Foundation Announces 2025–26 Quarter 3 ELEVATE! Grants
The Education Foundation is proud to announce the quarter three recipients of ELEVATE! Grants, an initiative created to better support educators and students.
For the 2025-26 quarter three cycle, the foundation approved seven ELEVATE! Grants, totalling over $11,000 to fund innovative classroom projects and learning opportunities across the district.
Jaimee Berry at Starside Elementary received a grant for Chomping into Creativity with Beaver Bots, a project that will provide two child‑safe Beaver Bot Cutters so students can independently and safely cut cardboard during creative work.
Matthew Bradford and Mindy Fry at De Soto High School received a grant for Practice Room Pianos, a project that will fund three electric pianos to expand music instruction, increase student engagement, and provide modern, versatile practice tools for USD 232 learners.
Caroline Conley at Mill Valley High School received a grant for Native Pollinator Garden, an effort to establish and maintain a student‑tended pollinator garden that builds hands‑on ecological understanding and land‑stewardship skills.
Nathaniel Durand at Lexington Trails Middle School received a grant for Strength and Conditioning Program, an improvement that will replace worn weight‑room flooring to ensure safer workouts and protect equipment for years to come.
Madison Penfield at Starside Elementary received a grant for Orff We Go!, an initiative that will replace aging Orff instruments and expand the collection so all students can fully participate in hands‑on, collaborative music‑making.
Lisa Turney at Mill Valley High School received a grant for Atoms in Action, an initiative that will provide hands‑on chemistry tools—like an oversized periodic table and Happy Atoms kits—to help students model molecular structures, explore real‑world phenomena, and deepen understanding through interactive, discovery‑based learning.
Tyler Watts at Monticello Trails Middle School received a grant for Science Olympiad Summer Institute Training, a professional‑development experience that will allow him to attend the Science Olympiad Summer Institute and gain knowledge and skills to further elevate his students’ STEM skills and competition success.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, USD 232 educators can continue bringing imaginative, hands-on learning experiences to students, sparking curiosity, creativity, and new opportunities throughout the year. The support of our donors ensures every student has the chance to explore, innovate, and reach their full potential.