About Creative Impact Grants
2024-2025 Creative Impact Grants
Established in 1983, the Creative Impact Grants program is the cornerstone of LTSF. These grants are awarded to LT staff to fund creative and innovative projects that would not typically be supported by tax dollars. Over the past 40 years, the program has empowered educators to implement unique educational initiatives that enhance the learning experience for students. Since its inception, LTSF has provided over $1 million in grants to educators, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence within our schools. The Creative Impact Grants continue to play a crucial role in supporting the dynamic and imaginative teaching approaches that define Lawrence Township education.
Any MSD of Lawrence Township teacher, teacher group, school personnel, or administrator is eligible to apply. The Lawrence Township School Foundation is excited to announce the Creative Impact Grants for teachers for the 2024-2025 academic school year!
Dates to Know:
- Grant Applications Open: Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 8:00 am
- Deadline for Grant Applications: Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at 9:00 am
- Final Report for Grant Award Due: Friday, May 23, 2025, at 5:00 pm
Important Considerations When Applying for a Creative Impact Grant:
- Impact Scope: Preference will be given to grant requests that benefit a larger group, such as a grade, department, school, or Professional Learning Community (PLC).
- Data-Driven: Grants must be supported by traditional or non-traditional data.
- Budget: If selected, maximum grant amount cannot exceed $3,500.
- Classification: Grants should be categorized as either:
- Program: Sustainable initiatives with clear data support.
- Experience: Projects aimed at enhancing student performance.
- Funding Verification: Confirm with your principal that the project doesn't qualify for other funding sources through the district (e.g., Title 1, Technology, or Federal Magnet Grant).
- Grammar and Spelling: Proper grammar and correct spelling will influence the evaluation process.
- Completion and Reporting: The program must be completed during the current academic year, with a final report due by May 23, 2025.
High-Value Criteria:
- Innovation and creativity
- Educational value
- Student involvement
- Commitment of the grant recipient
- Clear and concise project descriptions
- Anticipated positive student outcomes in achievement, motivation, and character development
Requests NOT Considered for Funding:
- Multiple-year funding
- Teacher stipends or travel expenses
- Pre-existing or previously performed projects
- Computer hardware (e.g., PCs, laptops, tablets, eReaders, iPads)
Questions about applying for a Creative Impact Grant:
Contact Phyllis Siders at phyllissiders@msdlt.k12.in.us or call 317-423-8300.
2023-2024 Creative Impact Grants Awarded
19 grants totaling over $20,000 were awarded. Congratulations to the educators listed below! Click on the title of the grant to learn more.
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John Dolon, ELC Amy Beverland
SEL Puppet Theatre
This grant will bring educational hand puppets and a premade theater into Mr. Dolon's kindergarten classroom. By integrating theater and puppets into the daily classroom routine, students will learn how to express themselves creatively and emotionally. Grade level: Kindergarten
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Deena Fogle, Lawrence Central
Two Big Maps and a Bunch of Stickers
This grant will purchase two large maps: one of the United States and one of Indiana. These maps will be placed in a well-traveled area of Lawrence Central and seniors will have the opportunity to place stickers on the maps for every college/university acceptance they receive Grade levels: 9-12
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Jenna Funk, Crestview
Playground Communication Board
This grant will fund the installation of a communication board on the Crestview playground consisting of pictures, symbols, and core vocab words in both English and Spanish. Ms. Funk's "Playground Communication Board" grant will support students with communication challenges, bilingual students, and the teachers and peers who want to communicate and build relationships with them Grade levels: 1-6
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Wendy Golden, Lawrence Central
Creating Pottery From A New Point of View
This grant will provide students with a brand new wedging table for making pottery and exploring the art of ceramics in the classroom. Grade levels: 9-12
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Timothy Henderson, Lawrence North
Lawrence Township Winter Percussion
This grant will serve both Lawrence Central High School and Lawrence North High School students. It will cover the cost of their performance tarp and registration for all projected performances. Mr. Henderson's grant will help reduce the need to raise student fees while simultaneously improving the performance experience and number of performances opportunities for students. Grade levels: 9-12
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Greg Johnson, Lawrence North
LN Tech Theatre Lighting & Sound Project (Frieden Family Legacy Grant)
This Frieden Family Legacy Grant will purchase new sound equipment and a portable truss system for the LN Performing Arts Department With these tools, all performing arts students will gain the skills necessary for design and execution of technical theater motions, including the use of lighting cues, sound boards, and other technical practices. Grade levels: 9-12
Thank you to the Frieden Family for supporting this grant. You are making dreams come true for MSD of Lawrence Township students and educators!
