When Amy Stephensen teaches her high school students illustration software Procreate, she’s doing more than teaching them to draw digitally – she’s opening doors to ideas for careers they might never have considered (or known existed). This is why PAFE’s teacher grant program exists: to extend learning in classrooms and give educators the resources they need to implement creative programs that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. 

With this PAFE teacher investment grant, students learn graphic design fundamentals using industry-standard software that professionals rely on daily.

We love that it also employs other students’ talents: Clark Fork HS Senior Azlyn Anderson knows the program well and serves as a teaching assistant, helping classmates (and sometimes the teacher too!) navigate the program’s sophisticated tools. We’ve seen this peer-to-peer learning in other programs like Growing Our Own, which build student confidence in new and exciting ways and amplify the impact. 

Part of a Global Movement

Clark Fork students join an international community learning about Procreate. In Hobart, Tasmania, high school students used the software to create sophisticated character animations, combining video production and design skills. (Source). Scotland’s Borders region distributed over 13,500 iPads with Procreate across every school in the region, choosing the program specifically because it allows students to progress from beginner through professional levels at their own pace. (Source).

These international implementations validate what Ms. Stephensen is accomplishing right here in the Lake Pend Oreille School District – using cutting-edge tools to prepare students for creative careers in the global digital economy.

Creating Opportunities Through Teacher Grants

Students today face a great deal of pressure to make decisions with potentially long-lasting consequences. It helps to have exposure to diverse fields and opportunities to explore potential careers. How many times have you thought, “I wish I had known about such-and-such as a career when I was in school”? 

This digital art class lets students “bump into” something that excites them, potentially sparking a lifelong passion for illustration, graphic design, animation, or video game art.

Ms. Stephensen teaches a full course load at CFHS, including Studio Art, Drawing Foundations, Digital Photography, Graphic Design, 3D Arts, and more. This grant enhances not just the dedicated digital art semester course serving 15-18 students, but also supports projects across all her classes. Each year, 60-80 students gain hands-on experience with technology tools that expand their creativity.

Both the software and the iPads will benefit hundreds of students for years to come – something we like to see in our investments and as stewards of our donors’ funds. 

The Power of Strategic Support

Funding for public schools often falls short of providing industry-standard technology and innovative programming. That’s where community support becomes essential.

Every PAFE teacher grant increases the likelihood that a student will discover something they’re genuinely excited to pursue. When students graduate with portfolios of digital artwork and technical skills professionals use daily, they enter college or the job market with tangible advantages. 

Here are some of the student’s finished artwork:

Our teacher grants support Lake Pend Oreille School District educators to bring creative and innovative programs to the classroom. Because they are teacher-led ideas and not mandated by external parties, they have a far greater impact on students. These grants fill gaps in funding with innovative programs to amplify our impact. Your support is crucial in sustaining and expanding these initiatives. If you’d like to be a part of this, you can donate here.