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky. “The work around the eLearning Lab is state of the art and addresses the evolving needs of educators and compliments our other efforts to ensure great teachers are recruited and retained in the community. What a wonderful collaboration to support this highly impactful work.”
2021 EXTRA YARD FOR TEACHERS SUMMIT
A TRADITION GOES VIRTUAL
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hile it may have looked different than years past, the 2021 edition of the Extra Yard for Teachers Summit was a rousing success with 3,000 attendees who attended virtually, marking a new attendance record that tripled the original Summit mark of 1,000. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the 2021 Extra Yard for Teachers Summit had to pivot, just as teachers across the country have had to, and go virtual for the first time. Hope and Wade King served as hosts and keynote speakers for the 2021 Summit, representing Get Your Teach On, which specializes in professional development and encouragement for educators and administrators in the form of conferences, workshops and events. The Kings are a dynamic husband and wife duo who have had tremendous success with students by creating an environment that supports and encourages strong academic improvement and achievement. Their “Plate of Priorities” theme was a major hit. Tag-a-Teacher giveaways were featured throughout the Summit via social media, and a special address was given by 2021 National Teacher of the Year Tabatha Rosproy. There was participation by teachers from previous national championship host cities, as well as upcoming CFP National Championship sites Indianapolis (2022) and Los Angeles (2023). Other presentations included a focus on helping students thrive during a pandemic, creating an above-average culture in the classroom and maintaining student collaboration.
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ESPN GIVES BACK
An original partner of the CFP Foundation, ESPN has committed to the primary objective of supporting teachers.
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he network once again stepped up in a big way at the 2021 CFP National Championship, presenting a check for $200,000 to support equity in South Florida classrooms. ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro and CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock presented the check live on ESPN during the broadcast of the national championship game, asking the crowd to give an extra round of applause for the hard work and long hours that teachers have given to educate kids across the country. In addition, the CFP Foundation and ESPN was included in CFP All Access, a virtual fan experience that was available online from Selection Day throught he national championship game. As part of the experience, an interactive video game gave students and participating fans the chance to earn points, and ESPN donated $1 for each point scored. That total amount also included as part of the game day check presentation.
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Thank you, ESPN, for being such a generous partner in helping teachers!
ESPN has been a generous partner of the CFP Foundation since its inception in 2014.
EYFT ON SOUTH BEACH!
College football fans and visitors to Miami Beach were sure to come across the CFP Beachwalk during national championship weekend to learn more about the CFP Foundation and Extra Yard for Teachers. The Extra Yard for Teachers Bus was prominently featured in the sociallydistanced activation, as well as an Extra Yard green apple selfie station.
MYBACKYARDSTUDIO
The College Football Playoff and CFP Foundation also partnered with MyBackyardStudio by awarding one deserving teacher an ultimate socially-distanced learning environment, a custom free-standing studio space. Through the @CFPExtraYard Instagram account, fans were able to tag their favorite teachers on the social posts for their chance to win. The winner was selected on January 12, 2021.
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@CFPExtraYard
#CFPExtraYard #CFPFoundation CFP-FOUNDATION.ORG
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