THE PORTLAND FOUNDATION

The Board of Trustees of The Portland Foundation has approved Teacher Creativity Mini-Grants totaling $2,583.95 for 9 projects for the first half of 2023.

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 classroom supplies, class projects, programs, music or art instruction, speakers, and educational materials.  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 – West Jay Elementary School Grade 1 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of books for the classroom

Ms. Kelly Bricker – Redkey Elementary School Grade 6 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of rocket kits for the classroom

Ms. Kelly Bricker – West Jay Elementary School Grades K-6 - $300.00 to fund the purchase clay and glaze for ceramic art projects

Ms. Natalie Corcoran – Redkey Elementary School Grade 2 - $273.75 to fund the purchase of Sing Your Way Through Phonics program

Ms. Holly Farr – West Jay Elementary School Grade 4 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of indoor recess games

Ms. Erin Homan – General Shanks Preschool - $299.10 to fund the purchase of items for learning centers, Grandparents Day, and Preschool Graduation

Ms. Beth Mathewson – East Jay Elementary School Speech - $249.00 to fund the purchase of a one-year online subscription to Digital SLP

Ms. Erin Roesch – Redkey Elementary School Grade 5 - $300.00 to fund the purchase of rocket kits for the classroom

Ms. Julie Szymczak – Jay County Jr-Sr High School Special Education - $262.10 to fund the purchase of five ergonomic home office desk chairs for students

The next Teacher Creativity Mini-grant Application deadline is June 26, 2023.