It is with great pleasure that we share this year’s APEF grant recipients. Once again, we found ourselves wondering what the next school year would look like. Thankfully, the health of the Huntting and Packer Endowments and the generosity of the Hirsch Family Foundation allow the Austin Public Education Foundation to continue providing grant funding to teachers and administrators within Austin Public Schools District 492.
Building Level Grants
These grants are funded thanks in part to the Hirsch Family Foundation.
| Requestor & School | Request | Amount |
| Andrea Malo, Austin High School | Hallway Seating Options – ALC | $2,416.55 |
| Dewey Schara, IJ Holton Intermediate | Laptop Charging Hub | $566.00 |
| Jason Boe, Southgate Elementary | TumblePro Foam Tumbling Mats | $4,011.96 |
| Sandra Fadness, Ellis Middle School | 7th Grade Life Science Microscopes | $3,120.00 |
| Total | $10,114.51 |
Teacher Grants
These grants are funded by the Huntting and Packer Endowments. Annual interest earned through these endowments determine the amount that can be distributed to teachers each year.
| Community Learning Center | ||
| Judi Needham | 15 TI-30XS Multiview Calculators for Adult Learners | $300.00 |
| Woodson Kindergarten Center | ||
| Katie Keller | Hands-on Phonics Learning Activities | $3,823.31 |
| Crystal Pepper | Phonics Instruction Resources | $672.76 |
| Banfield Elementary | ||
| Nicole Edwards | 1st Grade Phonemic awareness & Centers | $681.09 |
| Nicole Edwards | 1st Grade Enrichment Supplemental Books | $383.70 |
| Neveln Elementary | ||
| PBIS Team | Self-Regulation Tools | $1,255.06 |
| Lauren Phan | 1st Grade Center Materials | $1,019.97 |
| Holly Thomas | Sensory Pathway | $585.00 |
| Gerilyn Vesel | 1st Grade Phonics and Mathematics Materials | $453.50 |
| Amber Rochat & Gina Williams | 1st Grade Small Group Center Materials | $1,242.06 |
| Maria Mickelson, Janene Lunning, & Brenda Hackensmith | Mathematics Resources | $767.52 |
| Sumner Elementary | ||
| English Language Teachers | English Language Tools | $1,514.69 |
| System 44 Teachers | Classroom Library and Tools | $2,000.00 |
| Elizabeth Harder | Science and Social Studies Materials | $475.41 |
| Elizabeth Harder | Reading and Math Small Group Materials | $687.92 |
| Nikky Tolde | Advanced Academic and Talent Development Manipulatives | $160.46 |
| Nikky Tolde | Books Sets | $1,761.00 |
| Southgate Elementary | ||
| Jason Boe | EZSet Lightweight Portable Volleyball Standards | $508.50 |
| Jer Osgood | 16 pack of Board Games for Classroom Checkout | $180.00 |
| Jer Osgood | Childcraft Classic Board Game Set of 4 Games | $60.00 |
| Jer Osgood | 2 Picnic Tables for Outdoor Learning | $1,475.00 |
| Traci Braaten | Rooted in Reading Book Sets | $1,444.00 |
| First Grade Teachers | 1st Grade HOT DOT Independent Working Stations | $1,787.24 |
| Jayme Lamers | 3rd Grade Classroom Library- Diverse Books | $567.61 |
| Third Grade Teachers | Social Studies Small Group Books | $1,154.00 |
| Christy Halsey | Decodable Readers for Guided Reading Library | $636.00 |
| Morgan Dickman | 4th Grade Bee Bot Robot and Mat Resources | $319.80 |
| IJ Holton Intermediate | ||
| Angela Thoen | Newcomer Phonics Beginning Readers | $176.00 |
| Marianne Davidson | Exercise Opportunities While Learning | $410.14 |
| Drue Sponheim | Osmo Starter Kits for Ipad | $538.00 |
| 5th Grade Social Studies Teachers | 5th Grade Flexible Seating – Surf Chairs | $1,079.70 |
| 5th Grade Social Studies Teachers | Little People, Big Dreams Series | $401.31 |
| 5th Grade Social Studies Teachers | Black History Heroes Book Series | $432.00 |
| 5th Grade Math Teachers | 5th Grade Student Manipulatives Kits | $2,000.00 |
| Leah Motl | Orchestra Organizational Materials | $600.00 |
| 6th Grade Science Teachers | Weather Station with LCD Concole | $424.95 |
| Michelle Swank | Special Education Osmo Genius Kit | $351.61 |
| Ellis Middle School | ||
| Arik Anderson -7th & 8th grade Football | Jr. High Football Equipment | $975.00 |
| Austin High School | ||
| Kathy Ewing & the ELL Team | Who Is/Who Was EL Leveled Reading Library | $700.00 |
| Jacy Bodi | Weight Room Equipment Expansion | $1,335.27 |
| Kristen Frana | Horizon Program Art and Creativity Supplies | $1,039.38 |
| Darla Bernard | Horizon Program Mind and Body Management Materials | $372.94 |
| Alexa Dolan Peterson | AHS Packer Pantry Storage Request | $135.00 |
| Lisa Peters & Jordan Reim | Classroom Sets – Essentials of Language Arts | $1,078.80 |
| Carlene Pline | Readers Workshop Library – AP Lit | $2,000.00 |
| Leslie Leffers | 16 Cube Storage Organizer | $140.52 |
| Oakland Education Center | ||
| Troy Deikman | PE/DAPE – Gagaball Pit | $2,129.00 |
| Area Learning Center | ||
| Eliza Kelly | Easel Boards for STARS | $139.98 |
| Eliza Kelly & Nicole Fuller | Hands-On Equations and Calculators | $519.00 |
| Eliza Kelly & Gabe Nelson | Table Tennis Supplies for Hand/Eye Coordination | $972.95 |
| District Wide Support | ||
| Ryan Mayers, Communications Coordinator | Video Microphone for District Videos | $321.05 |
| David Hovland, Katie Tharp, Nikky Tolde, & Kim Zerke, Elementary Music | Diverse Children’s Books for Music Class | $1,400.00 |
Total: $45,588.20
Between the Hirsch Foundation and the Huntting and Packer Endowments, the Austin Public Education Foundation was able to provide 56 grants totaling $55,702.71! Congratulations to this year’s recipients. We look forward to seeing your grants in action during the 2021 – 2022 school year.
APE Foundation - AHS Alumni 