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Educator Initiative Grants spark innovation in the classroom

In Amanda Arlington’s art class at Canyon Creek Elementary, students not only got to create a rainforest and solar system – they also learned how to work collaborative with each other. 

Educator Initiative Grants are one of the ways the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation (CCSF) supports innovation and engagement in schools. These grants are possible because of donations from community members, which go to help educators purchase curriculum, technology, materials, or other resources to support student learning. This year, 327 educators applied for an EIG, a significant increase compared to previous years. 

“It’s been absolutely incredible to see how many educators have learned about this grant and how passionate their ideas can be,” CCSF Executive Director Jill Henden said. “We get to see so many great ideas being brought to life and truly capture students’ imagination and attention.”

Arlington wanted to find a way to bring a museum experience to her kindergarten, first, and second grade students to create an art installation with “real” rockets and pollinators. Arlington was amazed at how her students were able to work collaboratively and find opportunities to shine. She talked to her students about expectations – such as what to do if someone is painting or creating art differently than you might – and found her students responded positively to the project. One student, for example, found he enjoyed making the rainforest vines and even worked with other students to show them how.

Lisa Allen of Greenwood Elementary wanted to teach her students about the power of growing plants. For her EIG, Allen created a tower garden that became a highlight for the school. Giving students the responsibility to care for a living organism helped them find the inspiration to learn and to stay dedicated to a project. Allen also launched a project-based learning lesson where students could make soaps and dyes out of plants they had cultivated.

In Brian Hostetler’s STEM class at Canyon Creek Elementary, first- and second-graders designed and created a LEGO amusement park, complete with rides, ticket booths, and concession stands. The students used design thinking and collaborative teamwork to figure out the best ride speed and physical specifications for the park. Students learned not only how to succeed, but how to go back to the drawing board if their original ideas didn’t work.

At Horizon Community Middle School, Baochau Thomas led a project where students build community and conflict resolution skills by designing board games in their seventh-grade advisory periods. Thomas found that students were still recovering from the isolation and remote learning in the initial days of the pandemic. The students used a design thinking process to create the games, but also restorative practices to handle any conflicts that arose during the process. 

EIGs are one of several ways that the CCSF helps support student achievement and growth. The CCSF recently launched the Mental Health Relief Fund in partnership with the district, providing emergency counseling, referral services, and launching a pilot program to support students dealing with grief and loss.

To learn more about the Foundation or make a donation to support these and other programs, visit www.ccsdfoundation.org.

Our Impact This Year

  • Grants Awarded to Educators

    $193,000

  • Students Impacted

    53,000

  • Scholarships Awarded

    $55,000

  • Donated to Mental Health

    $122,000

  • JHL Constructors
  • MDC Richmond Foundation
  • Aon
  • Plante Moran
  • Butler Snow
  • 1st Bank
  • DLR Group

    DLR Group

  • Westerra Credit Union
  • Alpine Bank
  • GE Johnson
  • Saunders
  • Cuningham Architecture
  • Health One
  • CCA Foundation
  • CCA
  • ANB Bank
    ANB Bank

    ANB Bank

  • Aurora Housing Authority
    Aurora Housing Authority

    Aurora Housing Authority

  • Powered by Purpose
    Powered by Purpose

    Powered by Purpose

  • Ed and Kacy Adams
    Ed and Kacy Adams

    Ed and Kacy Adams

  • Johnson Controls
    Johnson Controls

    Johnson Controls

  • JP Morgan
    JP Morgan

    JP Morgan

  • Kaiser Permanente
    Kaiser Permanente

    Kaiser Permanente

  • The Knoll Team
    The Knoll Team

    The Knoll Team

  • Kore
    Kore

    Kore

  • Margie and Joe Adams
    Margie and Joe Adams

    Margie and Joe Adams

  • United Healthcare
    United Healthcare
  • CU Denver
    CU Denver
  • Westerra
    Westerra
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