The foundation offers teacher grant opportunities for all ESSD teachers and staff members to enhance student learning in creative and innovative ways – apply today!

The Educational Foundation offers teacher grant opportunities for all ESSD teachers and staff members that demonstrate creative, innovative and effective ways to meet students’ needs while increasing motivation to learn and to achieve measurable outcomes.

Grant Criteria

  • Grants are to be used to fund projects not already provided for in building and district budgets.
  • Grants cannot be used to fund teacher compensation.
  • Objectives and outcomes are to be consistent with the goals of your building and the district.

Grant Submission Process

  • Complete and submit the Teacher Grant Pre-Approval Form by the 15th of each month. The pre-approval form will be reviewed by the assistant superintendent of academics, the building principal/director and the Educational Foundation executive director. Once reviewed, the applicant will be contacted within 1-2 weeks and informed if the grant project has been approved or declined.
  • If approved, the applicant will receive a link to the full Teacher Grant Application Form to be completed for approval by the Educational Foundation Board of Directors.
  • Applications will be reviewed monthly, and the grant recipients will be announced the following month.

Questions? Contact Sarah Baker at sbaker@ga.essd40.com or 816-826-8087.


2021-2022 TEACHER GRANTS

Congratulations to our 2021-2022 Teacher Grant Recipients! The Educational Foundation awarded more than $7,000 to six ESSD educators during the 2021-2022 school year.

TONY HARMAN | ESHS
Enhancing Learning with Lasers – $4,000
This grant was to purchase a Glowforge Plus laser print and cutter to enhance the learning experiences of his 9-12 grade engineering students by providing them with a powerful tool to set their creative and innovative ideas free and bring them to reality. 

TINA TRITICO | ESMS
Hands-on Learning Ancient Civilization Activities – $608.32
This grant provided both Ms. Tritico and Mr. Egbert’s 6th grade students with the needed funds to purchase supplies for hands-on simulations and activities that were incorporated into each of their seven units of ancient civilization studies, increasing student interaction, achievement, retention and understanding.

KATRINA IVAN | ESMS
Where Everyone Belongs – $500
This grant was used to purchase t-shirts for the 8th grade WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) leaders. WEB is a middle school orientation and transition program that welcomes 6th graders throughout their first year of middle school experience. The program trains mentors from the 8th grade class. The t-shirts helps to indicate who the 8th graders leaders are.

MATT PERKINS | ESMS
Fitness Form – $92.55

This grant provided funds to purchase PVC pipe to use in the 8th grade Health and Fitness class. The PVC pipe helped the students learn the proper form of specific exercises, such as power cleans, hang cleans, squats, etc.

REBECCA RYAN | ESHS
Glass Lampwork – $1,503.12

This grant provided funds to purchase an annealor kiln and lampwork supplies for the 10th-12th grade 3D Level 3 art students to learn and work with. With this new media of glass, students will be able to create glass beads, marbles, small figures or pendants. Students will create a piece of useable/wearable art and learn about project management, marketing and competitive market pricing.

CYNTHIA DUSENBERY | ESHS
International Foods – $314.95

This grant was used to purchase five crepe makers for the 9th-12th Culinary Fundamentals & International Foods classes. The crepe makers will enhance the curriculum experiences in helping students identify food customs of the British Isles, France, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries; explain how and why these customs have evolved; and prepare foods native to each of these countries.