Sonoma Valley Education Foundation awards $34K in classroom grants

This year, the Education Foundation funded every eligible proposal it received.|

The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation’s Classroom Grants program provides up to $500 in funding for classroom teachers at Sonoma Valley’s 11 public schools. This year, the Education Foundation funded every eligible proposal it received, totaling 78 teachers and nearly $34,000 to support projects, supplies and curriculum intended to benefit student learning and outcomes.

From preschool to high school, teachers from every school submitted requests for funding that provides support to their students. Of the nearly 80 requests the Ed Foundation funded, eight were for literacy-related initiatives, seven were for social-emotional support, five benefited students in special education, 13 were for STEM materials and instruction, and the remainder went to a variety of other instructional needs.

Examples of funded projects include materials for students at Creekside High School to participate in a “Budget Challenge” to simulate the real world of bill-paying and financial responsibility; a collaboration between Sonoma Valley High School’s agriculture and culinary programs to teach “whole animal butchery”; a set of Google cardboard virtual reality headsets to take students on virtual field trips around the world and back in time; supplies for a fifth grade “Peace Corner” to encourage students to breathe, relax, regroup and calm down while remaining in the classroom during instruction; and a green screen production and animation studio for middle schoolers.

“Great educators are always looking for ways to engage students, expand instruction and supplement curriculum,” said Mary Favaro, director of the Education Foundation. “The program is an annual opportunity for (SVEF) to directly support the Valley’s wonderful and dedicated teachers in these efforts.”

Funds for the Classroom Grants program come from the Red & White Ball raffle, North Bay Realtors, and Dutch Bros, in addition to individual donations.

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