2026-27 Innovation Grants

Central

• Kindergarten – Robin Flecha, Rebecca Vondunn, Michelle Spadia – Decodable readers and bags to create take home book bags for students
• Kindergarten – Rebecca Vondunn, Michelle Spadia, Robin Flecha – Fine motor toys – help students build the hand strength, coordination, and dexterity needed for writing, cutting, using classroom tools, and completing everyday tasks independently.
• Kindergarten – Michelle Spadia, Rebecca Vondunn, Robin Flecha – Creative counters, 3D blocks, repositionable tape, sidewalk chalk, and other hands-on materials that will allow us to be creative and enhance the program’s centers, activities, and lessons.
• Kindergarten – Rebecca Vondunn – Books that celebrate and represent a variety of cultures, families, traditions, and experiences
• K – 5th – Darci Pfremmer – Transform the Central School Library into a more interactive, student-centered learning space that extends beyond traditional book checkout and supports reading, exploration, creativity, and hands-on learning.
• K – 5th – Cathreene Ingham-Watters – Enhance Central Elementary’s Calming Corner with intentional tools that support students in developing self-regulation skills and accessing calming strategies when they are experiencing stress, overwhelm, frustration, or heightened emotions.
• 1st – 5th – Stephanie Wallner – Subscription to an online library of decodable readers
• 1st grade – Kerry Schroeder – Expand and refresh classroom library
• 1st grade – laura seawell – Expand engaging options in classroom library
• 3rd grade – Anne Marie Nobrega – Supplemental materials to enhance students’ learning and engagement, including individual basic calculators, digital scales, graph paper, stop watches, bags and bins to store the materials, sand timers, and other materials necessary for hands-on math practice.
• 3rd grade – Molly Johnson – Project based learning program NFeLementary
• 4th & 5th – Laura Better, Cheryl Fong, Jennifer Gray, Erin Hanau, Andrea Kereskenyi – Consumable STEM and Maker Space materials for all five 4th and 5th grade classrooms that will give students more opportunities to learn by building, creating, and experimenting.
• 4th & 5th – Mia Fanourgiakis – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables

Cipriani

• TK – Pamela Miller – STEM & Science: Loose parts for open-ended exploration in our STEM center, plus hands-on materials for outdoor science and environmental learning in our school garden and books with the themes SEL, science, and community.
• TK – 5th – Vickie Garcia De Alba – Expand a comprehensive school counseling program
• TK – 5th – Darci Pfremmer – Transform the Cipriani School Library into a more interactive, student-centered learning space that extends beyond traditional book checkout and supports reading, exploration, creativity, and hands-on learning.
• TK – 5th – Gina Alves – SLDT-E: NU Complete Kit, Webber Story Builder (support for re-telling stories) a subscription to Hear Builder.
• Kindergarten – Ann Snelling – Garden, recess and outdoor learning opportunities
• 1st – 5th – Jenny Gross – Play therapy materials and sensory/fidget tools
• 1st grade – Tiffany Durand – Portable Maker Space stations and supplies
• 2nd grade – Sara Teeple, Christine Allen, Karen Bowman, Melissa Molholm – Beekeeper classroom visit,and STEM materials for hands-on pollination investigations and Bioluminescence & Phosphorescence challenge materials and books
• 3rd grade – Laura Black – Leveled books for classroom
• 3rd grade – Katie Rosas – “Cip City” year long town simulation project based learning and community building projects in my classroom
• 3rd grade – Katie Rosas, Michelle Wike, Laura Black – Guest presenter coming to speak about Ohlone Life.
• 4th grade – Sean Nakamura – Hands-on lessons about how the “49ers” during the California Gold Rush were able to extract gold from the soil.
• 4th grade – Olivia Manzanares – Native-authored resources will allow students to learn from perspectives that have historically been underrepresented in classroom materials.
• 4th & 5th – Mia Fanourgiakis – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables
• 5th grade – Justine Phipps Ingram – Create a collaborative fifth grade mural.
• 5th grade – Jana Coyle, Justine Phipps Ingram, Alice Mylod Vargas – Docent for field trip & STEM materials for hands on learning
• 5th grade – Alice Mylod Vargas – Books which refelct diversity of community

