The Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment has announced 2009 Teacher Creativity Fellowships totaling $1.2 million to 129 Indiana educators.

Launched in 1987, the fellowship program enables teachers, principals, guidance counselors, and school librarians from around the state to take time to explore subjects that intrigue them or simply take a break and return to the classroom re-invigorated and with renewed enthusiasm for their profession. The fellowships intentionally are not intended to support professional development, and many participants have later admitted to being "very close" to leaving the teaching profession until their renewal experience convinced them otherwise.

The 2009 class includes nine "distinguished fellows" who will each receive up to $25,000 for creative renewal projects that range from studying disaster science in Japan, to exploring how culture affects art with children from Guatemala, to analyzing notable bridges in the United States. A separate grant of up to $25,000 is available to each teacher's school district to cover the costs of a temporary replacement, as needed.

Another one hundred and twenty Indiana educators will each receive an $8,000 fellowship for summer renewal experiences.

"We never cease to be delighted at the response to this popular program," said Sara B. Cobb, the endowment's vice president for education. "Among other things, good teaching also requires a high degree of energy and motivation. We regularly hear that these renewal experiences have helped hard-working Indiana educators regain their enthusiasm."

For a complete list of 2009 Teacher Creativity Fellowship recipients and their renewal projects, see the Lilly Endowment Web site.