The Franklin Education Foundation Announces The 2019 Grant Awardees

The Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) has awarded 10 grants totaling $25,905 for 2019 to teachers in the Franklin Public School (FPS) system. A committee composed of FEF representatives and FPS staff read all proposals through a blind review process and selected the recipients. 

Final approval was made by the full FEF board at its December meeting. “Consideration was given to need, innovation, impact, and integration with other school programs when selecting applications for funding. These 10 grants will provide needed funding for innovative programs at the elementary, middle, and high schools that would not otherwise be possible”, stated Kit Brady, Ph.D., Chair of the FEF Grant Review Committee.

The committee also awarded this year’s FEF Pinnacle Award to Mary Cotillo and Erin O'Leary of Horace Mann Middle School for their proposal to enhance classroom libraries in Grades 6-8 to support the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) social emotional competencies curriculum. The Pinnacle Award provides up to $5000 for the project budget.

This year’s other recipients at the elementary school level are (lead applicant listed first): Kennedy Elementary School – Chris Banks, Epson projector set up for physical education and health lessons; Parmenter Elementary School – Stephanie Consilvio and Shannon Barca, Design thinking and digital literacy makerspace.

At the middle school level are: District wide - Erin O'Leary and Mary Cotillo, Author visits to all FPS middle schools; Remington Middle School – Dan Chase and Susan Richards, Video production studio (Year 2); Jane Pichette, Celebrate diversity art installation; and Jane Pichette and Jeff Chaffee, Interdisciplinary program to create a mosaic art installation (Year 3).

At Franklin High School are: Dawn-Marie Fernandes, Language lab for English learners; Brenna Johnson, Art installation for FHS main entrance; and Patricia London, Celebrate fandom for reading.

Franklin Education
Foundation (FEF)

Since its inception in 1997, the FEF has awarded approximately $400,000 in grants to FPS. Yearly fundraisers such as November’s Harlem Wizards basketball game as well as an annual fund campaign provide much appreciated support from businesses, families, and organizations for the FEF grants. 

To see a list of programs the FEF has funded over the years, visit www.franklined.org. Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/franklined.org/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/FranklinEdOrg). 

The Franklin Education Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization. All gifts are fully tax deductible. New members are always welcome – see our web site for an application or email: franklined.org@gmail.com.