Stafford Education Foundation Announces 2025-26 Innovative Teaching Grants
Projects showcase "exceptional creativity, collaboration, and instructional innovation across all grade levels."
By Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT
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A snack cart run by elementary special education students to help them practice conversation and math skills. A Spanish language cooking and conversation class. A collaborative art project with residents of local assisted living centers. Exploring cinematography through the construction of camera mounts.
These are four of the projects that will receive a 2025-26 Innovation Grant from the Stafford Education Foundation, according to a press release issued Monday.
SEF received a record 60 applications for the grants, which support projects that showcase “exceptional creativity, collaboration, and instructional innovation,” according to the press release. Thanks to increased support from the community, the foundation was able to expand its reach and award funds to 20 of the submissions.
The grants are available in amounts up to $600 for an individual project and up to $1,200 for a collaborative project involving two or more teachers. The funds can be used to purchase equipment, bring in guest speakers, or organize trips out of the classroom.
“The level of imagination and collaboration reflected in these applications is extraordinary,” said Jessica Marschall, SEF president, in the press release. “Our teachers continue to inspire us with their commitment to creating meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for their students. We are honored to help bring their ideas to life.”
Division superintendent Daniel Smith said the grant awards “reflect the passion and creativity that define Stafford’s educators.”
“Every project represents a teacher’s commitment to transforming ideas into engaging experiences that help students connect learning to the world around them,” he said in the press release. “We’re grateful to the Stafford Education Foundation and its donors for supporting innovation in our classrooms.”
The foundation will celebrate this year’s recipients at an awards presentation in the School Board chambers at 31 Stafford Avenue on Thursday, October 23, at 5 p.m.
SEF was established in 2007 to help bridge the gap “between available funding and the genuine needs of educational endeavors,” according to its website.
2025-26 Innovative Teaching Grant recipients:
Preschool Sensory Room – North Star Early Childhood Education Center
Preschoolers with sensory sensitivities will use a specially designed sensory room to practice emotional regulation, focus, and social skills. The space should improve engagement and classroom readiness while supporting inclusive instruction.
Curiosity Totes: STEM Discovery for Virginia’s Littlest Learners – Rising Star Early Childhood Education Center
Students will engage with portable science stations exploring melting, floating, magnifying, and mixing. This hands-on approach should promote inquiry, conversation, and curiosity, laying a foundation for lifelong STEM learning.
Wednesday Cooking Club: Learning English Through Shared Experiences – Anne E. Moncure Elementary School
English Learners will participate in weekly cooking lessons that integrate vocabulary, math, science, and writing. Students will plan, prepare, and share meals, should strengthen English language skills, and will build confidence in communication.
Burnie Break: Beverage and Snack Cart led by Level 2 Students – Anthony Burns Elementary School
Level 2 Special Education students will run a weekly student-led coffee and snack cart to practice communication, vocational, and math skills. The project will build confidence, independence, and inclusion while giving students real-world learning experiences.
The KINDness Crew: Putting the “I” in Kind – Anthony Burns Elementary School
Fifth-grade students will design and lead school-wide kindness initiatives such as message boards, recognition days, and service projects. These activities should promote leadership, social-emotional growth, and a culture of empathy and inclusion.
Growing Minds: A 3rd Grade Learning Garden – Hampton Oaks Elementary School
Third graders will cultivate a learning garden to explore science, math, and literacy standards. This hands-on approach should enhance comprehension, retention, and real-world problem-solving skills.
Growing Minds, Growing Meals – Winding Creek Elementary School
First grade students will use a hydroponics system to explore plant growth and nutrition. Students will investigate life science concepts, measure growth, and should strengthen math, literacy, and teamwork skills while connecting to farm-to-table lessons.
STEM Club Takes Flight! – A.G. Wright Middle School
Middle school students will explore drone technology to learn coding, physics, and engineering. Students will design flight paths, collect and analyze data, and should develop problem-solving, teamwork, and STEM skills.
Think On Your Feet – Dixon-Smith Middle School
Students will use movable magnetic whiteboards to collaborate, share ideas visually, and engage kinesthetically, while teachers will provide immediate feedback and personalized instruction. This hands-on approach should increase engagement, deepen understanding, and promote ownership of learning.
STEAM Club: Creative Innovation and Accessible Design – H.H. Poole Middle School
Middle school students will build paper-circuit robots, adaptive 3D-printed solutions, and accessible websites. The club will integrate engineering, design thinking, and digital citizenship while should inspire innovation and problem-solving.
Project Plant Power – Shirley Heim Middle School
Students will grow indoor and outdoor plants while improving English literacy and scientific observation. The project should provide experiential learning opportunities and encourage environmental awareness.
Student Design Lab: From Concept to Creation – Stafford Middle School
Students will create wearable art by designing tote bags and t-shirts. The project should build digital art, graphic design, and entrepreneurial skills while encouraging creativity and innovation.
Conectados: Building Bridges Through Language and Culture – Brooke Point High School
Level 4 Spanish students at Stafford High School and Brooke Point High School will participate in a yearlong pen pal exchange to practice authentic Spanish and explore cultural identity. Students will exchange letters, digital messages, and multimedia, culminating in a joint field trip to strengthen language proficiency, empathy, and collaboration.
3rd Annual Stafford Schools HOSA-Future Health Professionals Symposium – Colonial Forge High School
High school students from across Stafford County will participate in hands-on healthcare workshops, tours, and professional networking. This immersive experience will connect classroom instruction to real-world healthcare careers and should expand knowledge of advanced medical topics.
En la Cocina de mi Abuela: Cultura y Conversación – Mountain View High School
Level 3 students will prepare traditional Spanish recipes and role-play restaurant scenarios to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing. This hands-on experience should deepen language skills and cultural understanding.
Generations Collaborative Art – North Stafford High School
Students will create large-scale canvases with local assisted living residents, combining painting, gems, and collaborative art-making. This intergenerational project should foster creativity, social-emotional growth, and community connection.
Exploring Latino Heritage: A Cultural Journey – Stafford High School
Spanish for Fluent Speakers students will visit the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The experience will connect classroom learning to real-world culture and history, should enhance language skills, and will foster critical thinking and cultural awareness.
Virtual Reality (VR) Simulators for Air Force JROTC Learning – North Stafford High School
Air Force JROTC cadets will use Meta Quest 3 headsets and Microsoft Flight Simulator to experience immersive flight simulations. This project will increase engagement, inspire interest in aerospace careers, and enhance STEM learning.
Cinematography in Content Creation – Mountain View High School
Students will build gimbals and jib arms to explore camera movement and storytelling. The project should improve technical skills, elevate content creation quality, and enhance understanding of visual media.
Students Serving Seniors: Triple S Club – Mountain View High School
Students will provide one-on-one tech support to senior citizens, mentoring community members while building communication and problem-solving skills. The project should foster intergenerational relationships and digital literacy.
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