The Alexandria Education Foundation (AEF) is awarding $40,773 in teacher grants to fund thirteen enrichment projects in Alexandria Public Schools for implementation in the 2021-22 school year. The Foundation’s goal is to generate and distribute resources to Alexandria Public Schools that enrich teaching, inspire learning and enhance opportunities for students. Projects funded include:
Project Title: Expanding Sphero EDU
Teacher: Lukas Gotto
School: Discovery Middle School
Students Impacted: 1050 students each year in grades 6-8
Amount Funded: $3,849.94
With this grant newer models of Spheros will be purchased. This will provide every middle school student with the opportunity to learn basic coding and will add robotics to the curriculum.
Project Title: Stem Bins
Teacher: Lynn Strandskov
School: Voyager Elementary
Students Impacted: 1 Kindergarten class
Amount Funded: $701.60
Stem bins will provide students with activities that promote exploration and play. They will include hands-on manipulatives to be creative with.
Project Title: Outdoor Makerspace
Teacher: Barb Walswick
School: Woodland Elementary School
Students Impacted: 300+ each year in grades K-3
Amount Funded: $2,000.00
The Outdoor Makerspace will allow students to investigate, explore, create, and expand their horizons in a natural setting through interactive stations set up for individuals or small groups.
Project Title: Redbird Aviation Flight Simulator
Teacher: Corey Halstead
School: Alexandria Area High School
Students Impacted: Up to 60 students per year in grades 10-12
Amount Funded: $9,261.00
This grant will contribute to the purchase of three flight simulators for a new course, Aviation, being offered for the 2021-2022 school year. Experience with the flight simulators will help prepare students to pass the FAA Private Pilot exam.
Project Title: Dash and Dot Robotics
Teacher: Jillian Burns
School: Lincoln Elementary
Students Impacted: 400 each year in grades K-5
Amount Funded: $1,900.00
This grant will fund the purchase of a K-5 classroom pack of robots and allow for a 3:1 student-to-robot ratio. The Dash and Dot robots come with “Learn to Code” curriculum to cover grade levels K-5.
Project Title: Orff in the Music Classroom
Teacher: Rhonda Blaser
School: Voyager Elementary
Students Impacted: 500+ each year in grades K-5
Amount Funded: $3,259.35
This grant will provide additional instruments needed to complete the set of Orff instruments at this school so that there are enough for an entire class. These instruments enhance the music classroom to promote student confidence, create lifelong musicians and creative problem solvers.
Project Title: Network Cable Termination
Teacher: Jan Finazzo
School: Alexandria Area High School
Students Impacted: 25 students per year in grades 10-12
Amount Funded: $550.00
Funds will be used to purchase network tool kits, RJ-45 connectors and Ethernet cabling. Students will experience first-hand how to create an Ethernet Straight-Through cable, an Ethernet Crossover cable, as well as experience terminating Ethernet cables with RJ-45 connectors.
Project Title: Mobile Magnet Wall
Teacher: Amy Revering
School: Miltona Science Magnet Elementary
Students Impacted: 140 students in grades K-5
Amount Funded: $3,500.00
The mobile magnet wall will be used to examine slope, cause and effect, momentum, gravity, and laws of motion through hands-on experimentation. Students will utilize their problem-solving skills to explore, experiment, and collaborate.
Project Title: Farmbot
Teacher: Linnay Schweisthal
School: Alexandria Area High School
Students Impacted: 70 students annually in grades 9-12
Amount Funded: $2,150.00
The Farmbot integrates robotics, nutrition, soil science, biology, coding and technology for more precise use of resources. Students will experience cutting edge technology used for precision agriculture.
Project Title: Screen Free Zone Campaign
Teacher: April Larson
School: Early Education Center
Students Impacted: 350 students in PreK
Amount Funded: $1,150.00
A “Screen-free Zone” campaign at the Early Education Center will make the entryway and hallways a technology free space to encourage healthy limits and ensure that time spent there is used for engaging and responsive interactions during this critical time of development. This campaign will also impact classroom practices around the use of screened technology and increase alternatives to its use.
Project Title: Gross Motor Movement
Teacher: Kayla Walsh & Maari Ost
School: Voyager Elementary
Students Impacted: 20-35 Special Ed students each year in grades K-2
Amount Funded: $1,000.00
This grant will provide gross motor movement options for students. Various equipment will be purchased and used when students need to take a break and move their bodies.
Project Title: Delta Wasp Clay Extruder
Teacher: Nathan Knick
School: Alexandria Area High School
Students Impacted: 180 students each year in grades 10-12
Amount Funded: $5,637.83
The Wasp clay extruder is similar to a 3D printer and can print anything designed out of clay. This grant incorporates technology with art, allowing students to be very creative with design.
Project Title: Traverse Climbing Wall
Teacher: Patti Hinrichs
School: Lincoln Elementary
Students Impacted: 500 students each year in grades K-5
Amount Funded: $5,814.10
Students will be able to use the climbing wall to improve physical skills such as upper body and core strength, balance, endurance and flexibility. It also provides opportunity for teamwork problem solving and building confidence.
Annually, AEF invites the district’s teachers and staff to submit grant applications for projects and programs that will have a meaningful impact on students. This year, there were seventeen grants invited to complete full applications based upon initial letters of intent. Thirteen of those full grant applications were either partially or fully funded.
Since 2009, AEF has awarded over $408,000 in grants to teachers in Alexandria Public Schools.
Funding for the AEF Teacher Grant Program is made possible by donor contributions to the Alexandria Education Foundation. Donations can be made online at www.alexeducationfoundation.org, or by mail to AEF, P.O. Box 308, Alexandria, MN 56308.