This year, the Shaler Area School District launched Portrait in Practice, our innovative learning mini-grant program—made possible with support from The Grable Foundation and Remake Learning. This program empowers teachers to implement small, high-impact ideas that make learning more active, relevant, and inspiring.
At the heart of Portrait in Practice is the district’s Portrait of a Titan. Through a variety of hands-on activities, students will experience and practice the dispositions we value most—resiliency, curiosity, social responsibility, resourcefulness, flexibility, and compassion—through authentic, meaningful work. Fourteen grants were awarded in the inaugural year, encompassing everything from sensory spaces, out-of-this-world planetarium vistas, play-based STEM instruction, intergenerational art projects, and documentary exploration of manufacturing.
Dr. Bryan O’Black, Superintendent of Schools, expressed, “Portrait of a Titan is a powerful framework that guides our instruction. This strategic approach equips our students with key competencies that empower them to excel while students in our district and in their endeavors after graduation. Portrait of a Practice engages students with dynamic activities that bring these traits to life in vibrant ways. We are grateful to The Grable Foundation and Remake Learning for opening these opportunities and to our educators for the creativity and imagination they bring to instruction.”
Portrait in Practice Awardees
Bites and Books, Maria Swartzbaugh
Reading club creating a welcoming space for 7th and 8th graders to engage with literature through discussions, creative projects, and mentorship in a screen-free environment.
Learning Under the Stars: A Portable Planetarium Initiative, Chrissy Gurekovich
Portable planetarium bringing space exploration to 6th graders, sparking astronomical curiosity and removing barriers to immersive STEM learning.
Culturally Relevant Books for our ESL Students, Riley Diffenderfer
Building a culturally relevant book collection with a refugee experience unit to foster empathy, self-exploration, and meaningful connections for multilingual learners.
Developing Social Skills Through Play, Michelle Elias
Creating structured recess centers with puzzles, STEM materials, and art supplies to enhance K-3 students’ social skills, collaboration, and interactive engagement.
The Portrait of a STEM Learner: Design, Discover, and Do, Cari Kelm
School-wide STEM Day experience with reusable materials fostering curiosity, resourcefulness, and resiliency aligned with Portrait of a Graduate ideals.
Mobile Reward Truck: A Real-World Business Simulation, Danielle Franc
Cross-curricular project integrating math, social studies, and reading through a student-operated mobile rewards business teaching economic concepts.
What’s So Cool About Manufacturing, Dennis Reagle
Film production project connecting career exploration with media literacy, teaching students about local manufacturing opportunities.
Stage 4 Ancient Roman Signet Rings, Jessica Alexander
Hands-on history project where Latin students create authentic Roman signet rings, deepening understanding of ancient Roman culture and social structures.
Basketball Multi-Level Hoops, Mike Chmielewski
Adjustable 6-foot and 8-foot basketball hoops providing developmentally appropriate equipment for elementary students in physical education.
Video Podcasting, Brenda Barner
Adding video capabilities to the middle school podcasting studio, expanding student media production skills in professional-level video production and editing.
Technology Station, Christine Hlad
Classroom technology nook with Chromebooks, iPad chargers, and power strips addressing daily technology access challenges for 7th graders.
Bridging our Neighbors through Generations of Color, Monica McElwain
Intergenerational collaborative art project connecting 3rd graders with 8th grade artists and community partners through public mural painting.
Indoor and Outdoor Sensory Paths, Carrie Miller
Evidence-based sensory pathways supporting cognitive engagement, sensory integration, stress reduction, and behavioral regulation for primary students.
ART Beyond the Classroom—Sharing Our Art Throughout the Community, David Boyles
Professional display panels showcasing student artwork at community venues, libraries, and events, building confidence and community engagement.
