Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) awards 17 grants totaling $30K

The Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) has awarded 17 grants totaling $30,904 for 2020 to teachers in the Franklin Public School (FPS) system. A committee composed of FEF representatives and FPS staff evaluated 28 proposals through a blind review process and selected the awardees. 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 17 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.

This year’s recipients at the elementary school level are (lead applicant listed first): 

• Davis Thayer Elementary School – Lauren Diez and Jennifer Auld, Digital and hands-on resources to enhance school science curriculum; 
• Lisa Ladd, Rebecca Ballinger and Robin Towle, Flexible seating options to help facilitate students self-regulation skills, readiness and availability for learning, and ability to attend to academic tasks; 
• Christina Renaud, Makerspace for elementary students; 
• Parmenter Elementary School – Shannon Barca and Tanya Lamoureux, Support the school’s new passion project initiative for grades K-5; 
• Julie Doyle, Combine movement and the fundamental STEM skills in the physical education environment; 
• Jefferson Elementary School – Sarah Klim and Debbi Winterroth, Garden for 1st grade life science curriculum; 
• Keller Elementary School – Britt Dubendris and Staci Rogers, Playground signage designed to increase independence and enhance social communication with students during recess.

At the middle school level are:  

• District-wide - Erin O'Leary and Dan Moriarty, Author visits to all FPS middle schools (Year 2); 
• Annie Sullivan Middle School – Stephanie Ahearn and Emily Day, Establish a middle school Spanish reading program for middle school students; 
• Remington Middle School – Carol Martin and Lisa Hayes, Leveled readers for the Spanish classroom.

At the district-wide middle and high school levels is 

• Carla Loukota and Diane Plouffe, "Moxie Strings" string workshop via artist in residence for orchestra students grades 6-12.

At Franklin High School are: 

• Brenna Johnson, Art installation for FHS main entrance (Year 2); 
• Rosanne Achin-Housman and Hannah Bialer, Strengthen the FHS gay straight alliance; 
• Trevor Barron, Integrating the use of the Arduino processor in the AP computer science principles course; 
• Laura Evans, Classroom library of comprehensible readers/novels for 10 world language classrooms; 
• John Leighton, Purchase a camera with photography training and materials for use by the Pantherbook staff; 
• Carolann Tebbetts, Amanda Notz, Mailli Scott, Rebecca Ringrose and Jenn Briggs, Mosaic tile stepping stone installation in the courtyard adjacent to specialized high-needs programs.

Since its inception in 1997, the FEF has awarded approximately $430,000 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. 

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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

Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) awards 17 grants totaling $30K