Fox

• TK – Brandon Whiteman – Sensory/Toy Overhaul
• TK – Linda Wilkinson, Brandon Whiteman, Sarah Muscolina, Yvonne Olcomendy – Sensory items, dramatic play items and imaginary play items
• TK – Linda Wilkinson – Tactile items/structures
• TK – Sarah Muscolina – Dramatic play materials
• TK – Yvonne Olcomendy – Resources to support learning through pretend play in these various areas during centers.
• TK – 5th – Lizz Atwood – Animal Assisted Happiness – animal visits to destress students
• TK – 5th – Jeanne Delano – Create Community Interest Activity Centers & expand audiobook collections
• TK – 5th – Marla Levy – SLP Now subscription
• TK – 5th – Luis Mayen, Ignacio Martinez – New vacuum
• TK – 5th – Min Kim – Continue my training in sensory integration
• Kindergarten – Serina Banker – Enhance our calming corners and social-emotional learning resources – sensory and self-regulation tools, flexible seating, visual supports, calming and mindfulness materials, and hands-on SEL resources and books
• 1st – 5th – Jenny Gross – Play therapy materials and sensory/fidget tools
• 3rd grade – Jennifer Pusker – STEM materials, Logic and Reasoning math materials
• 3rd grade – Julie Grogan-Crane – Art materials & extra math equipment to give opportunities for taking the activities in our new curriculum a little further including a variety of sand timers, some digital scales for small groups, some weights for scales, and a collection of stop watches. .
• 4th grade – Lynnette Dowling – Amazing books and resources (including auditory ones for encouraging correct pronunciation) that are available for English Learners
• 4th grade – Lisa Fahey – Soft Start materials such as play-dough, logic puzzles, origami, and STEAM materials (interlocking building blocks, connecting tubes, building chips, Kadu
• 4th & 5th – Corie Silva – Soft start materials such as origami or brain blocks.
• 4th & 5th – Anne Strehlow – Engineering Design challenges and supplemental learning activities that connect to each of our four units of study this year – Chemistry, Ecology, Hydrology, and Space science.
• 4th & 5th – Dr. Anne Strehlow – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables

