Innovation Grants

Inaugurated during the 2016-2017 school year, Avoca District's Innovation Grants promote innovation in and out of the classroom by providing funding to faculty who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to our children’s future. Innovation Grants support materials and programs that foster inclusivity; advance the discovery of new strategies for engaging students; advocate experimentation with new technologies; and implement high-impact pedagogies - such as project-based, experiential and community-engaged learning.

In order to support as many grants as possible, the Avoca PTC is appealing directly to you to support its Innovation Grant Program and asking that each family consider giving $25, $50 or more. Your donation will go directly towards Innovation Grants. As not every family can afford $25, we kindly ask that you please give what you can! Also, consider asking family and friends to contribute to Innovation Grants, as the PTC does not fundraise with traditional wrapping paper or candy sales. We thank you in advance for your serious consideration in helping fund this year’s innovative faculty projects that will enhance our district’s academic enterprise.

Innovation Grant 2024-2025 Materials

• Timeline

• Guidelines

• Application Form

• Informational Presentation

• Rubric

• FAQs

• Final Report

2024-2025 Committee Members

Jinie Papaioannou, Director of Innovation Grants

1. Member (AW) - Saurab Bhargava

2. Member (AW) – Panos Mamalis

3. Member (MM) - Maya Vasudevan

4. Member (MM) - Melina Papadopoulos

5. Teachers - Amanda Hoffmeister (AW) & Kathy Pagakis (MM)

6. Community Member - Ila Ziemba

7. Administrative Representation - Kaine Osburn

8. PTC President - Mary Jean Mendizabal

9. PTC Director of Fundraising - Joe Lai

INNOVATION GRANT INFORMATION & AWARDS

Congratulations to our Spring 2024 Innovation Grant Winners!

Avoca West -

Amy Anshell, Emily Bierbower, Jenna Freeman, Sophie Knebelkamp: “For the Love of Reading”, a student-created library menu that will transforms the library from a mere repository of books to a dynamic space where reading becomes a personalized and communal adventure, instilling a lifelong love for learning and exploration in the minds of students. 

Marie Murphy -

Amanda Hoffmeister & Dana Allen: “Wall Mounted Dry Erase Boards & Magnetic Coordinate Planes” to allow students to work together on various graphing skills and increase engagement, and collaboration as they develop their mathematical thinking.

 Thank you to all that applied, for your creativity and all the thoughtfulness into making every experience count for our students!

Fall 2023 Grants Awarded:

Avoca West -

Lauren Tromp: Community Garden Art Project

Janis Michael: Diverse, Inclusive Classroom Library

Aliza Stubbs, Rebecca Oppenheim, Terese Parisoli: Concertino for the Little Bambino

Marie Murphy -

Kathy Pagakis: Hands On Activities for the ELA Classroom

Angie Piechowiak: Spirit Wear Shop

Spring 2023 Grants Awarded:

Elizabeth Bowman for Flexible Seating for Drama (K-5)
Flexible seating to support students in the roles of student, actor, designer, and audience.

Robert Cates & Lauren Abrams for Lighting Matters (K-5)
Classroom lighting covers to combat the negative effects that fluorescent lighting has on the overall health, concentration, learning performance, and achievement of students. 

Caroline Henson & Rebecca Bennett for a Sensory Tools/Closet (K-5)
For the creation of a ‘sensory closet’ with different self-regulation and sensory tools/supports to meet the needs of all of our different learners.

Fall 2022 Grants Awarded:

• Kelli Lane for Clever Constructors with Cubelets for Coding.

• Helen Miller for Translation Devices for Newcomer EL Students.

• Becky Cross for Improving Student Content Creation with iPad Tripods.

• Caroline Henson for STEAM Work Makes the Dream Work!
  

Spring 2022 Grants Awarded:

• Jill Eltanal, for the expansion of a library of books that support and reflect the inclusion of students with speech and language disorders.  

• Amy Chun & Pete Brennan for Dance Mats that can be used interactively to follow along with a guide to perform a dance routine. The mats are equipped for interactive exercise focused video games, yoga, stretching, and individual exercises where the mat is a guide to proper technique. 

• Caroline Henson and Olivia Kamysz for materials to install a sensory wall in Avoca West for students to use when they need support with self-regulation.

• The 4th grade team of Amy Anshell, Emily Bierbower, Jenna Freeman, and Janis Michael for Multiplication Slam machines that promote a different way to engage with math facts.

• Kelli Lane for a new coding curriculum with robots and wireless mics for recorded presentations.
  

Spring 2021 Grants Awarded:

• Janis Michael, Amy Anshell, Emily Bierbower, & Jenna Freeman (Grade 4): Giant Map of Illinois

• Angie Piechowiak: Active Workstation - Treadmill Desk

Spring 2020 Grants Awarded:

• Jill Eltanal: Everyday Speech Subscription

• Marie Murphy ELA Department (Grades 6-8) - Gail Brown, Nell Cunningham, DairaTramontin, Kathy Pagakis: Zen for Reading and Writing: Tranquil Sounds or Peace and Quiet (Noise-blocking earmuffs, headset rack, JBL Flip 4, speaker charger port, salt lamp, Spotify premium account)

• Andrea Bialik: Heart Zones in P.E.: (30 heart rate zone blink 24 devices, 1 software license, 1 bridge, 30 armband sensors, 2 storage cases, 28 port chargers)

• Christine Nehring and Allison Yambor: Developing an SEL Library of Read Aloud Literature (Books for Avoca School Library including 6 sections of SEL topics with 20 books in each section)

• Nancy Blitz: Brain Pop Subscription for ELL/ESL

Spring 2019 Grants Awarded:

• 1st Grade Team (Jennifer Stump, Kelly Reardon, Emily Hargadon): Seesaw Recording Studios

• Janis Michael: 2 Trail Cams and Accessories

• Kindergarten Team (Olivia Kamysz, Erin Dowdle, Susan Walsh, Elizabeth Zebro): Sensory Path

• Mary Rudzinski: Holiday Music for Community Concert

• Peter Ogden: Wind Energy Turbines

• Trista Raczyla: Mindful Masters (Singing bowls and Lessons)

• Jessica Bodzewski: Flexible Seating

Spring 2018 Grants Awarded:

• Aquaponics (5th grade team)

• iPad Pro Pilot (2nd grade team)

• Interdisciplinary Teaching: Math & ELA (4th grade team)

• Kinesthetic Classroom Furniture: Pedal Desk (Angie Piechowiak)

• Osmo (Susan Geidner)

• Swival Robot (Jessica Hutchison)

• Coding Cart Expansion (Keli Lane)

• 360 Video (Janis Michael)

• Tchoukball Equipment (AW PE Team)

Spring 2017 Grants Awarded:

• Standing Desks (8 for 3rd and 8 for 4th grade)

• National Geographic Kids Magazine (1st grade team)

• Rigamajig (Maker Space in the AW ITC)

• Pugmill (MM Art)

• World Music Drumming curriculum and instruments (MM Music)

• Digital Art Station (Janis Michael)