New Grant Program Encourages Creative Lesson Plans

As part of its classroom technology grant series, DYMO/Mimio will award two teachers a trove of interactive learning gear for demonstrating how they would blend individual student instruction and group lessons using DYMO/Mimio hardware and Headsprout Reading Comprehension software.

The "Bridging the Gap" grant program is the third grant award in the company's classroom technology grant series. Last month, the company released the winners of the Jump Start Grant, another program in the series.

According to the company, "Bridging the Gap" applicants are encouraged to get creative in their approach to engage students. Submissions must provide a detailed description of the proposed project, including specifics about the needs of the school or district and dissemination plans.

"With the ‘Bridging the Gap’ grant, we’re evolving our program to include Headsprout, the newest addition to the DYMO/Mimio family," said Magen McGahee, the company's leader of federal programs and district initiatives in a statement. "In addition to creating a more dynamic classroom environment, this robust combination of hardware and software will help teachers specifically boost their students’ reading comprehension—an essential skill for succeeding in all subjects, including math and sciences."

The two winning applicants will each receive five MimioTeach interactive systems, which transform dry erase whiteboards into interactive ones; five MimioPad wireless tablets; and five MimioView document cameras. Each teacher will also receive five licenses to set up classrooms in their district with Headsprout Reading Comprehension, plus on-site training.

Additional information and entry rules are available online. Entries are due by November 25.

About the Author

Stephen Noonoo is an education technology journalist based in Los Angeles. He is on Twitter @stephenoonoo.

Featured

  • open laptop on a child-sized desk in a colorful elementary school classroom with holographic AI icons rising from the screen

    4 Ways Schools Are Using Google AI Tools for Teaching, Learning, and Administration

    In a recent blog post, Google shared an array of education customer stories, showcasing ways schools and districts are using AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM to transform both learning and administrative tasks.

  • abstract pattern of cybersecurity, ai and cloud imagery

    Report Identifies Malicious Use of AI in Cloud-Based Cyber Threats

    A recent report from OpenAI identifies the misuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime, social engineering, and influence operations, particularly those targeting or operating through cloud infrastructure. In "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," the company outlines how threat actors are weaponizing large language models for malicious ends — and how OpenAI is pushing back.

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • laptop displaying AI-powered educational content

    Kira Introduces AI-Generated Lesson Tool

    AI company Kira has announced a new AI-powered lesson generation tool that it says delivers complete, standards-aligned lessons that are personalized to each student.