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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.
This grant will create a science library to house scientific tools, materials, and manipulatives that support every grade level’s science standards. In addition to addressing the standards, these supplies empower teachers to stimulate their students and encourage them to solve real world problems. The school’s staff have worked together to develop the idea and hope it will disrupt and transform traditional science instruction.
“My classroom is the STEAM classroom for the entire school. Innovation is something I think about every lesson. I am passionate about trying new things and working with the students to challenge our learning. It is my second year in this role, and I have never been happier. I love supporting students and teachers as we change the world!” – Andrea Rowe
Hoboken Elementary School will update the classroom libraries to provide high-quality, relevant reading content to its students. The project will serve Ms. Herrin’s students for years to come and help foster a love for reading and, in turn, increase literacy.
“Providing books to students opens them up to a world of possibilities. Reading encourages imagination and imagination drives innovation. Books help to create independent thinking and curiosity. This is the driving force behind innovation.” – Jessica Herrin
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
Jordan Middle School students will engage in physical computing using the coding program Raspberry Pi to gain insight into the real-world challenge of traffic. Students will design complete circuits and program a traffic light to accommodate various patterns, requiring them to adapt the code to solve specific problems. Additionally, students will apply Ohm’s law to calculate the necessary electrical resistance for the LED bulbs used in the project.
“Innovation helps my students be successful in computer science through a culture where creativity and divergent thinking are not only respected but celebrated. Creating lessons where students can autonomously or cooperatively solve problems is the core of my learning environment. Innovation helps me create more dynamic and effective learning environments that help students develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies they need to succeed in today’s rapidly changing world. Innovation in my classroom helps students take ownership of their thinking and learning.” – Stacey Edison-Bryson
This grant will fund the Hydroponics Classroom Kit Initiative to immerse students in hands-on learning by introducing them to the innovative practice of hydroponic gardening. This project will allow students to grow plants without soil, deepening their understanding of plant biology, environmental science, and sustainability. Through this initiative, students will actively engage in scientific inquiry, data collection, and problem-solving, applying STEM principles in a real-world context. The project will also include cross-curricular connections, integrating lessons in math, science, and environmental studies. In addition to classroom activities, students will visit a local hydroponics farm or community garden to observe large-scale hydroponic systems and meet professionals in the field. This experience will enhance their appreciation for sustainable agriculture and inspire future exploration in STEM fields, fostering a generation of environmentally conscious and scientifically literate students.
“As the STEM Teacher at Michelle Obama STEM Elementary Academy, my role in fostering innovation in the classroom involves creating and implementing dynamic, hands-on learning experiences that bridge innovative concepts with real-world applications. I design interdisciplinary projects, like the Hydroponics Classroom Kit Initiative, that integrate science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to engage students in critical thinking and problem-solving. By introducing cutting-edge practices like hydroponic gardening, I inspire students to explore new ideas, think creatively, and develop a passion for sustainable solutions, preparing them for future challenges and careers in STEM fields.” – Antonio Ellis
Ms. Frazzitta will use the Teacher Grant for Innovation to purchase Slumberkins, which teaches students emotional literacy skills. This program was designed to be a tool for emotional regulation and feeling identification for young learners.
“Before my students can learn, they have to feel safe and loved. I spend a large part of my valuable instruction time dealing with behavior issues, but every behavior has a cause— an underlying issue. These children go home to the most unimaginable circumstances. This project will not just benefit my students in our classroom, but they will be able to take these social emotional skills home with them. This will be knowledge that no one can ever take from them.” – Ciara Frazzitta
The film industry is known for being innovative, and ever evolving, but the same is not necessarily true of the film learning opportunities students receive in the classroom. Using the Teacher Grant for Innovation, Mr. Paige will help students produce six documentaries based on the importance of local ‘water’ ecosystems and our relationships to them – from waterway and river cleanup efforts to sustainable regional fishing practices. Specifically, Mr. Paige will teach a ‘Documentary Filmmaking’ course for students to focus on community-based projects that spotlight significant people, places, and histories within our region. Designing project-based learning opportunities that encourage students to engage with adults and community partners/subjects, and become more community minded, truly helps students ‘see beyond the classroom.’
“Classroom innovation always begins with instructional design – the development of meaningful project-based assessments. Students learn how to produce documentaries by engaging in the process itself – developing concepts, conducting research/pre-production, organizing shoots, and synthesizing footage into structured stories. We mention ‘education as usual’ and the restlessness students feel doing busy work and rote learning – I hope to be a model that encourages film educators to implement community-based and student-centered approaches to learning!” – Zach Paige
Ms. Martin will use the Teacher Grant for Innovation to create a robot capable of cleaning garbage from local lakes. The project will include teachers and students from the middle and high school, as well as engineers from two different companies in the community. The program provides students with a hands-on opportunity to solve a real-world problem.
“Innovation is the keystone of everything we do in my classroom. Besides robots, we take on an innovation project every year by inventing new items or improving on old ones. We have worked to make a tool vest for the International Space Station through NASA HUNCH, developed a phone case that used solar power to charge phones, and partnered with UGA’s Agricultural Department to help improve conditions for pigs while being hauled to decrease loss.” – Erica Martin
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