Kearney, Mo., April 14, 2021: Cutting-edge classrooms continue to be cultivated thanks to the Kearney School District Education Foundation (KSDEF).
KSDEF announced today that 11 Kearney School District educators have earned Teacher Innovation Grants (TIG) for the 2021-2022 academic year. Combined, these grants equal nearly $10,000 to stoke the 21st Century teaching and learning that is a hallmark of KSD classrooms.
“The teachers who won innovation grants from the foundation this year represent the excellence demonstrated every day by our faculty,” Superintendent Matthew Miller said. “I’m grateful for the foundation’s support, and I’m excited to see what these teachers do with these funds. The most important thing is how these grants will benefit students.”
The TIG program was launched by the foundation to help KSD teachers incorporate new tools and techniques that enrich the educational experiences of students. These grants are one of the most important ways that foundation leaders allocate donations from the community, according to KSDEF Board Chair Julia Kuhn.
“We want Kearney School District families and friends to see that their support for the foundation is having a very direct and positive impact on classrooms in our schools,” Ms. Kuhn said. “We love seeing the joy that a teacher experiences when they realize they can turn their vision into a reality for their students.”
TIG awards are a maximum of $1,000 for each recipient. This year’s TIG recipients include a wide range of projects led by teachers at seven schools and programs. Visit www.ksdef.com to learn more about the KSDEF, how to donate and its funding programs.
2021 Kearney School District Education Foundation Teacher Innovation Grant Recipients
| Name | School/Program | Purpose | Amount |
| Kristen Campbell | Kearney Middle School | Adaptive PE Classroom Equipment | $922.57 |
| Angie Carmack | Kearney High School | Providing Real World Learning in HS Digital Arts Classroom | $1,000 |
| Jennifer Chrane | Kearney Gifted Program | The World at their Fingertips | $897 |
| Missy Colhour | Kearney Middle School | Project Based Learning Podcasting Projects | $944.07 |
| Will Ford | Kearney Elementary | Dream It, Design It, Print It! | $998.95 |
| Karen Johnson | KHS Clipper Yearbook & KHS-TV/BBN | Journalism Laptop | $1,000 |
| Sara Kimmel | Kearney ES Library | Integrating Curriculum, Team Building, and Problem Solving with Geocaching | $724.48 |
| Molly Kuebler | KJH Yearbook Class | New and Improved Camera for Yearbook Class | $549 |
| Bradley Miller | KHS Science Department | UV Lamps for Science Labs | $990 |
| Beth Pickle | Kearney Elementary | Student Choices Optimize Student Learning | $883.73 |
| Eric Todd | Kearney Academy | Kearney Academy – Alternative furnishings | $932.08 |