OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF
JANUARY 2, 2018 | VOL. 1, ISSUE 5
BEYOND THE BOWL This year’s bowl games benefit future generations — maybe even future bowl game players BY JAIME ARON
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owl games are the crowning achievement on a successful season — a celebration of a job well done. Just like every good party has a theme, each of the top postseason games is wrapped in a unique pageantry, tradition and history. These games generate all sorts of excitement in their communities, from the events leading up to kick off to those glorious hours on the gridiron. Yet their legacy lasts longer. The local impact extends year-round and for generations to come thanks to partnerships with the College
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Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation. Think of it this way: By the late 2020s, some Miami-area kid who learned computer skills at his made-over elementary school might be throwing passes in the Orange Bowl … some Dallas-area youth whose reading skills caught up before it was too late could be carrying the ball in the Cotton Bowl … and on it goes, across the country, all courtesy of the millions of dollars invested in education through college football. Here’s a game-by-game look at how the College Football Playoff New Year’s Six bowls and the CFP
Foundation are giving back through Extra Yard for Teachers. CAPITAL ONE ORANGE BOWL Through the Orange Bowl Committee’s new Media Center Makeover Project, supported by funds from the CFP Foundation, elementary schools in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties were asked to submit a written statement of why their school should receive new equipment,
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furniture, technology and more for their school media centers. Winners were announced during the 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl, with a representative from each school in attendance.
centers will provide them with opportunities never before available,” said Don Slesnick, President and Chair of the Orange Bowl Committee. The CFP Foundation also supports the Orange Bowl Leadership Academy, a program designed to instill leadership qualities and promote selfefficacy among sixth graders in MiamiDade and Broward Counties. In addition, the CFP Foundation and Orange Bowl partnered to support schools in the Florida Keys following Hurricane Harvey through DonorsChoose.org donations.
With the ever-increasing use of technology by both teachers and students, these new media centers will provide them with opportunities never before available.” DON SLESNICK “With the ever-increasing use of technology by both teachers and students, these new media
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GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL Catch Up & Read is a nonprofit, community-funded organization in Dallas that works with teachers and schools on an instruction and tutoring program. It primarily targets at-risk youths who are not reading at their grade level. The CFP Foundation and Cotton Bowl Foundation each donated $100,000 to this organization because of the difference it is making in North Texas. The direct result: four more schools will take part in Catch Up & Read’s researchbased literacy and social emotional intervention in 2018. That is in addition to the seven schools it already serves. “Equitable education for all children and lasting improvement for
FOR TEACHERS IN ATLANTA!
Extra Yard for Teachers Lounge
Extra Yard for Teachers Summit
January 6, 2018 10 AM-6 PM ET
January 6, 2018 2-4 PM ET
Teachers, the Extra Yard for Teachers Lounge is just for YOU! College Football Playoff Foundation partners are coming together to build activations and experiences to continue the celebration of teachers during the weekend of the national championship game.
During the weekend of the College Football Playoff National Championship, the College Football Playoff Foundation hosts the Extra Yard for Teachers Summit, a two-hour, fast-paced stage show, as a way to inspire and empower teachers in the host city. The Extra Yard for Teachers Summit is FREE for attendees!
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our public schools is an achievable goal thanks to the generosity of the Cotton Bowl and College Football Playoff foundations,” said Catherine LeBlanc, CEO of Catch Up & Read. Added Rick Baker, Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic President/CEO, “The Cotton Bowl Foundation has a passion for supporting education, and needless to say, Catch Up & Read is a remarkable program that truly changes young lives. We are excited to partner with the College Football Playoff Foundation to assist Catch Up & Reach achieve their mission and really make a difference at these schools.” CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL In Atlanta, the bowl game’s home city, an issue plaguing
Atlanta Public Schools (APS) is literacy as only 31% of third grade students read proficiently. Research shows that children who do not read proficiently by the end of the third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma. Through $2 million in funding from the CFP Foundation, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the Atlanta Football Host Committee and Chick-fil-A Foundation, 1,500 APS teachers will be trained in a specialized reading curriculum to help 25,000 elementary students learn to read at higher levels. “We know this significant and meaningful plan will give our teachers the right tools and is the essential first step to ensuring that our students are reading and writing on-level by the third grade,” said Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria
J. Carstarphen. “Our goal is to transform how literacy instruction is delivered in our schools to move the needle in a positive direction.” “We went to APS and asked them what their biggest problem was,” said Gary Stokan, CEO and president of Peach Bowl, Inc. and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. “They told us our children were not reading at a sufficient level and that they desperately needed help. We told them we were in. We pledged our full support.” ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL 3D printers. Dual-language reading programs. Opportunities to plant, cultivate
› Visit www.cfp-foundation.org for more information on these events. Extra Yard 5K January 7, 2018 8 AM ET The Extra Yard 5K, the official road race of the College Football Playoff, is your opportunity to be active and support teachers at the same time. Registration includes two tickets to Playoff Fan Central, a participant shirt, finisher’s medal and entry into a drawing for tickets to the national championship game.