Nesbit

• TK – Christine Brady – Board games for our classroom and child-friendly cooking tools and supplies so students can actively participate in preparing foods connected to our curriculum
• TK – 5th – Jessica Alden, Stephen Jue – Hands-on manipulatives, engaging educational games, and other necessary instructional and classroom materials would make a meaningful difference in our students’ ability to access the curriculum and experience success.
• TK – 5th – Pranali Kalley – Speech and language therapy materials
• TK – 8th – Susan Wilson, Tim Mcintyre, Jeannette Martinez, Danielle May Nuezca-Tibbs, Jamela Shaban, Cassandra deWood – Puma Pantry supplies and materials to supplement offerings
• TK – 8th – Linda Fonseca (primary), Cassandra de Wood, Susan Wilson, Naila Farooqi, Ryan Hansen, Christina Spicker – 36-inch color large-format poster printer to our school as a new school-wide instructional resource,
• TK – 8th – Min Kim – Continue my training in sensory integration
• TK – 8th – Jeanne Delano – Create Community Interest Activity Centers & expand audiobook collections
• Kindergarten – (Katie) Thanh Lu – Update my classroom library
• Kindergarten – Michelle Rothe – Materials for hands-on learning centers
• K – 3rd – Breena Hohe, Kelly Fernandez, Bahar Moradifar, Jen Liu, Emily Hughs – Bring enrichment experiences into the classroom
• K – 8th – Derek McGovern (lead), Danielle Nuezca, James Bolton, Keli McHugh, Ryan Hansen, Christina Spicker – Expanding and maintaining the Nesbit Community garden
• K – 8th – Paul Lucich – ASCA related resources
• 1st grade – Katie Hunter, Jamela Shaban, Carla Shao, Mark Fox – Engaging, age-appropriate books, materials for literacy centers
• 1st – 3rd – Stephanie McMaster – Decodable books
• 1st & 4th – Carla Shao, Jamela Shaban, Katie Hunter, Mark Fox – High-interest, hands-on STEM materials
• 1st – 5th – Stephen Jue, Jessica Alden – Support student reading, including decoding, fluency and comprehension
• 1st – 8th – Jenny Gross – Play therapy materials and sensory/fidget tools
• 1st – 8th – Mark Fox, Katey Marsh, Carolyn Fogarty, Carla Shao, Jennifer Brito, Jay Herington – Ceramics supplies, including clay and glazes; glass supplies, including frit and molds;
• 2nd grade – Najlaa S Qattawi – Classroom rug with designated student spots
• 2nd grade – Nicole Medeiros – Books & STEM materials
• 2nd grade – Debra Wilson, Najlaa Qattawi, Nicole Medeiros – 0
• 3rd & 4th – Tara Russell – Connecting art to cross curricular subjects including science, SEL, math.
• 3rd grade – Tripta Joshi, Jeannette Martinez, Tara Russell, Mark Fox – Multilingual and diverse books to our classroom library.
• 3rd grade – Jeannette Martinez, Tara Russell, Tripta, Joshi, Mark Fox – Hands-on observation tools with authentic cultural presentations across our science, social studies units and soluntionary projects.
• 4th & 5th – Keli McHugh, Katey Marsh, Danielle Nuezca-Tibbs, Carolyn Fogarty – Create a cozy corner with soft lighting and other items for inclusion like bouncy bands or alternative seating
• 4th & 5th – Danielle May Nuezca-Tibbs, Keli McHugh, James Bolton, Mark Fox, Carolyn Fogarty, Katie Marsh – 3-D printing materials to support with the math curriculum and to help bring it more to life and durable organization and storage for our classroom.
• 4th & 5th – Derek McGovern – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables
• 4th grade – Mark Fox – Sewing machines, sewing supplies, pins, fabric markers
• 4th grade – Carolyn Fogarty, Mark Fox, Katey Marsh – 3D printer and supplies
• 5th- 8th – Katey Marsh – Musical at Nesbit School including venue, sets, costumes, props, etc.
• 6th – 8th – Teena Farrell – Board games to help students develop skills in SEL development and academic growth
• 6th – 8th – Cassandra de Wood, Travis Whitebread, Chandra Mckeon, Jen Brito, Tim McIntyre, Clara Divelbiss, Jay Herrington, Gabby Gentile, Lisa Mudd, Teena Farrell – Create student-accessible digital documentation and media stations for middle school students.
• 6th – 8th – Lisa Mudd – Small book club classroom library that pairs non-fiction and fiction books together.
• 6th – 8th – Travis Whitebread, Chandra McKeon – Resources to further support our new and ever developing IB projects including out 8th Grade Community Service Projects & some PE equipment
• 6th – 8th – Chandra Mc Keon, Travis Whitebread, Jay Herington, Gabby Gentile, Tim Mcintyre, Jen Brito, Cass DeWood, Clara Divelbiss – Hygiene cart
• 6th – 8th – Clara Divelbiss, Cassandra deWood – Vibrant traditions of the Spanish speaking world to life through hands-on cultural art & food experiences
• 6th – 8th – Cass DeWood – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables
• 6th – 8th – Kristen Sevillia, Brittany Jolivette, Anisha Ramani, Felah Murray, Paul Lucich – TUPE Club (Tobacco Use Prevention Engagement & Education)
• 7th grade – Jay Herington, Gabby Gentile – Publish a cookbook of students’ favorite family recipes with cultural or personal significance

