Teacher Grants Awarded
EXPERIENCES
Walking Through History:
Experiencing Native American Life Before the Trail of Tears:
MUSIC CONNECTIONS
Hands on the World:
Steel Pan as a Gateway to Global Music Literacy:
CAREER READINESS
2026-2027 Teacher Grant Recipients
Lillian Weaver $444.00 Eastmont Elementary, PK-6
Making Phonics Hands On: Kindergarten students will be able to feel and manipulate letters to make reading a more hands on experience. Because students will be able to feel and move the letters around it helps struggling students with stronger readers and raise test scores.
Melinda Witt $525.00 Eastmont Elementary, PK-6
Walking Through History: Experiencing Native American Life Before the Trail of Tears: A field trip to Sun Watch Indian Village provides an authentic, place-based learning experience that helps students understand that Native American communities lived in this region long before westward expansion.
Rachel Blanks $500.00 Edison Elementary, K-6
Penthouse Makers Lab: Building Knowledge Through Design, Literacy, and Innovation: The “Penthouse Makers Lab will transform my 5th grade classroom into a hands-on, literacy driven learning environment where students design, build, and create. The lab integrates makerspace learning with reading, writing, and critical thinking to deepen student understanding of complex texts.
Lavita Williams $500.00 Edison Elementary K-6
From Egg to Adult: Bringing Life Cycles to Life Through CKLA Literacy, Observation, and Model Making: 2nd grade students will have a hands-on learning experiences connected to CKLA Domain 6: Cycles in Nature and Domain 8: Insects. Students will explore real-world examples of plant, animal, and insect life cycles through inquiry, writing, drawing, and discussion.
Carol Styche $939.00 International School at Residence Park, K-8
Phonics for Tweens: Empowering Readers in Grades 4–8: This Tween Emergent Reader Libraries® (TwERL) Phonics program is designed specifically for students in grades 4–8. It provides engaging, tween centered fiction and nonfiction texts at emergent and beginning reading levels, carefully structured around progressive phonics skills.
Christopher Marks $450.00 Kemp Elementary, PK-5
Expanding Access to Classroom Instruments: With the purchase of 2 Lyons soprano xylophone instruments will allow all students at Kemp to actively participate in hands-on music-making during class.
Ciara Lewis $1,300.00 Meadowdale CTC, 9-12
Scrubs Camp: This is an immersive learning experience where students spend a full week exploring different healthcare professions. Participants rotate through activities that simulate real healthcare work environments (Dayton Children’s, Premier Health, Kettering, Sinclair Community College).
Michael Manuel $1,250.00 David H. Ponitz CTC, 9-12
Sensory Garden Project with Belle Haven Elementary School: Students in the Construction Pathway will create a calming environment for Belle Haven’s special needs students. These high school students will have the opportunity to develop essential employability skills, including teamwork, communication, and problem solving.
Lakeshia Horton $1,254.00 Rivers Edge Montessori PK-8
6th Grade STEM Field Trip to iFLY: This field trip to iFLY focuses on delivering a hands-on, interactive learning experience that aligns closely with our STEM curriculum. Through this experience, students will: Engage with Real-World Science.
Katy Philpot $275.00 Rosa Parks Early Learning Center PreK
Platform Swing: A swing for our self-contained MD unit. It will help strengthen muscles that will help them sit, stand, or walk independently. This swing will give students the opportunity to discover how to feel safe and regulated in their own bodies.
Erica Bohanno $1,000.00 Thurgood Marshall and Rosa Parks Early Learning Ctr.
ECE Professionalism & Career Launchpad: Monthly Career Labs will be hosted for Juniors and Seniors that will equip ECE pathway students with the soft skills and industry awareness required for successful placement in Dayton’s Early Childhood Centers.
Dr. Sarah Renata Strothers $725.00 Thurgood Marshall STEM High School, 9-12
Hands on the World: Steel Pan as a Gateway to Global Music Literacy: Students in the World Music program will establish a Steel Pan Ensemble. By bringing steel pans into the classroom, students will move beyond passive listening and into active, culturally grounded music-making.