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Amanda Long, Crestview
Guitars for Upper Elementary General Music: Progressing from Ukulele
This grant will purchase 16 brand new guitars for the music department to complete their classroom set. Fifth and sixth grade students, who received ukuleles last year as fourth and fifth graders, will now be taught guitar as a continuation of learning how to play fretted string instruments. Grade levels: 5-6
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Nicola Liss, Skiles Test
Visualizing Our Way to Comprehension
This grant will serve to fill in the gap by providing students with a variety of new reading comprehension resources, including over 800 high-interest and engaging informational stories, vocabulary and writing practice, and higher order thinking skills questions and exercises. Grade levels: 3-6
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Christina Noland, Lawrence North
The Tree House Project
This grant will provide high schoolers with a safe and aesthetically quiet space to experience: self awareness, quietness, collaboration, and solitude, as needed. Students will be able to access a variety of classroom amenities that promote positive mental health practices. Grade levels: 9-12
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Victoria Novilla, ELC Mary Castle
Math Pentathlon After School for Kindergarten
This grant will provide students and teachers access to Math Pentathlon, a K-7 program of interactive problem-solving games to motivate ALL students to enjoy and spend more time learning math. Ms. Novilla will be coaching kindergartners after school on the Math Pentathlon games and attend the Indiana statewide tournament in April 2024. Grade levels: K-7
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Rachel Sams, Belzer
Visual Examples for ALL
This grant will purchase a document camera for ELA classes that will allow students to see in real time what their work can look like and show other students what their examples are. Students enjoy showing their successes and a document camera is an easy way for them to display their work. Grade levels: 7-8
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Dave Shafer, Skiles Test
STEM-in-ACTION--Geocaching
Geocaching is a scavenger hunt using satellites and handheld GPS receivers. This grant will allow students to design and create geocache containers to hide "in plain sight" on the school property. After designing and creating the "hides," students put will information inside, such as codewords, math, vocab, trivia for other students to find and solve. Grade levels: 4-6
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Katie Thorn, LECC
Transportation Fitness Class
This grant will fund the purchase of yoga mats for the MSD of Lawrence Township Transportation Fitness class. This class is an opportunity for all MSDLT employees in the Transportation Department to be physically active at work. For: LECC staff
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Allison Weghorst, McKenzie Center for Innovation & Technology
Sensory Exploration Kits
This grant will provide Sensory Exploration Kits to teachers & therapists working with Life Skills students in all MSD of Lawrence Township elementary & middle schools. Grade levels: Pre K-8
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Mary Watts, ELC Mary Castle
School Wide Kindness Initiative for the 2023/2024 School Year
This grant will encourage students to show kindness throughout the school day by implementing an “I am kind!” reward system. ELC Mary Castle will have a brand new “Wall of Kindness” to recognize students on a weekly basis. Grade levels: Pre K-Kindergarten
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Natalie Watts, Lawrence Central
Capturing the Cub Reporter
This grant will provide the LC student-run newspaper with their very own cameras to use for reporting. Grade levels: 9-12
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Melissa Workman, ELC Brook Park
Sensory for ALL!
Sensory play helps young students build upon their senses, improving cognitive and language skills, as well as fine motor and social development. Ms. Workman’s “Sensory for ALL!” grant will provide all of ELC Brook Park with new sensory items, impacting over 400 students! Grade levels: Pre K-Kindergarten
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Jill Zapf, Harrison Hill
Let's Get Cooking
This grant will provide students in the functional academics classroom with the resources needed to prepare and cook a new dish each week based on different themes. Students will use math skills to measure and combine the ingredients into beautiful masterpieces. Grade levels: 1-6
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Amanda Long, Crestview
Boosting Engagement in Music with Ukuleles
This grant will help purchase ukuleles for music classes at Crestview. Grade levels: 4-6