2023 Teacher creativity grants
The Wells County Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors recently approved grants totaling $13,513.18 for the 2023 Teacher Creativity grant cycle. A total of 5 grants were awarded as follows:
Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School - $1,309.98 - This grant will provide funding for the Intense Interventions Food Cart Fridays. This project will provide intense intervention students the opportunity to have a work-based job in the elementary school setting, interacting with adults and peers throughout the school as they run a food cart. The food cart will allow the students to grow in the areas of math, social studies, and social-emotional learning. Grant made from the G. Robert and Emma Studabaker Endowment Fund for the Physically and/or Mentally Challenged.
​
Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School - $1,700 – This grant will provide funding for the Pre-K Farm Experience. Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School will begin developing “experience rooms” for the pre-K students. These rooms will allow students to gain developmentally appropriate skills such as getting along with others, teamwork and sharing while at the same time building academic skills in science, language arts, social studies and math. This grant will provide funding for the purchase of a sandbox, sand, harvesting set, farm books and puzzles, John Deere combine and planter and miscellaneous sandbox toys. Grant made from the Elizabeth Patton Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
Bluffton High School – $3,254.46 - This grant will provide funding for the Cross-Curricular Sphero Engagement Initiative. Designed for educators who want to inspire their students' curiosity in STEM, Sphero BOLT is a game-changing tool that empowers students to explore their creativity, coding skills, and inventiveness. With its advanced sensors, programmable LED matrix, and innovative technology, Sphero BOLT is the perfect way to integrate some fun into learning and make your classroom a place where students can't wait to explore! Sphero will be shared across the curricula of physics, computer science, world history and chemistry. Grant made from the Edwina Patton Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
​
Southern Wells Elementary School - $5,199 – This grant will provide funding for the purchase of a Tabletop Talk. Table Talk is an intriguing gadget which utilizes an interactive LCD screen built into the top of a table. The table comes with a 43” 4K LCD screen that creates life-like images when interacting with it. It has split screen capabilities allowing multiple students to work on the same activities simultaneously. Younger students can practice tracing letters, numbers, and words with their fingers, increasing hand strength. Grant made from the Edwina Patton Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
Southern Wells Elementary School - $2,094.74 – This grant will provide funding for Play On! Play On is a comprehensive music education program that has curriculum from pre-K to middle school. It includes lesson plans in music theory, solfege, recorder, ukulele, boomwhackers, etc. Additionally, the grant will provide for the purchase of Nuvo Winstar Recorders. These recorders are specially made with silicone buttons which all the recorder “holes” or buttons to be more easily covered by students with special abilities. Lastly, the grant provides for the purchase of a portable microphone speaker which will be utilized for ensemble performances, class plays, etc. Grant made from the G. Robert and Emma Studabaker Endowment Fund for the Physically and/or Mentally Challenged.
The Foundation considers grant proposals for the Teacher Creativity program once annually. Funding for these grants comes from the unrestricted funds which are administered by the Foundation. Donors with broad philanthropic interests find that an unrestricted fund in the community foundation is a simple and flexible way to accomplish their charitable objectives. Contributing to an established unrestricted fund, or creating a new unrestricted fund is an excellent way to provide resources for grantmaking and help make a positive difference for the ever-changing needs in Wells County.
​
The Wells County Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit public charity established in 1957 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Wells County forever. Grant proposals to be considered for the next Teacher Creativity grant cycle are due to the Foundation office by April 1, 2024.