The Board of Trustees of The Portland Foundation has approved Teacher Creativity Mini-Grants totaling $7,439.89 for 17 projects for the second half of 2017.

Teacher Creativity Mini-Grants are to help cover the costs ($300 or less) of learning experiences which teachers feel are important to their students, yet are outside the budget of their school. This program is funded by the Virgil and Josephine Thomas Educational Fund, a component fund of The Portland Foundation, as a way to increase funding for educational projects and programs.

This program funds grants for field trips, classroom supplies, class projects, programs, music or art instruction, speakers, educational materials and seminars. The purpose is to allow teachers to become more creative in their teaching styles and methods, without being hindered by cost.

The grants awarded are as follows:

Ms. Carol Bantz- Westlawn Elementary School Grade 1- $297.02 to fund the purchase of individual book bins

Ms. Cathy Fugiett- Redkey Elementary School Grades K-5 - $300 to fund the purchase of reading kits and storage bins for the school library

Ms. Cathy Fugiett- Westlawn Elementary School Grades K-5- $300 to fund the purchase of reading kits and storage bins for the school library

Ms. Cindy Grile- General Shanks Elementary School Grades 4 and 5- $300.00 to fund the purchase of robotics kits and materials

Ms. LaVetha Loucks – Redkey Elementary School Music - $297.28 to fund the purchase of percussion instruments and instructional material

Ms. LaVetha Loucks – Westlawm Elementary School Music - $297.28 to fund the purchase of percussion instruments and instructional material

Mr. Kyle Love – East Jay Middle School Grades 6-8 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of robotics kits and materials

Mr. Kyle Love- West Jay Middle School Grades 6-8 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of robotics kits and materials

Ms. Beth Mathewson – Jay School Corporation Speech and Language - $300.00 to fund the purchase of a Visualizing and Verbalizing Kit

Ms. Shalee Myron- Bloomfield and Redkey Elementary Schools Speech - $300.00 to fund the purchase of social skills curriculum

Ms. Lindsey Peterson- General Shanks Elementary School Speech - $300.00 to fund the purchase of therapy materials to address pragmatics and social skills

Ms. Emily Reynolds- Jay School Corporation Therapy - $248.31 to fund the purchase therapy putty and accessories

Mr. Rod Wolford- General Shanks Elementary School Grades 4 and 5 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of robotics kits and materials

Ms. Sara Wolford- Westlawn Elementary School Grade K - $300.00 to fund the purchase of leveled readers

The next grant application deadline will be in January 2018.