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WSD Foundation Awards $14,500 in 2023 Teacher and Building Mini Grants

May 16, 2023

The Wentzville School District Foundation has announced the winners of the 2023 Teacher and Building Mini Grants. This month, members of the Foundation awarded grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 to 12 educators, totaling $6,500. 

In addition, the Foundation awarded 12 educators with grants totaling $8,000 thanks to a Community Grant from GM to fund Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) initiatives in WSD schools. GM has provided $50,000 over the last five years to the WSD Foundation to support STEM initiatives in the Wentzville School District.

Between all of the grants awarded, $14,500 was awarded to 22 educators in 13 buildings and schools.

 

This year, the WSD Foundation raised funds through its trivia night event held in March for the Mini Grant Program, and the Foundation has awarded more than $130,500 to District teachers since 2004. The selection committee, which is composed of Wentzville School District Foundation Board members, utilizes the grants to reward educators for their resourceful and innovative ideas and strategies that benefit the education of District students. 

2023 Mini Grant winners: 

STEM Grants 

  • Erin White — Grief Garden, Pearce Hall, ($500)

  • Christine Lanham — Hatching Science, Heritage Intermediate ($500)

  • Elizabeth Motlik — Passion Projects, South Middle ($500)

  • Michael LaBrot — Introduction to Hand Tools, LHS ($500)

  • Jennifer Caimi — Redesigning the Teacher's Lounges & Hands-on Learning for Interior Design Students, THS ($500)

  • Meaghan Sachs — Prevocational Lab: Sublimation Shop Addition, LHS ($500)

  • Michelle Schroepfer — Integrating Robotics into Technology-Based Learning, Boone Trail ($1,000)

  • Edward Picone — Pocket Orchard/Sensory Garden, Wentzville Middle ($1,000)

  • Samantha Hardesty Knoll — WSD Film Festival, Berrey-Place Center ($1,000)

  • Cherie Boren — Tower Garden, THS ($1,000)

  • Nicole Blackburn — Raising Gardens for Success, Holt ($1,000)

Building Grant Winners ($1,000)

  • Carrie Luedde — Interactive Decodable Text Sets~Hand 2 Mind, PVE 

  • Kathy DeLaquil — Care to Learn Initial Investment, WSD 

  • Melanie Zerr — Walk in Your Shoes - SEL activity cart, THS 

  • Abby Nickel and Katie Fuller — Cardio Drumming, Journey

Teacher Grant Winners ($500)

  • Catherine Most — TALKIES Program for Oral Language Comprehension and Expression, PVE

  • Katelyn Tock and Lauren Farrelly — World Language Stations, LHS 

  • Andrew Warner — NPHS, AP English Lit and Composition

  • Sandy Pizzo — Culinary Arts I, II, III, LHS

  • Jerry Cannon — Civil War Ball/Civil War Era, WMS

The Wentzville School District Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to develop community support for public education and for the students and teachers of the Wentzville School District. The Foundation was established in 2001 on the belief that education is critical to society, that teachers have the power to be catalysts for student success, and that our community can be an agent for positive change. For more information about the WSD Foundation or to make a donation, please visit the District website.