Susan Trissell $500.00 Westwood Elementary, K-6
Westwood Garden Club 2026-2027: Students will learn how to take ownership of their school’s garden by exploring and growing their own herbs, vegetables, pollinators and fruit. Through this real life experience, students will learn first-hand how to grow and harvest food right at school.
2025-2026
Amber Bell $500 International School, grades 2-3
Language Connects Us: Multilingual Library for All - Students will have access to an inclusive classroomlibrary that reflects the linguistic and cultural richness of their home language as well as in English. It will inspire them to celebrate the stories of their and others cultures, grow their skills with confidence, and build respect for other cultures.
Rachel Blanks $500 Edison Elementary, grade 5
Mic’d Up Writing Lab - Student Voices on Air Lab will empower students to transform their written work into polished podcasts, enhancing literacy skills and digital fluency.
Kari Carpenter $500 International School, grades 1-3
Zoo Experience - Students will visit a zoo, building their vocabulary by seeing animals in their habitats and studying their life cycles.
Vanessa Carrasco $500 International School, grades 1-2
Count, Build, Learn: Hands-On Math for Second Graders - Students are provided with engaging, hands-on math tools to help them build a strong foundation in concepts such as place value, operations, measurement, and geometry. These will help in developing a precise math vocabulary.
Emily Coleman $400 Louise Troy Elementary, grade 1
Hatching Chicks - Students will be able to observe, keep records, and learn hands-on
while watching the life cycle of chickens during their classroom day.
Marisha Collins $500 Kemp Elementary, Kindergarten
Foundations First: Strengthening Early Literacy Through Phonemic Awareness, Phonological Awareness, and Phonics Students - will strengthen their foundational reading skills through small-group activities, interactive literacy centers, and take home activities.
Erin Dawes $300 International School, grade3
Sizemore Farms Pumpkin Patch - English Language Learners will visit Sizemore Farm fostering cultural awareness and enriching their vocabulary development.
Kristen DeVault $500 Kiser Elementary, EL Specialist, grades 2-5
Poetry Slam! - In this after school program, students will perform finished pieces of poetry, enhanced by props, backgrounds, and costumes.
Melinda Dickson $500 Ponitz CTC, grades 9-12
Increase Spanish Vocabulary and Fluency through Literature - Spanish I, II, and III students will increase their vocabulary and fluency with their new easy readers of varied levels.
Rebecca Gunter $400 International School, grade 2
Write It Right - Students will enhance their learning in both ELA and math by the use of a double-sided whiteboard with dry erase markers and erasers to support their differentiated instruction.
Jessica Himsworth $500 International School, grades 65-7
Enhancing ELL Learning with VersaTiles: Differentiated Instruction through Self-Directed Activities - These VersaTile workbooks will facilitate learning of our ELL newcomers having 5 different native languages.
Dawn Johnson $500 Roosevelt Elementary School, grade 2
We Put the Engine in Future Engineers! - Students will benefit from fun, engaging STEM kits to learn about coding, robotics, DIY building, volcanos, fiber optics., and other engineering topics.
William Kent $400 Kiser Elementary, grades 4-6
Chess Club Advancement Project - Both regulation and electronic chess boards will be provided to students to learn critical thinking skills and eventually participate in Chess tournaments in the Dayton Area.
Brittany LePage $500 Kiser Elementary, grade 2
Fueling Fun and Fit Panthers - Recess Resources Students will have new recess equipment for active play. This structured, engaging play should reduce conflicts and idle time on recess days.
Ian Mills $500 International School, grades 6-7
Empowering Newcomer MLs through Decodable Readers - These readers and reader’s theater resources will enhance newcomer ELL language skills as they are integrated into the curriculum.
Kathleen Murphy-Morales $500 International School, grades K-7
Planting Hope, Sharing Harvests - Students will plant, care for, and eventually harvest plants right at school.
Adam Packard $500 Horace Mann Elementary, grade 5
Flexible Seating: Boosting Academic & Behavioral Achievement Through Choice - Using flexible seating, students will have a stimulating learning environment that encourages active participation and collaboration among each other.