Ralston

• 6th grade – David Pickett – Podcasting with soundtrap.com
• 6th grade – Brianna Xu, Talia Pearlman, Fleur Uptegraft – End-of-the year unit project, ties in together Life Science concepts from every unit throughout the year (water cycle and watersheds, human impact, energy, energy transfer, weather, climate, etc.
• 6th grade – Brianna Xu – Explore how energy from the human body can be captured, transferred, and transformed into usable energy
• 6th grade – Kelly Jorgensen – Frog dissection materials and tools
• 6th grade – Brianna Xu, Talia Pearlman, Fleur Uptegraft – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables
• 6th grade – Sabrina Adler, Kelly Jorgensen, Patrick Wilson, Talia Pearlman Fleur Uptegraft, Brianna Xu, Talia – Partnering with MSI to learn about local watershed
• 6th grade – Kirsten Knudson, Tina Smith, Macy Duncan – Students to excavate artifacts to get to experience the process of surveying, excavating through several layers of material, recording the quadrants they worked in, re-assembling their found artifacts as a team.
• 6th grade – Macy Duncan, Tina Smith, Kirsten Knudson – Learn how the Greeks used clay, kilns, building techniques, and made their own paint, then create your own small clay vessel.
• 6th grade – Jorge Larreynaga – Science documentation for hands-on experiences
• 6th grade – Ms. Fleur Uptegraft, Ms.Talia Perlman, Ms.Brianna Xu – SLP Now subscription and hands-on leanring resources
• 6th grade – Brianna Xu, Talia Pearlman, Fleur Uptegraft – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables
• 6th grade – Brianna Xu, Talia Pearlman, Fleur Uptegraft – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables
• 6th – 8th – Jenny Gross – Play therapy materials and sensory/fidget tools
• 6th – 8th – Vanessa Maass – High-quality instructional materials, educational software subscriptions, books, and interactive games
• 6th – 8th – Clare Marks, Peter Thielen – Orff Barred Percussion and world percussion instruments
• 6th – 8th – Katherine Lehmann – LEGO Education SPIKE Essential Set and replacement batteries for existing sets. Bee Bot robots and Screen-free floor robots and interactive grid mats
• 6th – 8th – Suba Marti – Robotics & Computer Science: Tactile robotics, motor controllers, and icon-based coding:
• 6th – 8th – Felah Murray, Brittany Jollivette, Lisa Kafka – Start a mental health club, 3rd annual college and career fair, and continue the Animal assisted Happiness program this school year and possibly add on Reptiles.
• 6th – 8th – Alaina Cardona, Deb Blackwell, Jess Mazaeu, Carter Cox, Matt Jones – Bringing technology into PE in a way that directly benefits every student at Ralston Middle School – heart rate monitors
• 6th – 8th – Steve Pomeroy, Peter Thielen, Clare Marks – New Apple Computer Magic Mice for the computers my students use to animate
• 6th – 8th – Lynn McVey – vocab.com – Latin/Greek roots
• 6th – 8th – Kristen Sevillia, Brittany Jolivette, Anisha Ramani, Felah Murray, Paul Lucich – TUPE Club (Tobacco Use Prevention Engagement & Education)
• 7th grade – Heather Staniszewski – Provide math students with their own mini whiteboard, eraser, and whiteboard marker to keep at home
• 7th grade – Alisha Ferrario , Heather Staniszewski – Two DeltaMath INTEGRAL teacher licenses to provide targeted, differentiated mathematics practice
• 7th grade – Hanah Ashton – Classroom fossil collection and hands-on fossilization materials would provide 7th grade students with meaningful, hands-on opportunities to investigate Earth’s history
• 7th & 8th – Min Kim – Continue my training in sensory integration
• 7th & 8th – Hanah Ashton, Stephanie Wald, Kristen Ozorio, David Ortolan & Kaleigh Jozwiak – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables
• 7th & 8th – Laura Parks – Three additional SIM camera card readers
• 7th & 8th – Sara Tolliver – New cookware and essential kitchen equipment for our middle school Culinary Arts program
• 7th & 8th – Taptelis, Helen – RAM TV program at Ralston Middle School
• 7th & 8th – Kristen Ozorio – Digital scales, reusable lab equipment, and materials for investigations
• 7th & 8th – Talia Pearlman, Kelly Jorgensen – STEM Exploration elective – materials will help take from concept and develop it into a solution to a real-world problem.

Redwood Shores

• PS – 5th – Ashley Doss – Noise cancelling headphones
• TK – Katie Evans – Science and dramtic play materials for TK classroom
• TK – Heather Bassett – Variety of fine motor and sensory materials
• TK – 5th – Stacey Okumura – Audiobooks, multilingual/diverse books, STEM activities, and book restoration/genrefication supplies.
• TK – 5th – Kiara Herrera – Update emergency backpack with supplies for disasters
• K & 1st – Kasandra Rueda – Classroom organziation bins & materials
• K – 5th – Lisa Kaiser – Books that celebrate and represent a variety of cultures, families, traditions, and experiences
• 1st – 5th – Sara Simmons – Story-based, multi-sensory phonics supplement designed to help students understand and remember difficult letter-sound patterns.
• 2nd grade – Katy Pasion – Correlates to our Social Studies standards of producers, consumers and the economy
• 2nd grade – Kirsten Ivazes – Create cozy corner for the classroom to encourage reading & market day supplies
• 2nd & 3rd – Norma Meza Lopez – Math and reading curriculum manipulatives
• 3rd grade – Heather Hoover – New costumes, props, and stage decor for the play called “Pirates from Grammar Island.”
• 3rd grade – Sheri Norman – A subscription to the digital access of Breakout EDU and the digital access to Generation Genius
• 4th & 5th – Kyana Nguyen, Emily House, Beth Destefani, – supplies to start and maintain a podcast within out classrooms
• 4th & 5th – Nodira Dadabaeva – Math Manipulatives such as Golden Beads Materials for Decimal System, Bank Game and Math Toys will support implementation of the new math curriculum (Thinking Math) and augment what is provided by district
• 4th & 5th – Alice Robertson – Battery, copper tape, and an LED that they can take home.
• 4th & 5th – Alice Robertson – Pea trellis in science class
• 4th & 5th – Emily House, Beth DeStefani, Kara Talledge, Kyana Nguyen – Materials to investigate and reasearch the diverse places that make up California
• 4th & 5th – Kara Talledge – Shared literature and author study experience for 4th and 5th grade students designed to strengthen classroom and grade-level community through reading, discussion, collaboration, creativity, and shared experiences.
• 4th & 5th – Beth DeStefani, Kara Talledge, Emily House, Kyana Nguyen – Art journals while participating in a multi-part project that combines visual arts, artist study, social-emotional learning, stress-management
• 4th & 5th – Alice Robertson – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables

Sandpiper

• TK – Tristan Young – TK centered learning activities- particularly sensory activities, imaginative play, fine-motor activities, TK sized play furniture, art supplies, etc.
• TK – 8th – Anisha Ramani – Age-appropriate visuals and regulation tools that students can use in their classrooms, building on our existing Calm Corner
• TK – 8th – Adding onto Sonia Kurusamy’s request – Allison Jessup, Kristi Neu, Jody Hamon, Blakely Bass, Jordan Bucher, Ben Bartel – Transform an over-utilized but outdated space into an inclusive, evidence-based environment into a calm down room & active sensory integration zone
• TK – 8th – Gloria Higgins, Ben Gonzales, Carmen Rogers, – 2 3D printer sets with filaments and replacement plate
• TK – 8th – Stacey Okumura – Audiobooks, multilingual/diverse books, STEM activities, and book restoration/genrefication supplies.
• Kindergarten – Jennifer Schultz – Classroom organization & student organizational tools
• K – 8th – Sonia Kurusamy – Transform an over-utilized but outdated space into an inclusive, evidence-based environment into a calm down room & active sensory integration zone
• 1st – 8th – Jenny Gross – Play therapy materials and sensory/fidget tools
• 1st grade – Jessica Dong – Classroom set of headphones and a supplementary writing curriculum.
• 2nd grade – Jenell Marquis – Build a non-fiction classroom library
• 3rd grade – Lydia Tang, Rivka Keith – Flexible seating
• 3rd grade – Rivka Keith, Lydia Tang – Support tools needed for a focused learning environment, organization, academic growth, social-emotional learning, and essential life skills.
• 4th – 8th – Valerie Gow – Rebuild Sandpiper’s Student Council into an authentic student leadership program for students in grades 4–8
• 4th & 5th – Lisa Sweeney – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables
• 6th grade – Megan Zink – Calm corner items, fidgets, flexible seats, discussion scaffolds
• 6th – 8th – Megan Zink, Valerie Gowe, Sydney Tomooka – Create these real-world experiences, through creating labs, using specific lab equipment, buying math manipulatives and tools.
• 6th – 8th – Andrea Manchester, Valerie Gow, Megan Zink, Nikole Buret, Francesca Karkoski – Support and expand Sandpiper’s middle school elective program
• 6th – 8th – Francesca Karkoski, Sydney Tomooka, Megan Zink, Andrea Manchester, Valerie Gow, Nikole Buret – Intercession materials and classroom supplies
• 6th – 8th – Nikole Neugebauer Buret, Francesca Karkowski, and Andrea Manchester – Walk Through the Ancient World or similar in-house field trip that brings history to life through art, student performance, and speaking
• 6th – 8th – Valerie Gow, Kristen Ozorio, Francesca Karkoski – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables
• 6th – 8th – Kristen Sevillia, Brittany Jolivette, Anisha Ramani, Felah Murray, Paul Lucich – TUPE Club (Tobacco Use Prevention Engagement & Education)
• 6th & 8th – Valerie Gow, Andrea Manchester, Nikole Buret, Fran Karkoski – Hands-on science enrichment tools / consumables
• 7th grade – Sydney Tomooka – Flexible seating options for classroom
• 7th grade – Francesca Karkoski – Set of class books for our novel study as well as replenish the class library.

District Office

• K – 8th – Trung Le – CCNA certification – ensuring the network infrastructure they rely on every day is secure, fast, and resilient
• PS – 8th – Sonya Vianna, All SPED Staff – Special Education Department SWAG and morale support
• PS – 8th – Meagan Vizier – Assemblies for the students who attend our four week extended school year program