The Extra Yard, October 2024

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FOUNDATION

NEWSLETTER

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OCTOBER 2024

A BIG DEAL

Extra Yard for Teachers Week Sees a Record-Number of Educators Celebrated Across the Country

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elebrating teachers never gets old, of teachers who were uplifted during EYFT Week especially at this time of year. The school through hundreds of partner activations. year has begun, college football is in full Again anchoring EYFT Week was the fifth annual swing, and there is a BIG DAY for Teachers, fresh sense of optimism the largest single-day in the country. effort of community The 2024 edition impact by the extended of Extra Yard for college football Teachers (EYFT) family, completely Week — the annual focused on educators. nationwide celebration Thousands of dollars in of educators created DonorsChoose funds by the College for classroom projects Football Playoff (CFP) were distributed on the Foundation — was held BIG DAY for Teachers from September 14-21 (Tuesday, September SEC Network surprised a Florida Gator Alum and this year more than 17), including a new and teacher with an on-air surprise.

5,000 teachers were partnership between recognized by members the CFP Foundation and of the college sports, Amazon Business that nonprofit, and corporate community from coast covered $200,000 of back-to-school projects for to coast. It marked an all-time high for thousands equity-focused schools. Project funding included

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MORE THAN 5,000 TEACHERS RECOGNIZED

owl e st a B The Fi out the ht broug rprise i to su t t e f n the co rs on e h c a te AY for B I G D r s. e Teach

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technology, flexible seating, basic classroom student-athletes were joined by college mascots, supplies, books and educational games. Pop-Tarts cheer teams, deans, coaches, and bowl game also joined the effort, representatives on committing $50,000 school visits and in DonorsChoose funds surprises for teachers. to be distributed to And once again, teachers in theOrlando longtime supporter area, site of the ESPN surprised Pop-Tarts Bowl. Amazon teachers live on College Business and Pop-Tarts GameDay and SEC joined existing CFP Nation.

Foundation partners “We are so thankful AT&T, ESPN, Eckrich, for the generosity Dr Pepper, Cheez-It, of so many amazing and School Specialty in partners and everyone making the BIG DAY for in the college football Teachers a success. community who BRITTON BANOWSKY CFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Across the country, participated in Extra student-athletes of Yard for Teachers every college sport expressed gratitude to their Week and the BIG DAY for Teachers,” said Britton former PK-12 teachers who inspired them. These Banowsky, executive director of the CFP Foundation.

We are so thankful for the generosity of so many amazing partners and everyone in the college football community who participated in Extra Yard for Teachers Week and the BIG DAY for Teachers.

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The Big 12 Conference surprised a University Hill Elementary school teacher with an additional $1,000 after revealing an Extra Yard Makeover that day.

“Together we were able to impact more teachers Since its inception in 2014, the CFP Foundation than we ever have during the regular season, as and its EYFT platform has supported more than this great tradition 550,000 teachers continues to grow. nationwide, creating It’s a wonderful a positive impact opportunity to for more than 12 recognize and million students and celebrate educators 60,000 schools while across the country.” collectively investing The social media approximately $80 videos featuring million in support of emotional surprises education nationwide. to teachers in their “Every year we are classrooms continue to blown away at the be the highlight every number of people who Georgia student-athletes visited schools to EYFT week. Overall give thanks to teachers deliver surprise checks to teachers. social media reach of during Extra Yard Extra Yard for Teachers Week, and this year Week saw a 70% was no exception,” said increase from last year with engagements in the Banowsky. “It’s incredible and a testament to the millions. true impact that teachers have.”

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MAGNIFICENT MAKEOVERS

School Specialty Continues to Help Transform Learning Spaces for Both Teachers and Students

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ince 2015, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation has partnered with School Specialty to provide new, fully equipped educational spaces that promote learning and personal growth through the Extra Yard for Teachers Makeover Project.

The two organizations share a common goal: improving resources for educators while providing access to better learning opportunities for children.

University Hill Elementary School in Colorado and Newman Elementary School in Utah each cut a ribbon on a new space as part of the Big 12 Conference’s Homecoming initiative during Extra Yard for Teachers Week.

A SHARED MISSION TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES “At School Specialty, we are incredibly proud of our partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation and their Extra Yard Makeover program,” said Amy Veugeler, Vice President of Learning Environments with School Specialty. “Together, we are making significant strides in transforming classrooms across the country, bringing much-needed resources to educators and creating enhanced learning environments for students. It is invaluable and truly special to work alongside a partner that

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shares our mission of supporting teachers and improving access to better educational opportunities for children. Through these classroom makeovers, we are not just investing in physical spaces but in the future of education.”

SCHOOL RENOVATIONS NATIONWIDE Over the years and in conjunction with the CFP Foundation, School Specialty has donated its

PARTNERS FOR TEACHERS AND EDUCATION: Together, the CFP Foundation and School Specialty have been improving learning spaces throughout the country since 2015.

time, resources, and products to renovate more 21st Century Safe School, Childcraft, School than 50 schools in conjunction with the CFP Smart, Sax, Abilitations, and Sportime.

