The Frenship Foundation for Leadership set out on their annual Prize Patrol to award $59,112.31 to teachers across the District. The Foundation provides Frenship educators the opportunity to apply for grants during the spring that will fund projects that go above and beyond the typical classroom experience. The money awarded is given to those who have been selected as grant winners. 

 

Forty-one lucky teachers were surprised by the Frenship Band and Spirit Squads, as well as Foundation Board Members when their classrooms were interrupted for an official check presentation.

 

"You cannot believe how much this means to us," exclaimed Shana Keeton, 3rd grad ELAR teacher at Oak Ridge Elementary. "This is going to allow us to tailor our curriculum a little bit more individually for each kid in small groups, and help all of our new teachers as well so that we can meet the needs of all of our kids!"

 

Terri Robinette, Board President, said the money given from these grants works in multiple ways for multiple students. 

 

"When we give a teacher a grant, it benefits 30 students in the classroom, or 100 students in the grade or sometimes the whole school," Robinette said. "Those grants touch a lot of kids and that money works in big ways."

 

The Foundation's annual Denim & Diamonds Gala held each February raises money for the Teacher Grant Program. The program has been providing teachers with innovative ventures outside of Frenship's normal operating budget since 2012.