Seventeen Innovative Teaching Grants totaling over $17,000 have been awarded in 2017 by the Hood River County Education Foundation (HRCEF).  Grants are funded primarily by community donations and fundraising.

Technology for students with special needs were the focus of three grants.  There were seven STEM projects, including a grant to put on Family STEM nights at elementary schools in cooperation with high school teacher Kathryn Grant.   Classroom libraries were increased via six grants, and classroom computers or technology in two grants.

Every school in the district received at least one grant.

A cooperative effort paired funds from the Band Together Grant from the Oregon Community Foundation, and from the HRCEF Music in the Schools Fund, to purchase ukuleles for Cascade Locks and Parkdale Elementary School. The Band Together Grant also funded additional Orff instruments (small marimba-like instruments) for May Street and Westside elementary schools. Both these grants provide elementary students with experience in playing instruments prior to middle school.

HRCEF Board member Aspen McKenna, chair of the HRCEF Innovative Teaching Grant Committee said, “We increased the maximum amount of these grants to $2,000 this year, and we got some very exciting projects that would have exceeded our grant limit in earlier years. And we received some terrific applications for modest funding that should yield big impacts in classrooms.”

The 2017 winners are listed under the here.