Grants Awarded 2025 – 2026

Development and Enrichment Grants

A Voice for All — Dionna Johnson

This project will allow inclusion for our students who speak with a Speech Generate Device via use of an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) in the general education classroom. An AAC in the classroom for teachers to use and model will allow the student to learn educational vocabulary skills and social skills in the same environment as their peers. This can also improve a student’s social skills and social emotional needs (i.e. confidence and inclusion).

PTLW Biomedical Research — Marlee Morehead

The grant will purchase equipment to be used as part of new career pathway at Murray High called Biomedical Science, through a program named Project Lead the Way.  Project Lead the Way, or PLTW, is a company that provides the curriculum, training, and works with schools to offer these pathway courses.

Ronald W. Churchill Grant

Programming with Drones — Jared Rosa

The grant will purchase four educational based drones for a programming class of 40-50 students, who will learn to use, fly, program, and build the equipment. Drones are used in many lines of work. Students will have practical hands-on problem solving experience and learn coding/engineering skills.

Mini-Grants

Murray Elementary School

Inside Recess Unplugged — Jennifer McCafferty and Jacqueline Robinson

The Indoor Recess Unplugged grant presents a valuable opportunity for elementary students to engage in meaningful, hands-on activities that promote creativity, problem-solving, and social-emotional development. While computers and digital games are often default inside recess options, providing alternative activities such as STEM exploration, arts and crafts, card games, and board games offer significant developmental benefits.

MES Drama Club — Morgan Workman

The MES Theatre Department allows the students to learn about all aspects of the theatre. Each student is given a speaking part and learns the choreography along with blocking, vocals and characterization. This grant allows the group to purchase rights to scripts, music, instructional videos, and performance licensing for their 2025-2026 production.

Classroom Transformation for Differentiation —Monica Wiggins

Having flexible seating and furniture to better differentiate the needs of students allows all students to feel safe and comfortable in the classroom. Using a centered learning approach next year will be more effective to meet the needs of every student with flexible seating.

First Grade Recess! Let’s Play! — Shannon Chiles
The Best Kind of Brain Break! Recess Equipment for Third Grade.-Amanda Pittman
Recess Equipment for 2nd Grade! What Students Look Forward to the Most-Sarah Collins

Let’s Play Outside! Recess Equipment for Kindergarten — Barbara Kough

Recess is one of our students favorite times of the day. The students get to have free,
unstructured play on the playground, in the grass, or playing a sports game. Over the course of the school year, the equipment that is outside and is used every day by every student becomes very used, and by the next year each grade needs new equipment.

Putt Putt Golf in PE! — Shauna Traylor

Golf is a life time activity that students can begin learning at a young age. I want to incorporate “Golf” into my striking unit in PE. I have touched on golf in previous years but did not have the best equipment, which resulted in foam balls rolling under the bleachers, balls going everywhere; and it was just a little chaotic. The 5-Station Putting Green can help me do what I am dreaming to do with golf in my PE class.

Room to Read, Space to Succeed — Jacqueline Robinson

The purchase of a large and colorful classroom rug will build a vibrant and welcoming community space in a third grade literacy classroom.

Hands On STEAM Activities — Courtney Vanover

Providing hands on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics lessons and activities, teachers can assist students in developing inquiry and observation skills, while solving problems, collaborating with peers, and developing critical thinking skills.
Murray Middle School

Robotic Adventures — Gina Crider

Unlock a world of robotic adventures with a LEGO Spike kit! We’ll build, code, and team up, turning playtime into powerful problem-solving skills. Adding a new kit will help our robotics team grow and make learning STEM as fun as building with bricks!

Empowering Young Innovators: Funding for the LEGO Robotics Team —Amanda Fain

Our 7th Grade LEGO Robotics team will demonstrate innovation, teamwork, and engineering excellence in designing and programming the robots. The team will compete in Paducah where they will showcase problem-solving skills and creativity.

Student of the Month – Impacts for a Year — Taylor Garland and Jarrod Darnall

Having a student of the month will be a positive source of communication among teachers, students, and parents through recognition of student achievement and behavior in math class. Students will be recognized in front of their peers and receive a yard sign to show their title of student of the month. We will also display their picture for the year on the shared math bulletin board.

Novel Study — Hana Stiff

To cultivate a rich literary environment, 4th grade classes will read and study Wonder by R.J Palacio. Having two sets of the novel will offer a unique opportunity for students to engage in deep analysis of Kentucky 4th Grade Reading Standards. Through this process they will learn to value diverse perspectives and embrace compassion.

Classroom Headphones — Hanan Stiff

Having a classroom set of headphones will empower students to engage in independent, technology-integrated learning. These headphones will facilitate individualized instruction, support audio-based projects, and promote focused work during digital learning activities.

Magnetic, Dry-Erase Graphs and Math Manipulatives for High Math Engagement — Tamsyn Vertrees

Using extra large, dry erase, magnetic graphs and other magnetic math manipulatives on vertical whiteboards, students will be able to show their thinking skills on the coordinate plane and geometry. Students will be able to work on graphing while standing up, working with dry erase markers so they feel like they can make mistakes, and discuss their thinking in standing small groups.

Versatile Differentiated Learning — Allison Haynes and Kayla Boward

Differentiated math activities will be provided through a self-checking system using Versatiles. The use of Versatiles allows us to provide activities of varying skill levels for both struggling learners and those needing an extra challenge.

Murray Middle School Drama Club — Shelley Stubblefield

Due to the success of the elementary school drama club, a drama club for 4th and 5th grade students at Murray Middle School was formed. It provides participating students with a creative outlet to build confidence, teamwork, and self-expression. Our inaugural year was a resounding success, and we are excited to continue offering this enriching opportunity for our students.

Passport to Knowledge-the Journey Continues — Sheri Muehleman

Each year students are inspired and challenged by the variety of science topics offered through NOVA on PBS. It is an educational tool allowing students to discover and explore different career options associated with each area of science.

Murray High School

Math Medic to the Rescue! — Sarah Hultman

Math Medic’s philosophy is the “Experience First, Formalize Later.” This is an outstanding method for teaching advanced math concepts for all math courses. Students that make connections between concepts have more substantial long term learning. Using Math Medic’s assessment platform allows the teacher to engage students in higher order thinking that matches their activities.

Building Brilliance: Exploring Area and Volume with Magnetic Tiles — Haley Burchett

Students will explore 2D and 3D shapes using magnetic tiles to help them generate the correct formulas for regular polygons and polyhedrons. Students will be able to effectively visualize the differences in pyramids and prisms.

Empowering Students with Energy Awareness — Rebecca Burgess, Juna Harvey, Marlee Morehead

This project empowers 170 high school students to explore electricity and energy efficiency through hands-on labs using donated Christmas lights and household appliances. By applying the 5E model, students will design circuits, analyze energy consumption, and develop sustainable solutions to reduce energy waste.

Fungi in Focus: Exploring Decomposition and Sustainability with Oyster Mushrooms — Rebecca Burgess

This activity will engage students in growing edible oyster mushrooms to study the biology of fungi, their role in decomposition, and their environmental benefits. This hands-on project promotes sustainability, teaching students about nutrient cycling and the potential of fungi in food production and environmental science.

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