Celebrating the 2025 Cash For Classrooms Grants
Make Reading Fun, CTA Goodman
Winner: Amanda Wright
School: ACP High
Project Name: Enhancing High School Civics Education with AMSCO AP Government Resources
Award: $900
Project: Funds will purchase 35 AMSCO AP Government textbooks to provide updated, College Board-aligned materials that enhance student engagement, critical thinking, and exam preparation in civics education.
Winner: Josh Edwards
School: ACP Middle
Project Name: A Better Sense of STEM: Using Advanced Sensors for Creative Reasoning
Award: $1,100
Project: Requesting VEX AI and distance sensors to elevate robotics programming from basic yes/no inputs to complex, real-time automation, boosting creativity and problem-solving in STEM courses.
Winner: Pam Parzych
School: ACP Middle
Project Name: Book Tastings
Award: $425
Project: Funding will create reusable materials to host themed book tastings, encouraging reading engagement and genre exploration in a café-style setting for all students.
Winner: Nkiruka Aningo
School: Andersen Elementary
Project Name: Andersen Cheerleading Squad
Award: $3,000
Project: Grant will fund uniforms and participation costs for a cheer team that promotes school spirit, teamwork, and equitable access for all students.
Winner: Alex Randel
School: Andersen Jr. High
Project Name: AJHS PBIS Celebrations
Award: $3,000
Project: Funding will support quarterly PBIS celebrations that reward positive behavior and promote schoolwide social-emotional learning.
Winner: Carolyn Cofoid
School: Andersen Jr. High
Project Name: College Campus Visit
Award: $3,000
Project: Funds will help 8th grade AVID students visit Northern Arizona University, exposing them to college life and inspiring future academic goals.
Winner: Doreen Pasero
School: Auxier Elementary
Project Name: The Unplugged STEM Lab: Bridging Digital & Hands-On Innovation
Award: $1,100
Project: This project funds manipulatives and seating to create a balanced, collaborative STEM lab that fosters creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork beyond screens.
Winner: Mariel Olson
School: Auxier Elementary
Project Name: Sol Invictus: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Ancient Rome
Award: $650
Project: Grant will fund 50 novels to integrate ELA and social studies through a historical fiction study of Ancient Rome, promoting engagement and cross-curricular learning.
Winner: Allison Ekren
School: Basha Accelerated Middle
Project Name: AMS Robotics
Award: $1,000
Project: Funding for a new VEX robotics kit to expand a growing robotics program, increasing team size, hands-on learning, and mentorship with high school students.
Winner: Megan Vogus
School: Basha Elementary
Project Name: Music Making in the Specialized Classroom!
Award: $500
Project: Funds will purchase durable percussion instruments and movement materials to enhance music learning and self-expression for special education students.
Winner: Michael McKelvy
Schools: Basha High, Conley Elementary, Jacobson Elementary, Shumway Leadership
Project Name: Enhancing Students' and Families' Science Interest and Identity through Science is Fun Family Events
Award: $3,000
Project: Funds will support Science is Fun kits enabling high school mentors to lead family-based science explorations, promoting STEM engagement across schools.
Winner: Bonnie Flores
School: Bogle Jr. High
Project Name: Bogle Botz!!!
Award: $3,000
Project: Grant supports expanding robotics resources and lab tools for growing teams, enhancing hands-on STEM education and student collaboration.
Winner: Jennifer Kelly
School: Bogle Jr. High
Project Name: Personalized Photo Yearbooks Project
Award: $675
Project: Project funds personalized student photo yearbooks to build literacy, self-expression, and inclusion for specialized classroom students.
Winner: Almarie van Niekerk
School: Bogle Jr. High
Project Name: Life Skills Project
Award: $150
Project: Funds will purchase a cordless vacuum to teach life skills to students with intellectual disabilities, promoting independence and confidence.
Winner: Jamie Ezolt
School: Bologna Elementary
Project Name: Cultivating Curiosity: A Hands-on Ecosystem Project
Award: $2,500
Project: Grant supports a hands-on ecosystem study using gardens and insect observation to engage Title I ELL students in science and language learning.
