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Through the Georgia Teacher Initiative, the Georgia Foundation for Public Education has awarded grants between $500 and $2,500 in Teacher Grants for Innovation to Georgia public school teachers with an innovative project designed to improve learning outcomes and make a measurable impact on your student’s lives.
View Recipients from previous rounds by clicking the links below, or look below on this page to see recent Recipients.
Ms. Rowe will use the Teacher Grant for Innovation to implement the Resistant Soil Investigation, a new approach to student learning about intermolecular forces and antibiotic resistant bacteria. This investigation will allow students to test local soil to determine if tetracycline-resistant bacteria is present, giving Chattooga County students the opportunity to investigate intermolecular forces while working on a global problem at the local level. In addition, it will provide students with real-world experience in laboratory skills, equipment, and technique.
“The role of innovation in my classroom is to provide students with the opportunity to experience new hands-on inquiry investigation. This investigation into soil health will provide a higher rigor for students when learning about Science Georgia Standards of Excellence for Chemistry by providing students with the opportunity to look at intermolecular forces and how these forces interact with intramolecular forces using real-world applications.” – Melissa Rowe
Ms. Keith-Dixon will enhance Pointe South Middle School’s Journalism Club by using the Teacher Grant for Innovation to equip students with digital cameras, yearbook materials, and a full membership to Adobe Lightroom. Currently, access to advanced equipment and supplies is limited so providing these modern tools to students will expose them to a robust experience that prepares them for a post-secondary journalism setting.
“Innovation in our Journalism Club means integrating modern digital tools to enhance students’ media skills. By using digital cameras and Adobe Lightroom, students learn to produce high-quality content, fostering creativity and technical proficiency. This approach prepares them for future careers in media and communication.” – Sherika Keith-Dixon
Using the Teacher Grant for Innovation, Mr. Cassell will engage his 9th and 10th grade science classes in a real-world, hands-on project where students will test the air quality following a chemical spill at a local plant. The goal is to collect data on air quality, graph and interpret the data, and communicate the findings. The project targets a problem in the local community, includes all county high school campuses, provides interdisciplinary collaboration, and transforms the contextualized way these high school students learn about data gathering.
“As a teacher, I take pride in trying to mold new leaders and “thinking-outside-the-box” mindsets in these students. Although I value the importance of traditional lessons from textbook reading and watching videos, I find it more useful for students to create solutions and ideas from real-world issues. Since Effingham County is becoming one of Georgia’s fastest-growing areas, there is a real need in the STEM field for citizens to monitor and investigate issues with water, air, and biodiversity.” – John Cassell
Jefferson County Schools is facing educator shortages much like the rest of the state and country. In an effort to strengthen the teacher pipeline in the county and “grow its own,” Jefferson County High School will use the Teacher Grant for Innovation to hold the Live, Love, Teach Conference for its Teaching as a Profession Pathway (TAPP) students. During the conference, mentor educators will showcase innovative teaching methods and highlight the impact of education on society. In addition, TAPP students will visit at least two colleges and hear from School of Education faculty and interact with recruiters. Finally, TAPP students will participate in “Teacher Shadow Days,” where they will spend the day with mentor teachers, observing classes and participating in lesson planning.
“Teaching students about the field of education and encouraging them to become educators…We have to go beyond the four walls of the traditional classroom to provide real world experience in actual classrooms, offer college credit, and celebrate the next steps of the students interested in pursuing education. We are able to do this by hosting future educator signing days for our graduates [who are] planning to pursue a career in education.” – Tammy Hodges
As a special education teacher, Ms. Stroud aims to create a culture of inclusion at her school by seamlessly integrating her students with their non-disabled peers. Using the Teacher Grant for Innovation, Ms. Stroud will create a functional leisure area where students of all abilities can interact and participate in various activities, including games, art projects, bracelet-making kits, and more. The goal is for the space to help special education and general student populations develop meaningful relationships and thereby remove the stigma around students with disabilities.
“Innovation in my classroom promotes inclusive practices by providing accessible learning materials, fostering a supportive classroom environment, and empowering students with disabilities to participate actively in educational activities alongside their peers. I utilize current trends and interests to build common ground between my students and their peers.” – Liz Stroud
The Upson Lee AIM Academy is a program for students in special education with moderate to severe emotional and mental health needs. The program focuses on teaching behavioral skills to learners that help them access the curriculum by keeping their bodies regulated and learning new life skills. Ms. Hopkins will use the Teacher Grant for Innovation to provide faculty and administration with training in yoga and mindfulness and how to integrate the practices in their classes. The inclusion of yoga and mindfulness will emphasize body and emotional regulation for students with moderate and severe emotional disabilities.
“I am always looking for innovative ways to help teachers and staff teach students critical life skills. When teaching students with disabilities, especially mental health and behavior disabilities, it takes a team of innovative leaders to rally around these students to help them overcome obstacles and reach their goals.” – Tressie Hopkins
Ms. Cox will use the Teacher Grant for Innovation to launch the Mighty Viking Printshop, a graphic design services/products store, housed in Treutlen County High School and operated by its students. Graphic design students will be able to create logoed t-shirts, buttons, keychains, and tumblers for businesses in the community. The experience will earn the school money for students to participate in competitions, as well as provide students with entrepreneurial skills and actively engage them with the local business community.
“Innovation touches almost every aspect of the graphic design classroom. The technology and production side of graphic design is also ever-changing and advancing, so designers are constantly coming up with new ways to make the process faster and more efficient. My students learn this first-hand in the classroom with their design assignments, competitions, and now through client requests and printshop jobs.” – Alison Cox
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