For Educators

SEED wants to hear your innovative, unconventional ideas.  

Our mission to empower teachers and inspire students starts with you. Through community-funded grants, SEED funds classroom initiatives and creative projects that fall outside the scope of the standard school budget. We provide resources to help you pursue initiatives that inspire students, address unique classroom challenges, and foster a lifelong love of learning. 

SEED is dedicated to enriching the educational experience for Dover students and teachers by funding transformative projects that engage students through innovative teaching methods, tools, and opportunities. With your valuable ideas, and the support of our community, together we can advance the quality of education in Dover’s Public Schools and set our students on the path to success.  

How to Apply

Applications for SEED funding can be submitted at any time during the year; formal reviews and award decisions by the SEED board and advisers will occur monthly during the September to June term. 

SEED Focus Areas

  • New or innovative units, course components, or courses addressing Common Core State Standards as well as 21st century skills or themes, such as:  

    • A blended learning (virtual/face-to-face) course in economics allowing flexible, personalized student opportunities and schedules 

    • A project-based learning course involving community resources – e.g., a water quality project using testing kits and local water bodies 

    • A distance learning unit in marine science involving the Seacoast Science Center 

  • The use of innovative instructional tools, techniques, technology, such as: 

    • A human torso model for science study and lab projects in middle school 

    • An online assessment program for diagnosing learning gaps and prescribing remedial lessons in mathematics 

    • Educational software for students to learn science concepts through experimentation 

  • Opportunities for Dover educators to learn about new tools and techniques, best practices, and resources they can use to increase instructional effectiveness and provide engaging learning experiences for their students, such as: 

    • Ongoing use of a professional development specialist guiding a teacher team or teams in formative assessment techniques

    • Training in the use of new technology tools for providing differentiated instruction 

    • Professional development in the incorporation of extended performance assessment as a regular component of instructional units

Our Process

Judging criteria for applications first takes into account the number of students served and alignment with SEED’s mission and goals, as well as district and state standards. SEED then reviews the proposed initiative for potential to improve student learning, overall project sustainability, measurable outcomes, and appropriateness of budget. 

Applications are evaluated by a committee of 4 to 6 members of the SEED board and advisors representing the larger Dover community. Grant applications can be submitted at any time during the year; formal reviews and award decisions by the SEED advisers and board occur monthly during the September to June term. 

Project Results

Empowering Teachers. Inspiring Students.

SEED’s mission is to advance the quality of education in Dover’s public schools by providing funding for educator-initiated projects that encourage creativity, foster innovation, and promote academic excellence. We engage with community members to raise funds that offer students innovative tools and opportunities to help them succeed in an ever-evolving world.