Teacher Grants
We support classrooms
Annually, AEF invites the district’s teachers and staff to submit grants for projects and programs that will have a meaningful impact on students. The grant requests are primarily in the areas of engineering, core curriculum subjects, technology, and arts programs. The Foundation’s goal is to grow the endowment to $1 million, making it possible, with the coupling of annual giving, to fund $100,000 in education-enhancing grants annually.
Grants would go directly to support:
• Students in developing essential knowledge and skills
• Students in every building and every grade level
• The Arts and Academies of Alexandria
Classroom Innovation Grant Awards
Project Title: Vertical Non-Permanent surfaces
Teachers: Katie Lagergren and Amanda Meyer
School: Alexandria Area High School
Students Impacted: 1,000 students 9th-12th grade
Amount Funded: $6,000
AAHS Mathematics classrooms will receive Vertical Non-Permanent surfaces to “build thinking classrooms”. This teaching strategy takes student’s mathematics learning from passive to active. When students are at vertical surfaces, they are more likely to take risks, be engaged with the thinking, and form a strong conceptual understanding of the mathematics they are using.
Project Title: Vertical Non-Permanent surfaces
Teachers: Megan Paulson and Jill Fuglestad
Schools: All Elementary Schools
Students Impacted: 400 elementary students district-wide grades 2-5
Amount Funded: $2,525
“Thinking Classrooms” are created by using Vertical Non-permanent surfaces as part of a model of teaching that transforms the current system of “sit and get” to a more collaborative system which allows students to be the ones leading discussions, actively problem solving, and collaboratively exploring concepts with small groups of peers. AEF is purchasing Whiteboard sets that will allow students to interact with curriculum in a more engaging way.
Project Title: Musical Learning for Littles
Teachers: Rhonda Blaser
Schools: Voyager Elementary School
Students Impacted: School-wide, approximately 450 students in K-5th grade
Amount Funded: $1,500
AEF will provide barred instruments, and activity balls that are suitable for young students. Students will use instruments for exploration, melody making, and creating. This will prepare young students for future use of Orff barred instruments. A ball can provide students with a visual sense of steady beat in an entertaining way.
Project Title: American Ninja Warrior Equipment
Teachers: Patti Hinrichs
Schools: All Elementary Schools
Students Impacted: 1,660 elementary students K-5 district-wide
Amount Funded: $8,210
Ninja Warrior equipment will be utilized at all the elementary levels within the Alexandria Public Schools. The equipment provides a new and unique opportunity for students to challenge themselves both mentally and physically and will also expand the variety of options students can explore regarding recreation and inspire healthy, active, lifelong learning.
Project Title: African Percussion
Teachers: Kayla Noble
Schools: Lincoln Elementary School
Students Impacted: School-wide, approximately 490 students K-5th grade
Amount Funded: $7,250
AEF will purchase a set of African Percussion instruments. Students will experience various African drum types and drumming styles as well as enrich their understanding of rhythm and composition. African drumming is rich in community building traditions and provides students with innovative ensemble building and music making opportunities.
Project Title: Hydroponic Grow Towers and Food Table
Teacher: Linnay Schweisthal
School: Alexandria Area High School
Students Impacted: 100 students 9th-12th grade
Amount Funded: $4,574
The agriculture classes at AAHS will receive Hydroponic towers and a food table. Hydroponics are a way to grow food without soil and in different environments. Students will have the ability to learn about different ways food and plants can be grown and produced. With technology integrated into the hydroponic towers, it will give students a look at how technology can play a role in growing food and keeping plants healthy.
Project Title: Harmony Bridge
Teacher: Nick Mason
School: Alexandria Area High School
Students Impacted: 130 students 9th-12th grade
Amount Funded: $2,500
Harmony Bridge is a musical initiative designed to help bridge the generational gap between teenage students and the senior living community using chamber music. The materials that will be purchased by the Ed Foundation are designed to be an approachable intro to chamber music that students can use in student-led rehearsals and recitals, and then apply those skills at performances in senior living residencies.
Project Title: Early Ed STEM Cart
Teacher: Tammara DeJesus
School: Early Education Center
Students Impacted: 200 preschool students
Amount Funded: $2,500
The Early Education Center will receive a STEM Cart to use in the Alexandria and Carlos location. A STEM cart will offer early exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and will nurture creative and critical thinking, help students process the continuously changing world around them, and prepare them for the academic years ahead.