Foundation, including “For us to have eight new makeovers successful students unveiled in the last two and to have successful months, just in time teachers, they have for the 2024-25 school to find joy in what year. For months they do every single leading up to their day,” said Spring ISD respective makeover, Superintendent Dr. Lupita these schools receive Hinojosa, regarding a customary top-notch media center makeover levels of service at Ponderosa Elementary DR, LUPITA HINOJOSA through Projects by School in Houston.

SPRING ISD SUPERINTENDENT Designs as well as “The remodeling of this products from School Specialty’s proprietary library truly brings joy and excitement and creates brands which include Classroom Select, Califone, that hope for them and their future.”

For us to have successful students and to have successful teachers, they have to find joy in what they do every single day.

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SPECIAL EDITION CREATING DYNAMIC LEARNING A unique design element in the classroom, ENVIRONMENTS such as a vibrant mural, a special piece of Flexible and varied classroom furniture furniture, custom artwork, or creative lighting, plays a key role in creating dynamic learning can greatly enhance the learning experience environments that for both teachers cater to different and students. These teaching methods personalized touches and student needs. can make the space Offering options like feel more inviting, modular seating, exciting, and inspiring, adjustable desks, sparking curiosity mobile storage and creativity. When units, and variations students see a on seating styles, classroom that reflects allows teachers to thoughtful design, it easily shift between fosters a sense of pride activities, whether it’s and ownership in their collaborative group environment, which can work, independent boost their engagement study, or hands-on and motivation to projects. learn. For teachers, it Orange Bowl Cares had the honor of surprising A variety of creates an energizing Ms. Luechauer from James S. Rickards Middle School seating options also atmosphere that can with $1,000 on the BIG DAY for Teachers. gives students the inspire innovative freedom to choose lessons and a positive what best suits their classroom culture. comfort and learning style, which can INSPIRING FUTURE boost focus and OPPORTUNITIES engagement. The “This is a special ability to quickly place,” said Berry reconfigure the space Elementary School promotes creativity, (Arlington, Texas) keeps lessons fluid, Principal Tammy Rogers and ensures the on the school’s new classroom meets media center. “One of diverse physical and the things since I’ve academic needs. been principal here is TAMMY ROGERS Overall, flexibility and that I wanted my kids BARRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL variety in furniture to believe they can be enhance both anything they want to teaching and learning by fostering adaptability be. I think this opens another opportunity for our and inclusivity. kiddos to believe that.”

One of the things since I’ve been principal here is that I wanted my kids to believe they can be anything they want to be. I think this opens another opportunity for our kiddos to believe that.

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ATLANTA CELEBRATES TEACHERS The Georgia Teachers Initiative is Taking Care of its Own

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arlier this year the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and Atlanta Football Host Committee (AFHC) launched the Georgia Teachers Initiative (GTI) to celebrate, support, engage, connect and provide resources to PK-12 teachers through a newly developed statewide platform and community. Together with GTI, the city of Atlanta and the CFP Foundation look to build on the $4 million collective investment in education since the 2018 national championship game, all while expanding the legacy impact to teachers across the state of Georgia with a goal of reaching one-third of all educators statewide (more than 100,000) by kickoff of the 2025 national championship game.

During Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) Week, 11 Alive (the official media partner of the CFP Foundation for the 2025 CFP National Championship in Atlanta) told GTI’s story and helped get the word out to the local community on the initiative’s efforts to help teachers. Throughout the week, 11 Alive hosted several different educators on Atlanta & Company, the station’s daily lifestyle show featuring all things Atlanta. Some of the highlights featured on the daily lifestyle show featuring all things Atlanta included: + The CMA Foundation and CFP Foundation surprised a music teacher with a new recording studio for her students.

+ Heard County elementary schools received surprise funding, making it the 159th and final county in Georgia to receive funding as part of the GTI. + Tickets for Teachers and the Atlanta Falcons surprised a teacher with game tickets and $1,000 for the school.

“We’re grateful to 11 Alive to host and be part of some fun surprises for Georgia’s best teachers on Atlanta & Company, “said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky. “It was fantastic that we were able to celebrate educators and give some great publicity to the teaching profession during Extra Yard Week.”

Georgia’s PK-12 educators are encouraged to go to GeorgiaTeachersInitiative.org which serves as a hub for everything that they do. Teachers can sign up on the web site to stay up-todate on the latest resources, events, giveaways, and upcoming events.

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PARTNERSHIP CORNER The CFP Foundation is extremely thankful for its generous partners who help make possible our work to celebrate and support teachers.

EXISTING PARTNERS

NOMINATE Nominations close 12/1/24

START APPLICATION Nominations close 11/1/24

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NEW ON THE SCENE

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