Winner: Angela Taylor
School: Bologna Elementary
Project Name: Igniting Early Literacy
Award: $250
Project: Request funds for hands-on phonics and literacy games to help early learners strengthen foundational reading and communication skills.
Winner: Danielle Halsted
School: Bologna Elementary
Project Name: Garden of Wonder Project
Award: $850
Project: Funds will revitalize a hydroponic garden, supporting cross-curricular lessons in science, math, and writing for Title I students.
Winner: Tina Thelen
School: Carlson Elementary
Project Name: Creating a Calming Area for Enhanced Emotional Well-being and Small Group Support
Award: $1,100
Project: Funding will create a calming counseling space with sensory tools and furniture to support student self-regulation and emotional health.
Winner: Nydia del Rio
School: Casteel High
Project Name: Classroom Tech Integration
Award: $1,500
Project: Requesting Lenovo Digital Pens to enhance student engagement and equity by enabling interactive note-taking, annotation, and collaboration on district laptops using Microsoft OneNote.
Winner: Jentry Yard
School: Casteel High
Project Name: From Microliters to Mastery: Advancing Biotechnology Education
Award: $2,250
Project: Grant will fund new MiniOne micropipettes to improve precision in biotech labs, supporting hands-on inquiry, teamwork, and alignment with state bioscience standards.
Winner: Sarah Williams
School: Casteel Middle School
Project Name: Table Talk: Where Learning Gets a Seat
Award: $1,864.76
Project: Funds will purchase dining-style tables to replace desks, fostering collaboration, discussion, and social-emotional learning in English Language Arts classes.
Winner: Janeen Scaringelli
School: Chandler Early College
Project Name: Planted, Not Buried – Own the Deed to Your Mind
Award: $2,500
Project: Supports a mental-health and mindset program led by motivational speaker Lance Thonvold to teach students discipline, effort, and focus for long-term success.
Winner: Savannah Davis
School: Chandler High
Project Name: Mobile Whiteboard & Calculators for Chemistry
Award: $400
Project: Requesting a rolling whiteboard and calculators to improve interactive chemistry instruction, promote equity, and strengthen problem-solving skills.
Winner: Julia Vollaro
School: Chandler High
Project Name: Broadcast Video Project
Award: $2,000
Project: Funding a professional camera lens for the Film & TV Production program to enhance broadcast quality and teach industry-standard cinematography skills.
Winner: Jordan Doll
School: Chandler High
Project Name: Biotechnology
Award: $400
Project: Purchase reusable DNA fingerprinting kits to teach biotechnology, genetics, and ethical implications through hands-on lab investigations.
Winner: RikkiLynn Archibeque
School: Chandler High
Project Name: CUSD Inaugural Pow Wow
Award: $3,000
Project: Funding a district-wide Pow Wow celebrating Indigenous culture through dance, storytelling, and education, aligning with equity and history standards.
Winner: Victoria Meyn
School: Conley Elementary
Project Name: Igniting Future Innovators through Career Literacy
Award: $2,000
Project: Funds will launch career-based learning projects like a student-run coffee cart, news station, and culinary elective to promote entrepreneurship and collaboration.
Winner: Brittney Cope
School: Conley Elementary
Project Name: Strengthening Minds & Mathematics!
Award: $700
Project: Request for permanent whiteboards and coordinate plane tools to enhance collaborative math learning through Building Thinking Classrooms practices.
Winner: Stephanie Johnson
School: Conley Elementary
Project Name: Calming Kits
Award: $645.52
Project: Provides each classroom with sensory and mindfulness kits to help students self-regulate emotions and reduce behavioral disruptions.
Winner: Michelle Dalby
School: CTA Freedom
Project Name: Class Keyboards
Award: $812.10
Project: Funding 15 electronic keyboards to introduce piano basics in music class, expanding musical literacy and expression across grades 3–6.
