YORK, Maine — The York Education Foundation has unveiled a series of new grants aimed at supporting innovative programs by York teachers, furthering its mission to transform school curriculums.
The foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2004 that has since funded many programs and projects through the grant process. The more creative the project, the more innovative the idea, and the more students and staff impacted by the proposed work, the better the chance that the initiative will be funded by the York Education Foundation.
The 2024-25 grants that have been awarded include the following:
Finding Our Flow : Led by STEAM teacher Annette Sloan at CRES, this long-term, community-based initiative focuses on studying stormwater and drainage on the CRES campus. The project incorporates hands-on learning to teach science, encourages students to become environmental stewards, and aims to transform the landscape and play areas into regenerative spaces.
Talk it Up with Beegup : York Middle School French teacher Stephanie Carboneau introduces an innovative language learning platform developed by the French Ministry of Education. Beegup enables students to connect with peers worldwide through text, audio, and video tools, fostering independent practice and global communication skills.
Family & Consumer Hydroponics : Led by family and consumer science teacher Melissa Burlingame at York High School, this initiative invites students to explore farm-to-table agriculture, nutrition, cooking, and sustainability using the “Raise Garden” Hydroponic System. The project enhances hands-on, collaborative courses by growing produce directly within the classroom.
YHS Courtyard : Spearheaded by Village Elementary School art teacher Laura Sunderland, this student advocacy group-initiated project aims to transform underused courtyards into outdoor learning and relaxation spaces. The initiative seeks to improve student and faculty engagement and mental health by creating themed courtyards focused on art, science, and English.
The Regulated Classroom : Inspired by a Maine DOE conference, Village Elementary counselor Amanda Benoit has developed a project to provide self-regulation and coping materials for all K-4 classes. Research indicates that a co-regulated physiological state enhances social connections, cooperation, impulse control, and academic learning.
Using Drones to Teach Science & Engineering : York High School STEM and computer science teacher Kevin Wyatt aims to enhance the STEM curriculum with hands-on drone experiences. Students will gain practical skills in programming and controlling drones, exploring various real-world applications. This grant seeks to improve students’ future job prospects by equipping them with essential 21st-century skills.
Environmental Literature Projects : Led by York High School Pathways and ELA teacher Christine Caprio, this initiative aims to design a project-based curriculum that integrates English language arts, geometry, algebra, environmental science, and social studies. The project will culminate in the construction of 10 “Aldo Leopold” patterned benches, which will be placed at York High School, York Land Trust, and York Parks & Recreation.
These grants, valued at $22,103, bring York Education Foundation's total grants to $297,000.
“As a veteran teacher here in York, I could not be more proud to work with the York Education Foundation and tout the accomplishments of this supportive parent group,” Wyatt said.
Members of the York school staff have a strong track record of writing successful grants. For example, the Smartboards in CRES classrooms originated from a proposal by an educator at Coastal Ridge Elementary. Another educator’s proposal led to the creation of the greenhouse at York Middle School.
A high school teacher secured a grant for portable displays for the York Community Auditorium, which are available for use by educators or event organizers. TEDxYorkBeach utilized these displays to showcase an inter-school art project themed “Power of The Past, Force of The Future.”
The Yoga 4 Classrooms program at Village Elementary School was also brought to life through a grant proposal. Additionally, the robotics teams at both York Middle and High Schools, now vital district programs, were initially funded by grants proposed by staff and supported by the York Education Foundation.
This year's grants have been awarded, and the York Education Foundation is now focused on raising funds for future grant submissions. They are counting on their upcoming golf tournament at York Golf and Tennis Club on Thursday, Sept. 12, to help achieve this goal and are actively seeking golfers and teams to participate.
"Raising funds is crucial because the number of grants we can provide directly depends on the funds we raise,” said Amanda Woods, a longtime supporter and volunteer for the York Education Foundation. “The success of our golf tournament in September will play a pivotal role in determining the grants we can award next year.”
The golf tournament is an 18-hole scramble. The event includes chef-prepared lunch (hot off the grill on the course), electric carts, and a post-tournament reception. For more information and to sign-up, use this link: https://birdease.com/yefgolftournament .
The York Education Foundation’s mission is to provide funding for innovative and challenging programs in the York Public Schools.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York Education Foundation funds hydroponics, drone programs, and more
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