Pace Lee Teacher Receives Grant for Innovative Teaching

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (February 10, 2021) – Teaching during a pandemic has posed countless challenges for educators who are adapting their methods to meet those issues in unique and creative ways. To that end, Cape Coral State Farm Agents Mike and Dawn Sullivan are proud to announce that four Lee County teachers are receiving a boost towards their innovative teaching methods as recipients of State Farm Teacher Assist program grants.

The local grantees are Marion Eidem, Pace Center for Girls; Anna Haag, Trafalgar Middle School; Dianna Quay, Cape Coral High School; and Joy Williams, North Fort Myers High School. Each of their schools will receive $2,500 to implement their innovative ideas. In total, 40 grant recipients were selected statewide, a total of $100,000 to Florida classrooms.

“Supporting teachers and schools helps the entire community, and it’s particularly exciting to see four local teachers honored through Teacher Assist,” said agent Mike Sullivan, who is a former educator. “The passion these teachers hold to help their students inspires all of us at the Sullivan Agency.”

Two hundred Florida entries were submitted as part of the Teacher Assist Program. Entries were scored based on three criteria: how students benefit from the submitted project, how the project advances academic achievement, and the innovation, creativity, and engagement of the educational project.

Nationwide, State Farm is dedicated to fostering a sense of community among educators and being a resource for teachers across the country. Florida is one of five states that received a total of $500,000 in Teacher Assist grant funding.

“The Teacher Assist grant program celebrates, rewards, and inspires innovation by teachers,” said agent Dawn Sullivan. “It recognizes education as a public good and helps address the societal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic at our local level.”

Supporting education is a high priority for the Sullivans. Mike is a former high school and college math teacher, and still holds a passion for helping students excel. The pair founded Sully’s House, a foundation that provides scholarships to deserving high school graduates across Southwest Florida. Sully’s House has granted local students with scholarships to college, summer art programs and more.