Investing in Academic Excellence
Investing in Academic Excellence (IAE) is a committee of ECHS parent and guardian volunteers who raise money from ECHS parents and the larger community, and then distribute that money back to the school for Academic Rigor, Teacher and Staff Excellence and Student Enrichment. IAE funds Teacher Mini Grants, AP exam registration stipends, college essay writing support, Teacher of the Year Awards, and other programs that foster a thriving academic environment at El Cerrito High School.
Our Projects at a Glance
Teacher of the Year Award
Teacher of the Year Awards are presented in late Spring. Nominations are received from students and adults in the ECHS community. Winners receive a $500 honorarium from IAE.
Congratulations to our 2026 Teacher of the Year Award Winners!
- Keith Johnson (Music)
- SoYoung Jun (Art)
- Lawrence Pang (Math)
- Christopher Tolentino (Science)
College Essay Writing Support
As it has done in previous years, IAE is continuing its annual fall Writing Coach Program in 2026 for interested seniors to have their UC PIQs or Common App essay reviewed 1:1 by a writing coach. There is no charge to students or families for this service as costs are paid by IAE. 2026 applicants should complete this form by November 4 to participate.
“[My writing coach]’s support was invaluable to my college application. She helped me meet the tight deadlines for my Common Application submission by providing prompt and thorough feedback on all three of my essays.” – ECHS Student, Class of 2026
“Getting feedback from [my writing coach] improved the quality of my essays. She gave specific feedback that I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else.” – ECHS Student, Class of 2026
ECHS Mini Grants
In 2025-26 we awarded $6,251 in mini grants to teachers and administrators at ECHS. In 2026-27, we will give more than $10,000 in awards through a department allocation grant program. Learn more about this year’s grant process.
“IAE has been by far the most dependable source of funding for materials for my hands-on physics and engineering classes at ECHS! From supplies for Egg Drops to Gummy Bear Wave Machines, my students have benefited enormously from IAE’s generosity. Thank you!!” – Elan Lavie, ECHS Teacher, Physics of the Universe
“Year after year, this sustained funding has been the key that unlocks the museum doors, guaranteeing that financial limits never prevent my students from discovering a love for art.” – SoYoung Jun, ECHS Teacher, Art, Ceramics, Advanced Art, AP Art
Other support
- In 2025-26, IAE paid $3,000 to cover 30 AP Exam registrations and offered a $150 stipend to 10 teachers who offered AP Exam review sessions. We anticipate similar support in 2026-27.
- Each year, we offer financial support for college visits coordinated by the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) in conjunction with UC Berkeley.
Join the Investing in Academic Excellence Committee
We are parents and guardians of current students and we work with school administrators to choose projects and complete them. Everyone is welcome. Our committee generally meets on the second Monday of the month at 7:00PM via Zoom; meeting dates for the 2026-27 school year are: October 5, November 9, January 11, February 8, March 8, April 12, and May 10. All of our meetings are open to all ECHS community members, and we value and welcome your participation.
Contact us at investinginacademicexcellence@gmail.com or subscribe to our ETree and let us know how you would like to help.
Support IAE
We receive no money from the West Contra Costa School District. All funds are raised from the community. Any amount is deeply appreciated and makes a difference in the programs and services that we can offer. Email us for more information about giving or applying for grants and stipends. Donations to IAE can be made using the Donate button below or by check, which can be sent to:
Investing in Academic Excellence
P.O. Box 2396
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Investing in Academic Excellence is a sponsored group committee of the ECHS Student Activity Fund (SAF), 501(c)(3), Tax ID #91-1935426