Winner: Kristin Webster
School: CTA Freedom
Project Name: Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Award: $319.96
Project: Funds butterfly larva kits to let students observe life cycles firsthand, enriching science learning through inquiry and journaling.
Winner: Tori Campbell
School: CTA Goodman
Project Name: Empowering Young Innovators: Bridging Foundational Skills with VEX Robotics
Award: $1,000
Project: Grant provides STEM center materials to support hands-on robotics and coding for K–3 students, promoting creativity and problem-solving.
Winner: Jessica Pfau
School: CTA Independence
Project Name: The Hawks' Python Project: Coding Success with BitsBox
Award: $1,962.91
Project: Funds BitsBox curriculum materials to teach 4th graders JavaScript coding through app design projects, building computational thinking and creativity.
Winner: Megan Maxwell
School: CTA Independence
Project Name: Bridging the Literacy Gap for All Learners through Audiobooks
Award: $3,000
Project: Purchases Playaway audiobooks to support literacy for struggling readers, ELL students, and learners with disabilities through accessible reading experiences.
Winner: Erica Rutledge
School: Frye Elementary
Project Name: Early Childhood Adventures
Award: $500
Project: Funding new manipulatives and play-based learning materials to enhance social, emotional, and academic growth in early childhood classrooms.
Winner: Angelica Abbey
School: Frye Elementary
Project Name: Empowering Student Voice through Participatory Budgeting
Award: $2,000
Project: Supports a student-led participatory budgeting program where students research, propose, and vote on campus improvement projects, promoting civic engagement.
Winner: Jean Li
School: Fulton Elementary
Project Name: Empowering the Difference
Award: $3,000
Project: Supports students with developmental or sensory needs through adaptive tools that build communication, regulation, and active learning skills.
Winner: Stacey Hale
School: Fulton Elementary
Project Name: From Seeds to Success: A Fourth Grade Garden Project
Award: $650
Project: Funding a raised-bed garden for 4th graders to explore ecosystems, weather, and sustainability through hands-on science learning.
Winner: Pamela DeRosa
School: Fulton Elementary
Project Name: Our Magical Math Wish: Adding Fun, Subtracting Stress, and Multiplying Confidence
Award: $700
Project: Funds will purchase storybooks, math games, and digital tools to make math engaging and boost confidence for all second-grade learners.
Winner: Ashleigh Mueller
School: Galveston Elementary
Project Name: Room 107
Award: $400
Project: Requesting classroom supplies such as dry-erase tools and headphones to support sensory-friendly, hands-on learning for all first-grade students.
Winner: Marie-Claire Welsh
School: Galveston Elementary
Project Name: The Focused Learner Initiative – Galveston Elementary Intermediate Grades
Award: $2,300
Project: Grant funds sensory materials to create calm corners for grades 4–6 special education classrooms, supporting emotional regulation and focus.
Winner: Kristen Jochimsen
School: Haley Elementary
Project Name: Haley Elementary School Multi-Tiered Student Wellness Initiative
Award: $1,150
Project: Funds will provide sensory tools and flexible seating for classrooms and counseling spaces to improve emotional regulation and reduce disruptions.
Winner: Jean Carlson
School: Haley Elementary
Project Name: First Grade Math Talks and Manipulatives
Award: $839
Project: Grant will fund math manipulatives, counting materials, and whiteboards to enhance hands-on learning and number sense in first grade.
Winner: Nicole Kennedy
School: Hamilton High
Project Name: Engaging Anatomy Through Hands-On Skeleton Models
Award: $1,281.19
Project: Funds will purchase skeleton models to support interactive anatomy instruction, fostering hands-on exploration and collaboration.
Winner: Hari Diddigi
School: Hancock Elementary
Project Name: Discover, Reflect, Grow: Learning with Experiences
Award: $1,000
Project: Supports in-class field trips like Science on Wheels and Zoo Comes to You, providing early STEM learning experiences for preschoolers.