Taste of the Championship January 7, 2018 7-10 PM ET Taste of the Championship is a foodie’s dream. Ticket buyers will sample gourmet food and beverages from Atlanta’s most notable restaurants and breweries while celebrating teachers from across the United States. Proceeds from the event support the College Football Playoff Foundation and its Extra Yard for Teachers platform.
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and eat fruits and vegetables. These are only some of the programs funded in conjunction with the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual. The CFP Foundation partnered with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association and the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) to award grants to Pasadena Unified Schools District teachers and principals for classroom projects for the second consecutive year. On Dec. 5, a total of 129 grants worth $178,072 were awarded to 158 teachers and 14 principals, ultimately benefitting thousands of students in Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre. Beyond the grants to teachers, PEF awarded 14 schoolwide project grants, such as library revitalization projects, establishing a costume shop for performing arts programs, mural beautification projects, physical education equipment refresh, and promoting healthy lifestyles. “The Pasadena Educational Foundation expresses its profound gratitude to the CFP Foundation for their generous support of the 2017-18 Teacher Grant Program,” said PEF Executive Director Patrick Conyers. “Thanks in large part to CFP Foundation’s support, the Pasadena Educational Foundation is distributing more than $200,000 to Pasadena Unified School District teachers, principals, and educators this year. These funds will bring to life innovative classroom and school-wide projects throughout our district.” Added David Eads, Executive Director and CEO of the Pasadena
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INVESTING IN THE FUTURE: CFP Foundation partnerships are ensuring a better classroom environment today and laying the groundwork for the next generation of leaders. Tournament of Roses: “Through its long-standing partnership with the Pac-12 and Big Ten conferences, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses has placed a priority on investing in education. We are equally excited about our ability to collaborate with our local school district to continue supporting the educators of our younger generations.” PLAYSTATION FIESTA BOWL Every teacher has a wish list of things to add or improve in their classroom. Those wishes are coming true for many teachers in Arizona through the Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers program. With the support of partners, Fiesta Bowl Charities is donating $700,000 to Arizona K-12 public and charter school teachers. The
CFP Foundation donated $100,000 to the program, as did azcentral and The Arizona Republic. Fiesta Bowl Charities will grant $5,000 wishes to selected teachers who submit an application explaining how they would utilize the funds in their classrooms and schools. Last year’s program allowed teachers, who often spend their own money to enhance their students’ classroom experience, to use the funds for a classroom makeover, new technology, new sports equipment or new curriculum. “We’ve enjoyed seeing how Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers provides additional resources to Arizona’s teachers, allowing them to do more in their classrooms,” added Mike Nealy, Executive Director of the Fiesta Bowl. “The College Football Playoff Foundation has a similar commitment to assisting teachers, who give so much in their
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daily commitment to building our future leaders. This is our chance to give to teachers to boost their efforts even further.” ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL Teach For America helps place teachers in low-income communities; develops, trains and supports leadership qualities; and mobilizes as many people as possible to improve education. It’s exactly what New Orleans needed following Hurricane Katrina, and the CFP Foundation and the Allstate Sugar Bowl have invested more than $500,000 to keep those efforts going and growing. The combined efforts also have provided teachers with muchdeserved recognition in events surrounding the bowl game. “The Allstate Sugar Bowl is very proud to have the opportunity to make another significant donation to assist the teachers of this community,” said Chuck Lapeyre, President of the Sugar Bowl Committee. “Children are the future of every community, and we want to give every boy and girl, regardless of economics, the best chance to succeed in a positive educational environment. We hope our donation, which has been generously matched by the College Football Playoff Foundation, will enable Teach For America to enhance its already significant efforts in New Orleans.”
JANUARY HONOREE
MONIQUE CASTRO
K
indergarten teacher Monique Castro is a champion for young girls when it comes to STEM subjects. Castro grew up in a single parent household near San Jose, California and experienced early struggles in school. She persevered and was accepted to UC Santa Cruz where she discovered her inner confidence and a passion for education. “I thought, school’s great! I’m not done going to school. I decided that teaching would be the best avenue — I could offer that back to others.” In her first year of teaching, a young female student, Caitlin, had a great impact on Castro because she reminded Castro of her younger self. To encourage Caitlin and other female students, Castro set in motion multiple initiatives that help girls, especially those in underserved communities, gain more experience in STEM subjects. Castro hopes to boost their confidence so they can play a larger role in these subjects in the future. As Caitlin, now a third-grader, says, “Ms. Castro taught us to grow our brains and grow up to be mathematicians.” Monique often quotes NASA ambassador Nichelle Nichols: “Science is not a boy’s game, it’s not a girl’s game. It’s everyone’s game. It’s about where we are and where we’re going.” Visit www.honored.org to read Monique Catro’s full story.
