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You are here: Home / General News / Alexandria Education Foundation Awards $26,300 In Teacher Innovation Grants

Alexandria Education Foundation Awards $26,300 In Teacher Innovation Grants

The Alexandria Education Foundation (AEF) is awarding $26,300 in teacher grants to fund nine enrichment projects in the Alexandria Public Schools for implementation in the 2025-2026 school year.  The Education Foundation’s mission is to fund initiatives that ignite passion, unlock potential, and foster engagement for all learners and staff within Alexandria Public Schools. Projects funded include:

Project Title:  Creativity and Construction through Cardboard Cutting

Teachers:  Miltona Staff

School:  Miltona Magnet School

Students Impacted:  School-wide, approximately 130 students in grades K-5

Amount Funded:  $728.00

This project provides safe, effective cardboard cutters for our young inventors. Intermediate-grade students can build various designs and prototypes to be tested. Primary-grade students can transform everyday boxes into castles, greeting cards, animals, or anything else imaginable. Students will construct 3D models, toys, and other creations from recycled cardboard, with the safety of the BeaverBot and the Makedo tools. Cardboard cutting and creation will promote hands-on learning, problem-solving, fine motor skills development, spatial awareness, and hand-eye coordination.

Project Title:  Invention Convention in 3D

Teachers:  Kari Gilbertson & Kelly Herrera

School:  Voyager Elementary School

Students Impacted:  150 students in grades 2 & 3

Amount Funded:  $2,000

All 2nd and 3rd-grade Voyager students would be able to create 3D models of their inventions using a 3D printer. Each year, Voyager’s 2nd and 3rd graders collaborate to hold an Invention Convention, where students research, design, and develop their own inventions or study famous inventors. A 3D printer will allow students to bring their ideas to life by creating physical models of their designs. Throughout this project, students spend weeks exploring the value of innovation through reading and writing. Incorporating 3D printing would provide an exciting opportunity for them to engage with cutting-edge technology while deepening their understanding of the invention process.

Project Title:  The World at Play: Preschool Academy Adventures

Teachers:  Tammara DeJesus & Abby Doherty

Schools:  APS Preschool – Early Education Center & Carlos Elementary Sites

Students Impacted:  200 preschool students

Amount Funded:  $2,500

This project aims to enhance preschool dramatic play by creating four thematic “academies” aligned with district career pathways. These academies (Business, Engineering, Health, and Exploration) will provide rich, engaging play experiences focused on social-emotional, cognitive, and academic development. Teachers will create multi-sensory materials to support learning. Outcomes include improved collaboration, problem-solving, vocabulary, pre-literacy, and math skills. By expanding dramatic play resources, the district seeks to boost student engagement and prepare children for future academic success.

Project Title:  Sensory & Skill Building Activities

Teacher:  Gabrielle Manzano

School:  Lincoln Elementary School

Students Impacted:  50-60 students in grades K-5

Amount Funded:  $500

This grant will support the purchase and implementation of a comprehensive set of sensory regulation tools and activities within Lincoln Elementary School. Understanding the vital role of self-regulation in both academic and social-emotional success, our goal is to create a supportive environment where all students can effectively manage their sensory needs and emotional responses. Additionally, the grant funds will enable the purchase of games designed to reinforce social skills learned during direct skill instruction.

Project Title:  Let’s Get Growing

Teacher:  Elizabeth Boike

School:  Voyager Elementary School

Students Impacted:  80 students in grade 2

Amount Funded:  $1,200

This grant will allow students to experience growth from seed to full-grown plants. Students will use certain pods to show plant structures, and have a better experience seeing these plant parts in real life. Students will be able to create and test theories about the speed at which plants grow when we change the environment in which they are growing. Growing vegetables that students can produce and enjoy will emphasize the importance of sustainable agriculture.

Project Title:  Miltona Rock Climbing Wall

Teacher:  Riley Gustafson

School:  Miltona Science Magnet

Students Impacted:  School-wide, approximately 130 students in grades K-5

Amount Funded:  $9,285

A Traverse Rock Climbing Wall will be a fun and exciting way to build muscular strength and challenge students mentally and physically as part of the physical education programming at Miltona Magnet School.

Project Title:  Playground Communication Board

Teacher:  Renae Christenson

School:  Voyager Elementary School

Students Impacted:  20 students in grades PreK-5

Amount Funded:  $1,629

A post-mounted communication board on the playground at VES would allow students to have effective and efficient communication access while outside. Several students at VES use a speech-generating AAC device to communicate. Communication on the playground and outside can become difficult for students who use these devices for various reasons, such as inclement weather and ease of transporting. These factors can cause students to be unable to communicate effectively when on the playground. In addition to these students, several other students would benefit from a playground post-mounted communication board. This includes students with difficulty communicating while dysregulated, students with limited communication skills, and students who are English language learners.

Project Title:  Cardinal Book Nook: A Magic Vending Machine for Soaring Young Readers

Teacher:  Rose Weisel

School:  Carlos Elementary School

Students Impacted:  School-wide, approximately 110 students in grades K-5

Amount Funded:  $7,557.50

The Cardinal Book Nook is an innovative literacy initiative designed to make reading exciting and rewarding. With the installation of a book vending machine, children will have the opportunity to “purchase” books using special tokens earned through positive behavior, academic achievement and reading milestones. The project will foster a culture of literacy by giving students ownership of their books, making reading feel like a special reward rather than an assignment. Our goal is to motivate reluctant readers, celebrate enthusiastic ones and ensure ALL students, regardless of background, have access to high-quality books they can take home and keep.

Project Title:  Activities for High Potential Students in Self-Contained Programs

Teachers:  Sean Foster, Dave Harstad, Sam Suchy, Sam Kloskin, Alexis Backhaus, Jill Bantau

Schools: Lincoln Elementary, Woodland Elementary, Discovery Middle School

Students Impacted: 6 students in grades K-8

Amount Funded:  $869.15

Alexandria Public Schools has three self-contained programs that serve special education students with EBD or autism in a setting that allows their unique needs to be met. Students in these programs have significant issues with social skills and emotional regulation; they are unable to function full-time in regular classes as a result. While these programs support emotional intelligence and teach pro-social and pro-regulation skills, they are not equipped to challenge students with high cognitive potential intellectually. This grant would provide funds for self-paced, high-interest, hands-on activity kits (based on coding) for high-IQ students in these programs.

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.

Since 2009, AEF has awarded over $565,000 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.

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The Alexandria Education Foundation mission is to fund initiatives that ignite passion, unlock potential, and foster engagement for all learners and staff within Alexandria Public Schools.

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