Winner: Bethany Byars
School: Hancock Elementary
Project Name: Puzzling Projects
Award: $1,465.33
Project: Grant funds STEAM kits and puzzles to help 4th graders explore Earth science concepts through interactive, hands-on learning.
Winner: Kim Alvin De Lara
School: Hartford Elementary
Project Name: Young Inventors Challenge: Eco-STEM Edition
Award: $3,000
Project: Funding will provide invention kits, eco-materials, and equipment for students to design STEM-based solutions and compete in invention fairs.
Winner: Amy Ring
School: Hill Learning Academy @ICAN
Project Name: ICAN – An Alternative Site Providing Traditional Experiences
Award: $3,000
Project: Grant funds quarterly cultural and community events to foster inclusion and school spirit for at-risk high school students.
Winner: Amy Perry
School: Hull Elementary
Project Name: Heroes Have SPARQ!
Award: $880
Project: Funds will support SPARQ, a schoolwide career and financial literacy program with hands-on projects in architecture, design, and entrepreneurship.
Winner: Jaime Breedlove
School: Hull Elementary
Project Name: First Grade Insect Life Cycles
Award: $730.92
Project: Funding insect habitats for observing caterpillars, ladybugs, and ants to teach life cycles, scientific observation, and cross-curricular literacy.
Winner: Tricia Garnett
School: Jacobson Elementary
Project Name: Ukuleles
Award: $877.50
Project: Funds will purchase ukuleles for 4th graders to develop foundational music skills and prepare for future band or orchestra participation.
Winner: Krista Wilkewitz
School: Knox Gifted Academy
Project Name: Creative Classrooms
Award: $1,000
Project: Grant funds two Cricut machines and supplies for the IDEA Lab to enhance design, creativity, and project-based learning across grade levels.
Winner: Maureen Alger
School: Navarrete Elementary
Project Name: Improving Fine Motor Skills in Kindergarten
Award: $1,200
Project: Creates a fine-motor learning station with manipulatives and building materials to strengthen handwriting, phonics, math, and problem-solving skills through hands-on literacy and math rotations.
Winner: Melissa Buist
School: Navarrete Elementary
Project Name: Buzz Bites Snack Cart Business
Award: $400
Project: Launches a student-run snack cart for 3rd graders to learn budgeting, marketing, and entrepreneurship while funding a sock donation project for local seniors.
Winner: Diana Perez
School: Rice Elementary
Project Name: Bringing History to Life: Hands-On Social Science for 6th Grade
Award: $1,500
Project: Provides materials for students to create artifacts, masks, and a historical parade, engaging them in immersive learning about ancient civilizations and global citizenship.
Winner: Brittany Budgett
School: Rice Elementary
Project Name: Dink and Dunk Dynamos!
Award: $2,000
Project: Purchases pickleball equipment for PE, after-school clubs, and family events to promote health, teamwork, and community engagement.
Winner: Tamara Kreutzbender
School: Riggs Elementary
Project Name: A Brainy Investment: Powering Future Innovators with VEX IQ Gen 2 Robotics
Award: $1,450
Project: Upgrades robotics kits to VEX IQ Gen 2 models, ensuring students continue developing coding, design, and problem-solving skills in a modernized STEM program.
Winner: Dawnielle Edwards
School: Riggs Elementary
Project Name: A Safe Space for Emotional Regulation and Reset
Award: $400
Project: Creates a calming classroom area with sensory tools to help students independently manage emotions and practice mindfulness.
Winner: Laura Heistuman
School: Ryan Elementary
Project Name: Indie-pendent Thinkers – Promoting STEAM Literacy with Sphero Indies
Award: $2,585.30
Project: Purchases Sphero Indie robots for hands-on, screen-free coding and STEAM exploration in the school library for all K–6 students.
Winner: Gina Gould
School: San Marcos Elementary
Project Name: Building Thinking Classrooms – San Marcos
Award: $600
Project: Funds portable vertical whiteboards and markers to increase collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking in math instruction schoolwide.
