Foundation Recognizes Winners of the 2018-2019 Innovation Grants for Elementary Schools 

October 17, 2018: At the Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, October 16, 2018, the Lexington One Educational Foundation recognized the award winners of two major grants programs, one of which was the Innovation Grants for Elementary Schools. Six schools were awarded Innovation Grants for Elementary Schools this year. Total funding awarded for 2018-2019 was $27,432 and this support will positively impact more than 3,100 students in Lexington School District One over this next school year. 

The Foundation developed these grants to advance existing or future innovative efforts at the elementary level. Each school’s proposal had to address and align with the district’s standards, one of which encourages engagement in strategic innovations. Schools could apply for up to $5,000 in grant funds with a required 10% match. As a result of grant monies for these amazing projects, students will be given the opportunity to learn the addressed subject matter in new, intriguing ways. 

Congratulations to the 2018-2019 Innovation Grant award winners: 

Lexington Elementary – Principal Jim H. Hamby & Program Coordinator April Hamilton 

$5,000 grant for “Getting the most bank from our Books.” This project focuses on helping the students at LES who are identified as struggling learners and are at least one year behind their grade level. It allows for the purchase of book sets for these students to use in class and at home and combines the materials with extra support from the Reading Interventionist and Related Arts teachers. All involved staff will work together in helping these students move back up and be reading on the appropriate grade level by year’s end. 

Midway Elementary – Principal Jan Fickling & Program Coordinators Alyssa Langford & Jan Fickling 

$4,925 grant for “PBL STEAMing Ahead with Coding,” which provides funds to purchase devices and technology utilized for coding and the extension of the school’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts & mathematics) 

initiative through Problem and Project-Based Learning. This grant will ultimately allow for equity of access to coding and will benefit the entire MES student body. 

Pleasant Hill Elementary – Principal Margaret B. Mitchum & Program Coordinators Betsy P. Goodman, Jen E. Jones & Amanda Youmans 

$4,494 grant for “No Fear Engineers Design the Future Project” allows the school to purchase materials to create STEAM bins that promote learning in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. These bins filled with manipulatives and task cards will encourage students to build, create, problem solve and imagine. As a result of being housed in the PHES Learning Commons, all classes and students will have the opportunity to use them, since teachers can check them out for their classrooms use for a limited time. 

Red Bank Elementary – Principal & Project Coordinator Marie Watson 

$5,000 grant for “Up! Down! Inside or Out! Learning my way!” project, which allows the school to purchase flexible furniture to better engage their students in learning. Studies have proven that classroom design contributes to student engagement and participation, so the new flexible seating and adjustable desks should have a very positive effect on the learning of the RBES students. 

Rocky Creek Elementary – Principal Brenda Nichols & Project Coordinators Katie Herndon, Meredith Gray & Whitney Seddon 

$4,514 grant for “STEM Starters” project that creates learning kits students can use independently or as a team to learn science, technology, engineering and math skills. Targeted towards the students who arrive very early to school, which is approximately 60% of the student body, the kits will provide academic yet fun engagement and learning opportunities for students even before the classroom day begins. 

White Knoll Elementary – Principal Nicole Mitchell & Project Coordinator Angela Zokan 

$3,500 grant for “Community Sculpture Garden” that will allow fourth graders to work together to brainstorm ideas, think critically about symbols to represent their school and community, and then design and create a permanent piece of steel art. Led by local artist Bob Doster, this project will result in an art sculpture that will benefit the entire school and community as it will be permanently displayed at the school. 

This is the fourth year that the Lexington School District One Educational Foundation has funded the Innovation Grants for Elementary Schools. Over these four years, 20 grants totaling $85,495 have been awarded, which have positively impacted 12,553 students. 

Foundation chair Simeon Bryant stated, “These Innovation Grants continue to have a positive effect on our elementary school students each year, which is why the Foundation board members continue to support this academic initiative.”