Staff Report

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Marking the 20th Anniversary of their Annual Broward Education Foundation Teacher Expo, the Broward Education Foundation has been helping educators align innovative teaching with today’s societal needs by providing funding for projects.

This year, science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics were just a few of the classroom subjects highlighted in the projects presented by Broward County teachers.

More than 332,300 Broward County students have experienced these projects in their classroom through Broward Education Foundation grants.

“We have hosted this fantastic Teacher Expo for two decades. It is a platform for educators to share their innovative ideas with each other,” said Christina Fischer, chair of Broward Education Foundation’s board of directors. “Our Teacher Expo allows best practices to be deployed throughout BCPS classrooms, which creates a learning environment for our students that results in optimal educational outcomes.”

Sponsored by BrightStar Credit Union and hosted by Nova Southeastern University’s Fischler School of Education & Human Resources, the Teacher Expo allows educators to gather ideas for creative classroom projects, participate in continuing education and hear from inspiring charismatic speakers.

“The Expo has such a positive impact on teachers. It’s teachers inspiring other teachers and in the end the winners are our students,” said Broward County School Board Member Laurie Rich Levinson. “Our teachers are incredible and come up with the most innovative ideas.”

Projects focus on science, technology, engineering, math, the arts, reading and comprehension, the environment, nutrition and more. More than 490 teachers in attendance received the tools they need to reimagine education and introduce their students to new and exciting ideas.

Renaissance Middle School teacher Barry Canada’s project, “I Believe in ME – Motivating/Educating,” allows students to do independent work where they create their own curriculum, courses and assignments and take a project from start to finish.

“Students learn that when everyone becomes involved, we can all better our community and ourselves for the future. My project teaches students independence and how to work interdependently,” Canada said.

Teachers from Cooper City, Coral Springs, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Tamarac, Miramar and other cities in Broward County brought their most compelling classroom projects to the recent Teacher Expo.

“Our Expo and the other innovative learning initiatives of the Broward Education Foundation are meant to support teachers’ dedication and achievement with their students,” said Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie. “As a model for other school districts, the Expo has been an overwhelming success in showcasing the innovative curricula we use to educate our diverse student population.”