Winner: Susannah Reuss
School: Santan Elementary
Project Name: Enhancing Learning Through Flexible Seating in Kindergarten
Award: $750
Project: Adds flexible seating options such as low tables and floor chairs to improve engagement, focus, and collaboration in kindergarten classrooms.
Winner: Liana Arellano Edwards
School: Santan Elementary
Project Name: Santan Preschool and Pre-K Tonie Listening Centers
Award: $1,514.36
Project: Introduces Tonie Box listening centers to build early literacy, listening, and music appreciation skills through screen-free audio storytelling.
Winner: Kayla Oliver
School: Santan Elementary
Project Name: Building Bridges to Independence: Adaptive Tools for Students
Award: $1,000
Project: Provides adaptive utensils, visual cues, and ergonomic tools to help preschoolers with developmental challenges build independence and self-regulation.
Winner: Daniel Hartin
School: Santan Jr. High
Project Name: The Unlocking Literature Grant
Award: $2,100
Project: Funds Reader Pens that allow students with dyslexia to access grade-level texts independently and confidently across subjects.
Winner: Sarah Winzeler
School: Santan Jr. High
Project Name: The Collaborative Classroom: Dynamic Learning with Vertical Graphing Charts
Award: $277.58
Project: Purchases large reusable graphing charts so math students can collaboratively visualize and discuss algebraic and geometric concepts.
Winner: Suzanne Peters
School: Santan Jr. High
Project Name: Good Times with Blooket Plus
Award: $300
Project: Covers a Blooket Plus subscription to enhance student engagement and provide teachers with performance data for targeted instruction.
Winner: Megan Jeffers
School: Santan Jr. High
Project Name: SUCCEED Program – Success Store
Award: $500
Project: Provides positive reinforcement incentives for students in behavioral and academic reintegration programs, promoting motivation and responsibility.
Winner: Donna Gustafson
School: Santan Jr. High
Project Name: History in Color
Award: $1,366.74
Project: Purchases a color laser printer and refills to help students produce professional-quality visuals and exhibits for National History Day projects.
Winner: Miranda Saenz
School: Shumway Leadership
Project Name: Innovators in the Making: “Science is Fun” and Building VEX Robotics
Award: $3,000
Project: Supports VEX Robotics and Science is Fun initiatives, expanding hands-on STEM experiences and hosting a Family STEM Night to showcase student projects.
Winner: Nikole Bohn
School: Tarwater Elementary
Project Name: Books and Breakfast with Third Grade Authors
Award: $500
Project: Funds materials for each student to write, illustrate, and publish a hardcover book to present at a family literacy event.
Winner: Brittany Weatherill
School: Tarwater Elementary
Project Name: Sustainable Circuits for 4th Graders
Award: $750
Project: Purchases Makey Makey circuit kits for students to design, test, and understand electrical circuits in alignment with science standards.
Winner: Terressa Selfridge
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy
Project Name: Igniting Curiosity and Collaboration in Gifted Kindergarten at Weinberg Gifted Academy
Award: $778.95
Project: Acquires a Qball microphone and coding train to build communication, confidence, and early STEM problem-solving among gifted kindergarteners.
Winner: Michael Doutrich
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy
Project Name: The Sphero STEM Lab
Award: $2,200
Project: Creates a robotics lab with Sphero BOLT robots and code mats to teach coding, geometry, and collaboration through hands-on problem solving.
Winner: Taryn Bobko
School: Willis Jr. High
Project Name: Math Lab Intervention
Award: $1,000
Project: Equips a math intervention lab with manipulatives, coordinate grids, and calculators to support conceptual understanding for struggling learners.
Winner: Sadie Johnson
School: Willis Jr. High
Project Name: WJHS Drama Club Annual Productions
Award: $1,500
Project: Funds script rights, props, and costumes to establish an annual student-led theater production, enriching performing arts opportunities and literacy skills.
Thank you to everyone who donated to and supported our Cash for Classrooms program this year. Please be sure to follow us on social media (links in footer) to see these grants in action across our schools!
