Aiken County educators awarded over 6K in classroom innovation grants

Public Education Partners of Aiken County presented a check for the spring 2024 Classroom Innovation Grants during Tuesday night’s Aiken County Public School District Board of Education meeting.

A check of $6,146.39 was presented by John Hutchens, chair of the PEP grant review committee, and Nancy Marks, chair of the PEP board of directors, to Superintendent King Laurence.

This money will be allocated among eight Aiken County public elementary and middle schools.

Classroom Innovation Grants are given to educators to fund projects they’d like to implement in the classroom.

The PEP grant committee judges which projects will receive a grant based on factors including the scope of its impact and the ability to measure results and improvements that come as a direct result of the project.

“Through the award of this grant, PEP hopes to provide resources that will have maximum student impact. Our goal is to support teachers by making a difference in their ability to be creative and innovative,” Hutchens said.

Educators who will receive grant money include Emilee Losier and Amanda Auvenshine from Aiken Elementary School; Tammy Swartz and Amanda Wingard from Busbee Elementary School; Theresa Reeves from Byrd Elementary School; Erin Joehnk and Tracy Holsenback from East Aiken School of the Arts; Marsha Peacock from Graniteville Elementary School; Meredith Leopard, Leslie Bullington and Jessica Reynolds from Hammond Hill Elementary School; Brandi Harley and Stephanie Prandy from Kennedy Middle School; and Trina Stidem from Langley Bath Clearwater Middle School.