2023 SEF Grant Awards
Springfield Education Foundation is proud to award 30 SEF Grants to educators in the Springfield Public School District for the 2023-24 academic year, for a record-breaking total of $80,784 in funding! These awards will fund exciting projects at 20 schools in our district.
The three types of grants given to educators this year are as follows:
Innovative Educator Grants
This grant program is to empower students through the enrichment/enhancement of current programs; provide new learning opportunities to keep students engaged; encourage positive behavior; increase a sense of belonging at school, reach underserved populations; and/or promote career opportunities and college connections.
Social Emotional Learning Fund (SELF) Grant
The purpose of this grant program is to offer funding for educators that wish to implement sustainable social-emotional learning opportunities for students attending school in the Springfield School District.
Frank Sherman Grants
The purpose of this grant are to promote and support health, physical fitness, and outdoor education activities and curriculum offered
Elementary School Awards (K-5th grades)
“Learn to Ride Fleet Enhancement”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Jack Blashchishen, Safe Routes to School Coordinator
Impact: 750 students
Award Amount: $4,000.00
This project will provide 10 high-quality Woom kids bikes, add to the existing Strider bike fleet so more kids can use bikes with pedals and handbrakes; increasing the number of students who successfully learn to ride a bike in a 2-3 week PE program.
“Let’s Read Together: Bilingual Lending Library“
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Sarah Ferren, English Language Development (ELD) Teacher
Impact: 30 Students
Award Amount: $337.66
These books are designed for a child and an adult to read together. On one page, there is an adult passage in Spanish and English. On the facing page, there is a passage at the child’s level, also Spanish and English.
“Flexible Seating in K and 1“
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Colleen O’Meara, Kindergarten teacher
Partners: Hope Zima & Tara Sloan, Kindergarten Teachers
Riley Johnson, Allie Anderson, & Tracy George, First Grade Teachers
Impact: 60 Students
Award Amount: $300.00
These funds will purchase flexible floor seating to support students who physically struggle with “criss-cross-applesauce” in kindergarten and first grade.
“Connecting Cultures through Mariachi Music“
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Krystal Sundstrom, Dual Immersion Program Coordinator
Impact: 350 students
Award Amount: $800.00
This project will create opportunities for students to appreciate culture through music by learning about mariachi and experiencing traditional mariachi performances. This project benefits elementary students who will experience mariachi music, along with high school students who will perform mariachi.
“There’s Strength in Numbers”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Amanda Koen, First Grade Teacher
Impact: 350 students
Award Amount: $3,795.36
This grant will purchase a series of math game kits. These kits will help build strong family-school partnerships by engaging families in ways that support high academic achievement. These no-prep, standards-based games will be used to host Family Math Nights and more.
“Breathe Easy“
SELF Grant
Educator: Jacquelyn Ivankovic, Behavior Interventionist
Impact: 40 students
Award Amount: $1,000
This project is geared towards technology that will support Tier 2 SEL initiatives that focus on opportunities for students to develop and mold their emotional regulation strategies, pro-social behaviors, and social-emotional connections to others.
“STEAM in the Four Spheres 2023-24”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator:Sara Burgin, 5th Grade Teacher
Partners: Autumn Erickson & Lindsey Dennis, 5th Grade Teachers
Impact: 75 students
Award Amount: $1,550
“STEAM in the Four Spheres 2023-24” will enrich, extend, and enhance classroom learning with physical and experiential outdoor learning opportunities.
“Charge It Up Station!“
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Adam Fine, Elementary Teacher
Impact: 435 students
Award Amount: $1,100.00
This grant aims to address the issue of students not being able to use uncharged devices that they bring to school. All students in our building will benefit when teachers have the resources to charge devices at school.
“Wiggle and Learn“
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Jennifer Robinette, 4th/5th Grade Teacher
Impact: 30 students
Award Amount: $1,778.49
Students will get their wiggles out with flexible seating! This grant will purchase active seating options to improve student engagement and learning.
“Light Up Kindergarten“
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Kelsey Thompson, Kindergarten Teacher
Partners: Kelsey Price & Deanna Badenoch, Kindergarten Teachers
Impact: 60 students
Award Amount: $2,786.88
A light table is the perfect way to encourage Kindergarten students to learn valuable concepts. We will creatively include the sense of “sight” in our teaching strategies. The contrast of light and shadow and the translucent materials will increase students’ learning.
Middle School Awards (6th-8th grades)
“Shoulder Rests and Alto Saxs”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Jarek Bartels, Band and Orchestra Director
Impact: 50 students
Award Amount: $2,500.00
For this project, I will purchase 60 Everest shoulder rests and two alto saxophones that will help my band and orchestra students progress for years to come.
“Celebrating Our Indigenous Heritage”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Jeffrey Fuller, ASMS Principal
Partners: Xavier Davis, ASMS Equity Team Leader
Kate Mather & Laurel Lisovskis, ASMS Counselors
Nathan White, ASMS Art Teacher
ASMS Equity Team Members: Matt O’Reilly, Matt Weber, Sarah Heacox-Jackson, Carrie Patterson, Audrey Stroh, Ben Kyler, Matthew Auxier, Johanna Jimenez
Impact: 470 students
Award Amount: $4,000.00
Students will create a mural in partnership with a native artist to recognize the indigenous people of our area, learn about those here before, acknowledge the land where we sit, and a collective experience that will bring our community together.
“Student Voice Tells the School’s Story”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Matthew O’Reilly, Dean of Students
Impact: 500 students
Award Amount: $3,000.00
Sharing our school’s story through social media and podcasting empowers students to express their unique perspectives and experiences, fosters community engagement and support, and enhances visibility and recognition for our school.