Nicole Plennert $500 Wright Brothers Middle School, grades 7-8
Build your Muscles and your CONFIDENCE! - Students will be exposed to various workouts and strength training routines to take care of their bodies safely and properly using the proper equipment.
Sarah Schumacher $400 Louise Troy Elementary, grade 1
Chickens - Students will observe, keep records, and learn hands-on while watching the life cycle of chickens happen during their school day.
Brittany Spitnale $500 David H. Ponitz CTC, grades 9-12
Flexible Seating for Struggling Scholars - Students who have struggled with reading will have a reading area along with flexible seating at other tables to feel safe learning to read at a later age than their peers.
Carol Styche $500 International School, grades 6-7
Enhancing ELLs Learning with VersaTiles: Differentiated Instruction through Self-Directed Activities - After finding success using VersaTiles for phonics and reading, the English Language Learners would like to use them this year for math learning as well.
Susan Trissell $500 Westwood Elementary, grades K-3
Indoor Garden - Students will continue starting the indoor plantings of vegetables, herbs, and peppers and pumpkins, transplanting them in the outdoors in May.
Lillian Weaver $400 Eastmont Elementary, Kindergarten
Dramatic Play Brings Learning to Life - Students will act out what they have learned in their school’s dramatic play area using the props from this grant.
Tracy Wilson $500 Kemp Elementary, grades 4-6
Touch Math to the Rescue - Students will use the manipulatives (including workbooks, digital games) of “Touch Math” to grasp math concepts in their inclusion classes.
Melinda Witt $500 Eastmont Elementary, grade 2
Westward Bound: Bringing History to Life for Second Graders - Students will participate in the Homeward Bound program at Carillon Historical Park, making the westward expansion of our country memorable for them.
2024-2025
Marie Baker $500 Kiser Elementary, ESL
Innovate ESL: Transforming Elementary Language Learning through iPads - ESL students will be exposed to language acquisition only offered by Apple.
Amber Bell $500 Roosevelt Elem., gds. 2 – 3
Play, Learn, Grow: Educational Games - Game-based activities will help students retain content and remain engaged in their learning.
Karl Carpenter $500 ISRP, grades 1, 2, 3
Hands On Aquarium Experience - Students in a Montessori class will travel to Newport Aquarium to experience aquatic animals and our effects on them
Joanne Casale $500 Ponitz CTC, gds. 10, 11, 12
Student Council Outdoor Fun! - The entire school community will enjoy purchased equipment in a block party to build a new culture and drive a Positive School Climate.
Emily Coleman $500 Louise Troy Elem., gd. 1
Multi-sensory Literacy Resources - Students will use the materials through a multisensory approach to learn phonics and phonological awareness skills.
Jo Cooley-love $200 Edwin Joel Middle, gd. 7 - 8
Mural at Edgemont Solar Garden - Students will create an original design for a mural on the side of a shipping container at Edgemont Garden while working with a local artist to make their vision a reality.
Erin Dawes $500 ISRP, gd. 2, ELL
Phonological Awareness and the Science of Reading - These visual aids will help students recognize letter sounds and increase their vocabulary, especially ELL students.
Kristen DeVault $500 Kiser Elementary, ESL, gds. 2 – 3
Teaching of the Trolls at Aullwood - Students will visit Aullwood Nature Center learning about birds, watersheds, and recycling.
Amy Dunaway $500 Kiser Elementary, gd. 4
Crochet Club - Students will practice basic crochet stitches to complete projects like scarves and mittens in their afterschool club.
Elizabeth A. Friedlander $200 Roosevelt Elem., K-3, MH/AU
Using Manipulatives to Increase Comprehension in Spelling & Reading - Student with moderate and severe disabilities and of varying verbal ability levels will use these materials to spell.
Janice Gomez $500 ISRP, Gds. 4- 10
Reading with SLIFE - Basic readers will enable Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education to increase reading exposure at their low level.
