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Five LA Unified teachers have been selected to receive a Raytheon-Engineering is Elementary teacher scholarship for 2014-2015.

The scholarships will help the educators implement Engineering is Elementary STEM curriculum from the Boston Museum of Science in their classrooms. The award covers tuition and travel to attend a professional development workshop in Boston and has a value of $2,500, according to an LA Unified press release.

The recipients are LaNelle Harvey of 93rd Street Elementary School, Lauren Levy of Synergy Charter Academy, David Owens of 96th Street Elementary, Robyn Tirschel of 96th Street Elementary and Anna Gaiter of Plainview Academic Charter Academy.

“I am ecstatic and honored to be one of the recipients,” Harvey said in a statement. “I’m ecstatic because it’s a wonderful opportunity to stretch my capabilities, and to add to the repertoire of the learning experiences I will be able to provide for my students.

Polytechnic High students raise $15,500 for toy drive

After raising $15,500 for the school’s annual toy drive, students from Polytechnic High in Sun Valley will go on a shopping spree with the funds at the Matel Store in Pomona at 8 a.m. Friday.

Thirty-five students will be purchasing toys and delivering them to a local Los Angeles Fire Department station, where they will be taken to a warehouse and then delivered to needy children, according to a district press release.

The funds were raised through pizza, bracelets, balloons roses and other items, as well through a talent show, student/teacher basketball game and business donations, according to the release.

Ruth Perez on Podcast

In his weekly podcast,  LA Unified’s Local Instructional Service Center-South Superintendent Bob Bravo interviews LA Unified Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Ruth Perez. In the interview, Perez explains why she left a cherished job at another district to come to LA Unified.

Click here to listen to the podcast.