The Shaler Area Education Foundation has awarded a series of Innovation Grants this cycle, supporting creative, community-centered, and academically enriching experiences for students across the district.
At Shaler Area High School, AP U.S. History teacher Cory Williams received a $1,500 grant to fund an immersive educational experience in Washington, D.C. Fifty students from AP U.S. History, AP European History, and Holocaust Studies will visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum or the National Museum of African American History and Culture, followed by a guided walking tour of the National Mall. The experience is designed to strengthen content knowledge, deepen civic understanding, and enhance performance through place-based learning.
At Shaler Area Middle School, podcasting teacher Brenda Barner was awarded a $918 grant to enhance the school’s student-run podcast studio. The funding will provide new furniture, improved lighting, and updated workspace pieces that will create a more professional, comfortable, and student-friendly production environment. The podcasting program continues to expand and now connects directly with the high school, with plans to incorporate video production this year. Students produce a wide range of content—including interviews with local veterans as part of the annual Veteran’s Day Breakfast, monthly principal podcasts, and features highlighting student voices and school culture. The improved studio will offer students a more authentic, real-world media experience and serve as a hub for podcasts, morning announcements, and collaborative meetings for a decade or more.
The Foundation has also awarded a $1500 grant to Burchfield Primary art teacher Monica McElwain to support a new community-centered mural initiative, Bridging Our Community Through Generations of Color. Third-grade students from Burchfield and eighth-grade Creative Arts students will work together to design and paint a new mural at Scott Primary School, replacing the sun-worn 2007 artwork. Inspired by Shaler’s 143 Day of Kindness and modeled after Fred Rogers’ message of connection, the project uses an “Art Pal” mentorship system to build leadership, collaboration, and community pride.
These grants reflect the Shaler Area Education Foundation’s continued investment in innovative, student-centered opportunities across the district. The Shaler Area Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, strives to cultivate the unique capability of every student in the Shaler Area School District by propelling innovative and engaging educational programs within a creative and collaborative environment.
For more information and to donate to the foundation, visit https://shalerarea.org/district/sa-education-foundation/.