Ryan Griffin $500 Stivers, gds. 7 – 12
Ohio State Music Celebration Youth Concert - 100 band students will attend the concert, exposing them to music at the collegiate level.
Lauren Gruber $500 Wright Bros. Middle, gds. 7 – 8
Embroidery Supplies & Sewing Organization - With these materials, students will plan, draw, and embroider their choice of image, then sew it into a pillow.
James Hogan $500 Stivers, gds. 7 – 12
Orchestra Bows - Higher quality bows will be used for community concerts resulting in higher participation and community engagement.
Stephanie Leonhardt $500 ISRP, pre-K, Kdg.
Cooking with Kids - Students will serve food, measure and estimate it, and learn about world culture through food.
Brittany LePage $500 Kiser Elem, gd. 2
Fun & Functional Seating Solutions - Flexible seating arrangements will increase positive behavior and provide workspaces tailored to students’ needs.
Patricia Lewis $500 Roosevelt Elementary, gd. 2
Honeybee Hydroponics - Students will practice gardening and use their journals to keep track of the plant growth.
Ashley Mann $500 Louise Troy Elementary, Kdg.
Multisensory Resources - Materials purchased will give the students multisensory opportunities for phonological awareness and phonics.
Lawyanna Marshall $500 Meadowdale CTC, gds. 9 – 12
Career Stories Podcast - Using high quality audio equipment, students will record conversations with people whose career paths they might want to pursue some day.
Bisi Morton $500 Louise Troy & Westwood Elems., K-6
Art Teacher - Students will benefit from lessons provided by an online platform filled with lessons for art educators.
Kevin O’Donnell $500 Meadowdale CTC, gds. 11 & 12
Music Lessons for Meadowdale - Students will be provided instrumental lessons from professional music instructors.
Michelle Pund $400 Eastmont, gd. 2
Scholastic News Magazines - Students will enhance their literacy skills, promote critical thinking, and broaden their understanding of the world’s events.
Grace Rudolph $500 ISRP, gd. 1
Manipulatives for Letter & Word Recognition - This equipment will provide lesson plans and visiual objects, enabling English learners to understand phonics.
Brandi Seminsky $200 Horace Mann Elementary, K – 6
QBall for Engagement For Reluctant Speakers - English learners will use a throwable speaker and microphone to participate in speaking and listening activities while projecting their voice.
Kasey Shideler $400 Roosevelt Elementary, Kdg.
STEM: Cooperative Learning, Problem Solving & Coding - Students will create and use robots as they learn team building and coding skills.
Rebecca Stroh $500 Ruskin Elementary, gd. 3
Building Community One Story at a Time - Students will read two novels discussing plot development, character development, and theme.
Carol Styche $500 ISRP, gds. 4 – 6
Independent Small Groups - ELL students will use tiles and workbooks that will differentiate learning in small groups and learning stations.
Sarah Swint $500 Ponitz CTC, gds. 10, 11
Taking Center Stage - The drama club will secure materials, equipment and necessary storage which will allow them to take on additional performances.
Angela Taylor $500 Mound Street Academy, gds. 9 – 12
CPS Training - Students will receive CPR/AED training using an advanced mannequin.
Susan Trissell $500 Westwood Elementary, gds. K – 4
Westwood INDOOR Garden Students will use a hydroponic growing system to grow vegetables indoors
.Laryssa Van Hoose $250 Roosevelt Elementary, Kdg.
Interactive Notebooks and Technology Supplies - Students will use notebooks and headphones to learn skills using computer programs.
Donna Weiss $300 Fairview Elementary, K – 6, EL
Our Best Selves - Using poster boards and other presentation materials, students will complete a written and creative portion of a presentation to other students and parents.
Tracy Wilson $500 Kemp Elementary, gds. 4, 5, 6
Reading Buddies - Students from grades 4-6 on IEP’s will boost their self-esteem by reading to Kindergarteners and embellishing with puppets.
Dawn Yaden $500 Charity Earley Elementary, gd. 5 math
Math Center Manipulatives - Students will be able to manipulate materials at math centers to better understand math concepts being taught.