“Continuing to Strengthen my Band Program”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Ana Gavrilovich, Band/Orchestra Director
Impact: 136 Students
Award Amount: $4,000.00
My project seeks to strengthen my music program by improving the band instrument inventory through repairs.
“Branching Out: Promoting the Joy and Benefits of Running Outdoors”
Frank Sherman Grant
Educator: Brandon Schrock, 6th Grade ELA/SS & Cross Country Coach
Impact: 20 students
Award Amount: $1,000
The Springfield/Eugene region boasts breathtaking sights and beautiful trails which are often overlooked by local youth. However, through Branching Out, young, aspiring runners now have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the wonders of nature and trail running.
“Art and Culture Immersion”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Kim Simons, Humanities Survey – Related Arts – Certified Teacher
Impact: 400 students
Award Amount: $1,977.80
The use of Scholastic Art Magazine will inspire students’ creativity with visually stunning art stories that feature diverse artists/cultures. Students will discover the elements/principles behind classic/contemporary masterpieces and use what they’ve learned to create their own work.
High School Awards (9th-12th grades)
“Inclusivity Matters: Supporting Body Diversity in Design and Costuming”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Ariana Schwartz, CTE Design Program
Grant Writer: Emerald Crafton, Office Specialist
Impact: 130 Students
Award Amount: $657.96
Our CTE fashion design program and costuming classes currently only have dress forms/mannequins in sizes 4-6. This grant will allow us to purchase additional mannequins in larger dress sizes that more accurately reflect the average female body size.
“Metal Arts & Blacksmithing”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Andrew Hunt, Teacher
Partner: Jared Mills, Media Teacher
Impact: 25 students
Award Amount: $2,500.00
This project focuses on the synthesis of art and science. Over four weeks, students will learn forging and sculpting with many kinds of metal as well as they study metallurgy. There will be a focus on recycled materials and public art.
“Leadership and Career Opportunity”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator:Ruxandra Westra, SPED Educational Assistant
Partner: Ariana Schwartz, CTE Advisor/Applied Arts Teacher
Impact: 200 students
Award Amount: $2,963.00
This grant provides the tools and materials needed for hands-on, career-oriented learning in the trade of cake decorating. It will also open leadership roles for high school students as active members of the SkillsUSA club.
“Harnessing the Beats”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Jon Bridges, Teacher – Band/Mariachi
Partner: Chandler Larsen, SHS Percussion Coach
Impact: 40 students
Award Amount: $4,000.00
This project will allow us to replace and modernize outdated, aging, uncomfortable, and pain-inducing harnesses used by our drumline for performances.
“Where everyone has a place to THROW and GROW”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Annelise Ostberg, Ceramics Teacher
Impact: 18 students
Award Amount: $4,000.00
This grant will fund an ADA adaptive pottery wheel to be used in the ceramics classroom, which will further advance our mission to create a supportive, equitable, and creative space for all.
“Graphic Novels for Reluctant Reader”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Dani Schneider, Library Supervisor
Impact: 1300 students
Award Amount: $2,800.00
Funding will provide our library with the ability to purchase graphic novels, a highly sought-after medium. Our goal is to reach students not interested in traditional books and struggling readers.
“Media Production Studio Upgrade: Lighting, Camera, & Sound Equipment”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Bren Bovee, CTE Teacher
Impact: 150 students
Award Amount: $3,999.00
This grant funds the acquisition of media production studio equipment– with an emphasis on industry-standard lighting gear– for a recently launched Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathway.
“Setting up for Success”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Conor Egan, Band/Orchestra Director
Impact: 130 students
Award Amount: $3,247.28
This grant will purchase equipment to make the music program more closely reflect a professional rehearsal space including music folders, a podium, and specialized organization systems. This will help streamline instruction and allow students to take pride in their work.
“Printmaking”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Perry Joseph, Arts Teacher
Impact: 150 students
Award Amount: $4,000.00
This grant will supplement the startup costs of a brand-new printmaking program for the 2023-24 school year. The new equipment will include woodcut, linocut, collagraph, monotype, and possibly engraving and drypoint, adding to existing equipment including a press.
“Enhancing the High School Painting Program”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Casey Leonard, Visual Arts Teacher
Impact: 400 students
Award Amount: $3,700.00
This project aims to enhance our current high school painting program by providing high-quality art supplies and an improved system for displaying student work in the classroom.
“Global Cuisines”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Crystal Martorano, CTE Teacher/Culinary
Impact: 750 students
Award Amount: $4,000.00
Culinary students will be introduced to a variety of global cuisines and the authentic ways they are prepared using culturally specific cookware and techniques.
“Side-by-Side Adapted Trike”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Natalie Nicholls, Learning Specialist
Partner: Annin Ramsing, Life Skills Teacher
Impact: 750 students
Award Amount: $3,000.00
This is an adapted side-by-side trike that allows for two riders and provides supports for individuals with significant intellectual and physical disabilities to ride together with others.
“The Garden Project”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Ryan Hovey, Teacher
Partners: Katie Nunes, Site Director
Paul Owen, Sergeant/Academic Assistant
Impact: 300 students
Award Amount: $4,000.00
The Garden Project will teach students the art, practice, and science of growing and managing a garden. Students will work year-round maintaining outdoor beds and a greenhouse, composting, harvesting, sprouting and saving seeds, and taking care of animals.
“Expanding Interdisciplinary Materials Science Learning Opportunities”
Innovative Educator Grant
Educator: Tyson Migliaccio, Student Success Coordinator / Teacher
Impact: 100 students
Award Amount: $3,991.35
We will acquire supplies for interdisciplinary science lab activities, expanding a materials science STEM class started in 2023. Students will explore the chemistry of Raku pottery and create conductive paint to use with LED light stickers to make paper circuits.
