Education Mini-Grants

Richland Bean-Blossom Schools receives mini-grants to help support classrooms
 

Education Mini-Grants are small, one-time education-based grants made to K-12 educators. Their purpose is to serve as a booster to improve teaching styles beyond school-funded budgets in the era of COVID-19.  

These grants were pilot tested with teachers at Richland Bean-Blossom Schools for the 2020 - 2021 school year. Starting in the fall of 2021, teachers from Monroe, Owen, and Greene counties were able to apply for the mini-grants as well.  

The grants have funded a variety of project areas and grade levels spanning preschool through twelfth grade including:  

  • Classroom enrichment  
  • Tools to help with student engagement and comprehension in the classroom
  • Hands-on STEM materials
  • Accessible outdoor equipment for preschool children of all abilities to use

science apples

Using assistive technology? Full text of impact report below.

Mini-Grants Impact 20-21

Education Mini-Grants: 2021-2022

Education Mini-Grants are small, one-time education-based grants made to community educators for the purchase of additional learning tools and resources that are not normally funded by school budgets. United Way of Monroe County funded eleven projects within all grade school levels through the Education Mini-Grants program during the 2021-2022 school year.

462 Students Impacted

Total Amount Granted: $4,991

  • Adaptive Classroom: $1,870
  • STEM: $1,471
  • Technology: $1,350
  • Outdoor Equipment: $300

Impact:

  • 91% of projects will benefit future students
  • 73% of projects increased student engagement
  • 64% of projects increased comprehension  

What teachers are saying:

Harrison Carmichael, High School Teacher, shared, “On top of putting up Norman’s Bluebird Trail, monitoring the trail, and taking data weekly… the class has plans for sustainability of the area. We also have started planning on four 10’ x 10’ circles of native pollinator flower gardens. These gardens will attract a variety of pollinators and bugs alike, and in turn, pollinating the local flora but also providing a food source for the bluebirds and other insect eating birds in the area.”

 

High school students with the bird house they installed along Norman’s Bluebird Trail
High school students with the bird house they installed along Norman’s Bluebird Trail

 

Alissa Drews, Kindergarten Teacher, reported, “My kiddos are so engaged when we practice writing words while using the Boogie Boards! It has been great not only during group work time but also during interventions. This has been a great tool to help kiddos during interventions to work on their skill gaps.”

Kindergarten students using boogie Boards in class to practice handwriting.
Kindergarten students using Boogie Boards in class to practice handwriting.