Mini-Grants for Instruction

The Decatur Education Foundation supports innovation in the classroom through our Mini-Grants for Instruction.  Since the Foundation’s early years and through the generosity of our donors, we have awarded close to $200,000 in grants to teachers and administrators at City Schools of Decatur.  Grant awards range from $200 to $1500 and foster creative approaches to reaching all children in the school system. To learn more about past grant awards and how they made in a difference in children’s lives click here.

The next request for proposals will be in August 2012.

Congratulations to our most recent mini-grant recipients:

Robin Fountain and Sara Joiner (Clairemont Elementary): Funds to print student generated Decatur Harvest Calendar

Brooke Nation and Robin Fountain (Clairemont Elementary): Funds for school community circle flag designed by kindergarten students

Olivia Roller (Decatur High School): Funds to purchase foreign language novels for advanced language students at every level

Sean Deweese (Decatur High School): Funds to purchase Vernier Instructional Technology to enhance science education

Angela Gabriel, Heidi Williams-Cooper and Allison Mansfield (College Heights Pre-K): Funds to purchase child-friendly digital cameras so students can document their work

Amy Radford and Zeke Alejandro (College Heights ECLC): Funds to purchase books and supplies to teach color concepts to young children

Sarah Garland (College Heights ECLC): Funds to purchase balance bikes to help developmentally delayed students develop coordination

Lauren Parks and Megan Schanding (College Heights Pre-K): Funds to support teaching Pre-K students about the life cycle of chickens as part of a unit on growth

Amelia Copp, Engevar Fant, Samantha Riedford and Carla Stanford (Glennwood Elementary): Funds for the purchase of book sets for 1st grade book groups

Cheryl Nahmias and Rusty Bennett (Renfroe Middle School): Funds for a dance performance by CORE about healthy body image

Vicki Case-Holden (Winnona Park Elementary): Funds to support assistive technology at home for students with severe physical and cognitive disabilities

Martha Tepper and Elizabeth Hanna (Winnona Park Elementary): Funds for a model to show elementary students how the body produces sounds and music

Grant-Funded Programs

The Decatur Education Foundation secures outside funding to support important efforts and programs within City Schools of Decatur.  Recently funded initiatives include:

Early Childhood Education

The Foundation received a $10,000 grant to support staff development at the College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center and purchase instructional materials to support the work being done in the classroom. Funds also provided one-to-one support for children who were identified as delayed in their pre-literacy skill development.

College Access Program (CAP)

Grants from the Harland Foundation and the Ida Ryan Charitable Trust provide funding for the College Access Program of Decatur High School.  This partnership seeks to improve college access for low-income, first-generation students by providing funding for test preperation activities, college fairs and visits, informational evenings and additional support .

Literacy Programming

Building on the success of student programming funded in conjunction with the Decatur Book Festival, the Foundation has received grants from the Decatur Rotary and Target to support reading initiatives and author visits .