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THAT CHAMPIONSHIP FEELING
2017 National Teacher of the Year, Sydney Chaffee, looks forward to championship weekend BY JIMMY BURCH
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tlanta looms as a place for revelry, recognition and reflection for Sydney Chaffee, the 2017 National Teacher of the Year. Chaffee will be among the honorees that are part of the Teacher of the Year Championship Experience, presented by Dr Pepper, in conjunction with the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship on January 8 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A ninth-grade teacher at Codman Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester, Mass., Chaffee became the first instructor from Massachusetts to be honored as the national teacher of the year by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). She will head to Atlanta as one of 56 teachers slated for recognition by the CFP Foundation during championship weekend. This elite group is composed of one exemplary State Teacher of the Year from each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the territories. The 2017 State Teachers of the Year spent the last year with CCSSO honing their policy, practice, and advocacy skills. Chaffee and her fellow teachers will enjoy a weekend of activities highlighted by the Extra Yard for
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HIGH FIVE: Chaffee says her trip to the national championship game is “surreal and amazing.” Teachers Summit, Extra Yard for Teachers Lounge, Extra Yard 5K and Taste of the Championship. The festivities also include access to the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! concert series as well as the Championship Tailgate Plaza events. The pinnacle of the weekend will occur at the national championship game when all 56 teachers will be recognized on the field prior to the game, a visible reminder of the CFP Foundation’s commitment to elevate the teaching profession by
inspiring and empowering teachers through its Extra Yard for Teachers platform. Chaffee, 34, is excited about her anticipated debut on the stadium’s upsized scoreboard as part of the celebration. “It’s going to be pretty cool,” Chaffee said. “Teachers don’t often have opportunities to feel like rock stars. It’ll be a pretty surreal and amazing experience.” By and large, Chaffee and her peers consider “surreal” a fitting description about the way the CFP
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Foundation team has embraced the teaching profession in recent years. Britton Banowsky, Executive Director of the CFP Foundation, cites a goal of supporting “extraordinary teachers that are going above and beyond every day to ensure that every child has an opportunity to succeed in the classroom and in life”. Those words resonate with Chaffee. “It’s incredible to know that an organization has chosen teachers and education as an issue that matters to them and that they’re putting resources into making sure that teachers feel appreciated,” Chaffee said. “It’s hard to overstate how much it means to a teacher just to hear that someone appreciates that work. That’s definitely not something we hear on a daily basis.”
JOY OF TEACHER: Chaffee believes you must be a lifelong learner to be a teacher. stylings of The Chainsmokers, receiving a chair massage and participating in the 5K race as part of the weekend activities. A different activity captures most of her attention, however. “I think I’m most excited about the Extra Yard for Teachers Summit,” said Chaffee, who will be accompanied by her husband Matt and Zoe, the couple’s 3-year-old daughter. “It’s almost like a pep rally for teachers. I’m excited that I’ll get an opportunity to speak to my fellow teachers and bring a message of encouragement. I like to say to teachers, ‘I see you. I know how hard you’re working. And your work is worth it. Teaching is the most important job in the world, and thank you for doing it.’”
It’s incredible to know that an organization has chosen teachers and education as an issue that matters to them and that they’re putting resources into making sure that teachers feel appreciated.” SYDNEY CHAFFEE But that is the message that will be delivered, over and over, as teachers are recognized in Atlanta. Chaffee, for one, is excited about sampling some of the city’s finest cuisine, hearing the musical
The two-hour Summit includes speakers and performances meant to empower and inspire attendees. Chaffee also plans to network with Summit attendees and fellow educators during her stay in Atlanta. As the national teacher of the year, she has visited 21 states and Washington, D.C. while meeting with industry leaders and sharing ideas aimed at strengthening the profession. She plans to seek out additional ideas in Atlanta to share with administrators during upcoming sessions before returning to the classroom next fall. “I really miss my kids, but I love the opportunities I’m having this year,” Chaffee said. “It’s inspiring and joyful to see the work going on around the country and then to get to carry some of those stories to other parts of the country when I travel.” The next step on that journey includes some time to celebrate with peers in Atlanta, courtesy of the CFP Foundation.
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