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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.
High Point Elementary School, an International Baccalaureate school, will launch a program to actively engage kindergarten through fifth grade students in a conversation about college and career. Specifically, the Teacher Grant for Innovation will be used to provide students with hands-on learning experiences that will immerse them in the various careers available. Ms. Goodyear will implement career stations – such as archaeology, medicine, and public safety – for each grade level, allowing students to engage with and gain experience across a variety of fields.
“The way I teach students changes every year because the world is dynamic and constantly changing. The “sit and get” teaching strategies are no longer effective. Students have to be engaged and active in their learning in order to truly remember and apply what they’ve learned.”
Mr. Dix will use the Teacher Grant for Innovation to enhance the high school engineering program by integrating advanced robotics kits, enabling students to participate in the CTSO FIRST Robotics Competition. This opportunity offers a hands-on, experiential learning environment where students apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges. By incorporating these robotics kits, Mr. Dix will empower students to develop critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills — core competencies essential for success in STEM fields. This project also bridges the gap between classroom learning and extracurricular activities, creating a seamless educational experience that inspires students to pursue careers in engineering and technology.
“Innovation in our classroom drives student engagement and learning by transforming traditional education into an interactive, hands-on experience. We integrate cutting-edge technologies like robotics, 3D printing, and programming tools to encourage creative problem-solving and critical thinking. Students are challenged to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios, such as designing and building robots for competition. This approach not only makes learning more relevant and exciting but also prepares students for future careers in STEM fields, fostering a mindset of continuous innovation and adaptability in an ever-evolving technological landscape.”
Marvin E. Lewis Elementary School will implement a “Elementary Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy Workshop,” which is designed to empower economically disadvantaged students by providing them with foundational knowledge in entrepreneurship and financial management. Through a series of engaging workshops, students will learn key concepts such as budgeting, saving, and the basics of starting a business. The program will culminate in a field trip to a local business incubator or financial institution, where students can witness these concepts in action and engage with professionals who can inspire their future endeavors.
“Innovation in our classroom is centered around engaging students through real-world applications of their learning, particularly in areas like financial literacy and entrepreneurship. By integrating hands-on activities, project-based learning, and field experiences, we foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. This approach not only makes learning more relevant and exciting for students but also equips them with practical skills that they can apply in their lives beyond school. Innovation drives our mission to empower students, especially those from poverty, to think differently and envision new possibilities for their futures.”
Mountain View Elementary School will use this grant to purchase a class set of 44-key keyboards for students to further their music education. The project will increase engagement with all kindergarten through fifth-grade students in the music classroom. This project aligns with the definition of innovation by contributing a hands-on solution to help students better understand the concept of musical scales, keys, notes, rhythms, and more.
“As a music teacher in my second year, I’m constantly attempting new projects and activities that neither I nor the students have experienced yet. I am a very instrumental-based teacher, so my classroom does not operate as a general music classroom normally would. We create our own instruments, study advanced aspects of music theory, and use our knowledge in advanced concepts to perform elementary instruments.”
North Hart Elementary School will provide an opportunity for its fifth-grade students to become published authors and illustrators. The project will allow students to engage in the whole process of writing and illustrating a book, from brainstorming ideas to final edits. Once completed, the books will be professionally bound and published, with each student receiving a personal copy. Additionally, a copy of each book will be added to the school library, creating a source of inspiration for future students. The idea of student-created content in a school library is both forward-thinking and empowering, reinforcing the idea that students can be creators, not just consumers, of knowledge.
“Unlike traditional classroom assignments, this project transforms students into published authors and illustrators, offering hands-on experience in the publishing world. Students are involved in every step, from idea generation to the final bound book, giving them a real-world understanding of the creative process. The project uniquely integrates literacy, art, and project management, providing a multidisciplinary learning experience. By adding their books to the school library, students contribute to a lasting legacy that can inspire future students. This not only elevates their sense of achievement but also creates a tangible connection to the school community.”
Phoenix Academy High School serves at-risk students who are experiencing academic, behavioral, or socioeconomic challenges. The school operates on a blended learning structure, wherein students complete their high school credits virtually, in-person, or a combination of the two. Ms. Bradshaw will challenge the students the school serves by providing hands-on career experience in the healthcare fields. She will implement a program to expose ninth- through twelfth-grade students to the medical fields, including nursing, pharmacology, and surgical tech, to encourage them to pursue one of these pathways upon graduation.
“Innovation in the classroom provides real world applications and offers science students in low-income communities, especially anatomy & physiology students, an opportunity to explore, discover, and apply scientific principles through practical experiences rather than just passively learning facts. This approach will foster critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a genuine interest in science careers by making learning more interactive and engaging in the real world.”
Ms. Biley will use the Teacher Grant for Innovation to teach her STEM students how to code using coding robots. As technology advances, Richmond County Technical Career Magnet School aims to prepare its students for the future world. Ms. Biley believes that coding is a useful skill in the field of computer science and beyond.
“I teach a seventh grade STEM class, and I try as much as possible to include lessons where the students are coming up with innovative solutions to problems. Innovation is at the forefront of my class because I believe that is what is most exciting about STEM.”
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