2025-26 Innovation Grants

Central

• TK – 8th – Lizz Atwood, Paul Lucich, Vickie Garcia De Alba, Brittany Jolivette, Felah Murray, Lisa Kafka, Danielle Kim, Ashley Doss, Anisha Ramani, Kristen Sevillia – Provide students at all grade levels with meaningful alternative lunchtime activities
• TK – 8th – Kristi Neu – Sensory supports to classrooms to help support regulation, engagement, attention, and learning for all students
• Kindergarten – Michelle Spadia, Rebecca Vondunn, Robin Flecha – Flexible Seating to provide Sensory Regulation and Comfort which leads to Improved Focus and Engagement
• Kindergarten – Robin Flecha, Michelle Spadia, Rebecca Vondunn – Indoor equipment for sensory motor and gross motor integration activities
• Kindergarten – Michelle Spadia, Rebecca Vondunn, Robin Flecha – Hands-on STEM manipulatives and materials for our classrooms used to promote problem-solving, collaboration, and creative thinking
• K – 5th – Jenny Gross, Ivan Quiteno – Play Therapy Supplies
• K – 5th – Cathreene Ingham-Watters, Laura Better, Sheridan Reyes, Kerry Schroeder, Janet Mastalir, Danielle, Kim – Creating a Calming and Regulation Room for Student Well-Being and Emotional Safety; safe space for practicing real time social emotional skills
• K – 5th – Danielle Kim – Establish a Junior Coach Program & School Counseling Program
• K – 5th – Darci Pfremmer – International Language Books to ensure that our library collection reflects the linguistic and cultural diversity of our school community
• K – 8th – Ivan Quiteño – Curriculum, games and other materials to facilitate counseling and social emotional lessons
• 1st grade – Laura Seawall – STEM materials for more hands on classroom learning
• 1st grade – Andrea Roberts – Multi-sensory materials, adaptive tools, project-based STEM kits to offer more options in the classroom
• 1st grade – Kerry Schroeder – Hands-on STEM materials and high-quality Writer’s Workshop mentor texts.
• 2nd grade – Candace Temer – STEAM Materials and Podcast Tools to encourage creativity and expression
• 3rd grade – Anne Marie Nobrega – Classroom efficiency and promoting better collaborative work
• 3rd grade – Molly Johnson – Resources such as online platforms, project material, simulations to support my high achieving students
• 4th & 5th – Laura Better, Andrea Kereskenyi, Erin Hanau, Cheryl Fong, Jennifer Gray – Provide students with hands-on, cross-curricular STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) materials that foster critical thinking, creativity, and real-world problem-solving
• 4th grade – Cheryl Fong – Hands on consumable materials to engage students with Social Studies projects & encourage less screen time
• 4th grade – Jennifer Gray – Science books that foster cross-curricular thinking, reading and note taking
• 4th & 5th – Lisa Sweeney, Anne Strehlow, Mia Fanourgiakis, Alice Robertson, Derek McGovern – Consumables for hands-on science experiments

Cipriani

• Transitional Kindergarten – Diane Quiery Sexton – TK Garden Project
• TK – 5th – Darci Pfremmer – Audio Books, Storage and Seating
• TK – 5th – Ann Snelling – Welcome Mural and Student Garden Club
• TK – 5th – Vickie Garcia – American School Counseling Association (ASCA) annual conference to engage with other counselors and learn best practices that I can implement at Cipriani. As we gear up to RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) it is vital that we are attend the supplemental training and support provided at the conference to inform our application.
• TK – 5th – Gina Alves – Speech Therapy Materials
• TK – 8th – Lizz Atwood, Paul Lucich, Vickie Garcia De Alba, Brittany Jolivette, Felah Murray, Lisa Kafka, Danielle Kim, Ashley Doss, Anisha Ramani, Kristen Sevillia – Provide students at all grade levels with meaningful alternative lunchtime activities
• Kindergarten – Ann Snelling, Kristen Walls, Alison Beltramo – Kindergarten improvements for Classroom Engagement, expansion of the garden project and Playground
• K – 5th – Jenny Gross, Ivan Quiteno – Play Therapy Supplies
• 1st grade – Kim Suydam – iPad and classroom tech tools
• 1st grade – Tia Cilia – MClass Reading Assessments and MTSS support – iPad
• 1st grade – Tiffany Durand, Kim Suydam, Tia Cilia – First Grade Garden continue to plant pollinator plants and winter/summer vegetables in front of our first grade classrooms. We will also plant tulip bulbs in the winter.
• 3rd grade – Laura Black, Olivia Manzanares, Michelle Wike – Bringing Science to Life: Hands-On Workshops with Lawrence Hall of Science or CuriOdyssey – an in person workshop led by expert educators
• 3rd grade – Olivia Manzanares – Celebrating Cultures Through Hands-On Learning – create a series of hands-on cultural projects that allow students to learn about and celebrate global traditions throughout the year.
• 4th grade – Alice Mylod-Vargas (myself) – Expanding Classroom Library
• 4th grade – Chris Suydam – Sensory and focus materials
• 4th grade – Sean Nakamura – BrainPop subscription
• 4th & 5th – Lisa Sweeney, Anne Strehlow, Mia Fanourgiakis, Alice Robertson, Derek McGovern – Consumables for hands-on science experiments
• 5th grade – NA – PE Equipment
• 5th grade – Justine Phipps Ingram – 5th Grade Mural: to hire a trained art teacher who can use correct and applicable art terminology to help further the students’ understanding of mural art.
• 5th grade – Pamela Miller, Jana Coyle, Justine Phipps Ingram – Interactive STEAM & Field Trip provide the docent and lab experience