Project Title: Real time Data Collection Materials
Teacher: Rachel Bothun
School: Discovery Middle School
Students Impacted: 330 students in grade 8
Amount Funded: $2,221
This grant will purchase Vernier data collection probes to enhance the capabilities of students to collect and analyze real-time data in 8th grade Physical Science classes. The probes are physical measurement devices that directly connect with student Chromebook and use an extension to collect data that students can then analyze. This allows students to interact with the concepts they are learning about by collecting their own data in investigations that they can design and draw conclusions from.
Project Title: Hanging Out in Nature
Teacher: Amy Revering
School: Miltona Science Magnet School
Students Impacted: School-wide, approximately 143 students in grades K-5th grade
Amount Funded: $2,865
AEF will provide a “Hammock Forest” consisting of 28 double hammocks, which will lend itself not only to independent and partner reading opportunities but will also be a place for students to write and make observations, all while finding more focus in nature.
Project Title: Build the Change
Teacher: Valerie Jahnke
School: Discovery Middle School
Students Impacted: 8 students in grades 6-8
Amount Funded: $500
The Lego Build the Change curriculum that will be purchased empowers DCD students in a transformative journey, fostering essential skills like teamwork and problem solving. Students use their creativity to solve real-world challenges with LEGO® bricks and other creative materials – and it is all achieved via Learning through Play.
Project Title: Dragster Flow Tunnel
Teacher: Jon Hennen
School: Discovery Middle School
Students Impacted: 180 students in grades 7-8
Amount Funded: $2,495
Students will engage in hands-on learning by utilizing a flow visualization tunnel provided by AEF to enhance the design and performance of their CO2 dragsters. The project aims to integrate principles of fluid dynamics and aerodynamics into traditional CO2 dragster design process, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing drag, resistance, and aerodynamic efficiency.
Grant Archives
View all current and past grants by clicking here or using the search function.
2023 Scholarship Awards
The Foundation wants to build a financial cornerstone for investing in students and teachers in Alexandria Public Schools. One of the ways we do that is by helping students attain college degrees. Through a competitive scholarship process, the Foundation financially supports students in the transition from high school to 2 and 4-year colleges.
Since 2009, the Alexandria Education Foundation’s donors have awarded $81,600 in scholarships to 79 students.
The Seeds for Future Learning Klimek Family Scholarship provides two $400 scholarships to students interested in pursuing a college degree in business, education, manufacturing, or agriculture.
2024 Seeds for Future Learning Klimek Family Scholarship Recipients:
The Class of 1988 Scholarship fund was created through a generous 1988 Jefferson High School graduate. These scholarships in the amount of $2,200 each are awarded to two students who plan to pursue a degree in education, health care, or the arts.
2024 Class of 1988 Scholarship Recipients:
The Kim Jenson "Lift Her Up" Scholarship was established by Kim Jenson, an ATCC alum who benefitted from the support of mentors as she worked through school. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to one female who will be attending the Alexandria Technical & Community College (ATCC) in the fall, and is willing to work with a mentor.
2023 Kim Jenson "Lift Her Up" Scholarship Recipient:
Bill Flaig was a lifelong Alexandria resident. He worked for many years as the CEO of the Douglas County Hospital. He had a deep commitment to Alexandria and Douglas County and was involved in innumerable community service activities throughout his life. This is a $1,000 Scholarship is to recognize a graduating student who demonstrates great commitment and leadership in community service.
2024 Bill Flaig Community Service Scholarship Recipient:
Ken and Jeanne Howell have established a scholarship fund to encourage students interested in pursuing a career in a medical profession. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to one student who plans to go into a health care field.
2024 Ken and Jeanne Howell Scholarship Recipient:
Alexandria Area High School Capital Campaign
In September, 2011, voters showed solid support for building a new grades 9-12 high school in a special election. The cost to residents for the project was reduced thanks to a Capital Campaign conducted prior to the bond referendum vote. This Capital Campaign was a joint effort between the Alexandria Education Foundation and the Alexandria School Board that represented a unique public-private partnership. This partnership raised over $4 million in pledged contributions from individuals, businesses and other entities in the community to help reduce the tax impact for district residents.
Every gift, large or small, helps sustain the tradition of educational excellence in Alexandria public schools.