The Canyons School District Education Foundation has awarded $50,000 in grants to 14 educators who proposed innovative classroom projects to enhance the curriculum and further the District’s emphasis on the college- and career-readiness of students.
 
On Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 12-13, the winners of the first-ever Foundation Innovation Grants were surprised in their classrooms with the news. The committee that evaluated the more than 115 grant applications approved just 10 projects for funding. Eight individuals and two teams won grants ranging from $480 to $10,000.
 
“Interest in this year’s grant program was nothing short of phenomenal,” said Allison Spencer, Canyons’ Chief Development Officer.
 
“We received about $690,000 in funding requests, and our earmarked budget allowed us to only fund $50,000 of those requests,” Spencer says. “The selection committee, made up of Foundation board members, teachers and administrators, was thoroughly impressed with the depth and breadth of the proposals. “
 
The teachers who received grants, and the names of their projects, are the following:

• Roger Wilcox, Canyons Technical Education Center, $10,000, “Electric Car Conversion” Watch Video
• Ronald Strohm, Alta High, $9,950, “Automation and Robotics” Watch Video
• Jonathan Miller, Hillcrest High, $7,000, “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Lab” Watch Video
• Natasha Buckner, Bella Vista Elementary, $5,200, “Enhancing Classroom Instruction with Latest Technology” Watch Video
• Heather Oakeson, Granite Elementary, $5,000, “Enhancing our Kindergarten Curriculum With iPod Touch” Watch Video
• Terry Howell, David Olsen, Kay Willoughby, Bob Pliley, Butler Middle, $5,000, “Hooks and Platters or Reaching the Reluctant” Watch Video
• Cindy Bronson, Sprucewood Elementary, $3,850,  “In-Class Mini Computer Lab” Watch Video
• Leandra Stromberg and Tamara Taysom, Midvale Elementary, $3,120, “Legos and Learning (and Loving It)” Watch Video
• Whitney Anderson, Butler Elementary, $482, “DSM Kits” Watch Video
• Heidi Greenland, Eastmont Middle, $480, “Making Molecules Tangible”  Watch Video

See Canyons District’s Facebook page for photographs of the teachers receiving giant checks and a bunch of congratulatory balloons.

The Foundation already is planning for next year’s Innovation Grant competition and giveaway. A grant-writing seminar will be held in the spring to help Canyons educators develop grant proposals for submission. More information on the workshop will be posted on the Web site, posted on the Foundation’s Facebook page and in the District’s newsletters.