Teacher Innovative & Enrichment Grants
The LCEF, in conjunction with County National Bank, Premier Bank, TLC Credit Union, Old National Bank, offers the Teacher Innovative & Enrichment Grant program to provide funds for the academic year to teachers to develop and implement instructional projects that motivate and challenge students to learn. Proposals should be unique classroom projects that enliven and enrich the curriculum.
The maximum funding request is $1,500. Applications are being accepted from August 14 through September 30, 2023.
Application Process
Please complete the LCEF Teacher Innovative & Enrichment Grant application using the Google form link provided below.
Teacher Innovative & Enrichment Grant Application
Evaluation Criteria
Teacher grant applications will be assessed on the quality of the project and the quality of the application. Please be sure to thoroughly and concisely address all of the questions on the grant application. The grant is provided to teachers to develop and implement instructional projects that motivate and challenge students to learn. Proposals should be unique classroom projects that enliven and enrich the curriculum that are not normally expected to be funded by the district.
Sponsor a Teacher Innovative & Enrichment Grant
Want more information on how your organization can sponsor one or more classroom learning projects? Please review the options available on the Ways to Help page. For additional information, please contact the LCEF office at 517-265-1626.
Success Stories
Lenawee County teachers continue to be asked to do more with less. The Lenawee County Education Foundation in partnership with First Federal Bank, TLC Credit Union, and Old National Bank, have established the Teacher Mini-Grant program providing teachers with funding to support their creative ideas to enhance student achievement.
Ms. Mansfield
Third Grade Teacher
Lincoln Elementary, Hudson Area Schools
In 2009, the LCEF awarded Audrey Mansfield a third grade teacher from Hudson Area Schools’ Lincoln Elementary a $500 grant for the purposes of purchasing Nintendo DS Lite systems for use within her classroom.
The Nintendo DS Lite is a handheld gaming device that features WI-FI (wireless) capabilities, allowing users to communicate with one another and compete against one another in activities on the system.
Through the support of the LCEF, Mrs. Mansfield was able to purchase 3 Nintendo DS Lite systems and 3 programs, Big Brain Academy, Personal Math Trainer and Brain Age 1 and 2.
Through the use of the Nintendo DS Lite systems, students are able to practice and enhance their skills in mixed operation calculations, problem analysis, memorization and so much more. Students have shown a significant interest in learning through this technology and students are even more eager to take timed multiplication tests due to the confidence that they have gained in their knowledge and skills from their use of the Nintendo DS Lite. Not only are students more interested in taking the tests, Mrs. Mansfield reports that their scores have improved since integration of these tools.
As a result of the success of this project, Mrs. Mansfield’s students have demonstrated their use of the Nintendo DS Lite system to the Hudson Area Schools Board of Education and Mrs. Mansfield’s colleagues are seeking funding for similar devices for their classrooms.
“Today’s students are less motivated to learn their math facts in traditional ways. By putting a Nintendo DS Lite system in their hands, students have taken a new interest in learning and improving their math facts and skills.”
Audrey Mansfield
Third Grade Teacher
Lincoln Elementary, Hudson Area Schools
Ms. Maska
Preschool Teacher
Britton-Macon Community Schools*
Through an LCEF teacher mini-grant awarded in 2009, Britton-Macon Community Schools pre-school teacher Denise Maska was able to acquire equipment and supplies necessary to start a small grow lab within her classroom. Through the grow lab project, 87 Britton-Macon students grew a variety of different items from herbs and vegetables to flowers.
The grow lab became an integral part of the preschool curriculum is Ms. Maska’s class. The students would study and monitor the evolution of the various plants and other species (including worms!) that came to life in the soil of their laboratory. Students would be given specific tasks including watering the garden, checking for worms, monitoring the health of the plants and measuring their growth. Students would then be responsible for documenting and reporting on the progress of the garden.
The students have become so engaged and enthralled with the grow lab that they are creating their own gardens at home with the assistance of their parents and other family members. These gardens become a great source of pride for the students, while also providing for delicious and nutritious, home-grown vegetables.
“The grow law project has been a positive growing experience for a lot of children who would never have had the opportunity to learn about these things.”
Denise Maska
Preschool Teacher
Britton-Macon Community School
*Britton-Macon Community Schools is now Britton Deerfield Schools