Fox

• Transitional Kindergarten – Brandon Whiteman – Sensory and Discovery materials for the classroom
• Transitional Kindergarten – Linda Wilkinson – Exploration and Discovery Play materials and supplies
• Transitional Kindergarten – Linda Wilkinson, Sarah Musculina, Yvonne Olcomendy, Brandon Whiteman – Sensory motor activities, to support a wide variety of academic skills, such as oral language development, fine motor skills, creativity, imagination, capacity, volume, measurement and critical thinking skills
• Transitional Kindergarten – Sarah Muscolina – Storytelling boards and story pieces (felt characters and props) to retell various stories as well as create new stories
• TK – 5th – Lizz Atwood, Paul Lucich, Vickie Garcia De Alba, Brittany Jolivette, Felah Murray, Lisa Kafka, Danielle Kim, Ashley Doss, Anisha Ramani, Kristen Sevillia – Provide students at all grade levels with meaningful alternative lunchtime activities
• TK – 5th – Jen Liebhaber – Sensory items for calming room
• TK – 5th – Lizz Atwood – New Anti-Bullying Curriculum
• TK – 5th – Lizz Atwood, Taliah Carter, Fox Staff – Kindness Week and social emotional learning curriculum
• TK – 5th – Marla Levy – Supplies including software subscriptions & therapy materials
• TK – 5th – Taliah Carter – Provide student-friendly cleaning tools — such as handheld dust busters, broom and pan, and trash grabbers — to support students in taking active ownership of their shared spaces.
• TK – 5th – Taliah Carter – Onsite Core Literacy Coaching for Staff – professional development for all staff
• TK – 5th – Juliet Leon Lopez – Extra clothes for young childrem who have accidents at school
• TK – 5th – Jeanne Delano – STEAM title collection upgrade/Listening Center Audiobook Addition/Dynamic Shelving
• K – 5th – Angel Hession, Lara Goldman – Phonics and Math Games for skill practice and reinforcement
• K – 5th – Maria Acevedo – Emergency supply support
• K – 5th – Min Kim – Sensory Integration Certificate Program (professional development)
• K – 5th – Jenny Gross, Ivan Quiteno – Play Therapy Supplies
• K – 5th – Ivan Quiteño – Curriculum, games and other materials to facilitate counseling and social emotional lessons
• 1st- 5th – Luis Mayen, night custudian – A new drill, and a vacuum to keep our carpets clean
• 2nd grade – Rachel Imura, Jennifer Duffy – Reading materials for improved small group reading instruction:  paired fiction and nonfiction book sets
• 3rd grade – Julie Grogan-Crane “, Jennifer Pusker ” , Serina Banker – Weather station to enrich STEM activities that engage students in real life problems that use knowledge and skills across the curriculum
• 3rd grade – Jennifer Pusker – Hands-on learning, literacy and math development, and social-emotional growth materials to build a learning environment where students think critically, use mathematical reasoning, collaborate creatively, and develop lifelong learning habits.
• 3rd grade – Serina Banker – Narrative Nonfiction Library
• 4th grade – Lynnette Dowling – Small Group/Reading Nook Space
• 4th grade – Lisa Fahey – Comfortable Learning Spaces and Imaginative Activities including art supplies, calm down corner and flexible seating options
• 4th & 5th – Anne Strehlow – Engineering Design Challenges and Dissection Tools
• 4th & 5th – Corie Silva – Supplemental materials for Reading, Writing, and to bring Social Studies to life
• 4th & 5th – Lynette Dowling, Corie Silva, Lisa Fahey – Multicultural books and materials to make our existing social studies curriculum more hands on
• 4th & 5th – Lisa Sweeney, Anne Strehlow, Mia Fanourgiakis, Alice Robertson, Derek McGovern – Consumables for hands-on science experiments
• 5th grade – Kortney Kaa – Headphones and Computer Mice
• 5th grade – Valerie Yu – Classroom Library expansion
• 5th grade – Kortney Kaa, Corie Silva, Valerie Yu – Nonfiction Research Books, Nonfiction Books on Colonial America

Nesbit

• TK – 3rd – Michaela Donofrio – Acquire various music instruments and materials
• TK – 8th – Jeanne Delano – STEAM title collection upgrade/Listening Center Audiobook Addition/Dynamic Shelving
• TK – 8th – Lizz Atwood, Paul Lucich, Vickie Garcia De Alba, Brittany Jolivette, Felah Murray, Lisa Kafka, Danielle Kim, Ashley Doss, Anisha Ramani, Kristen Sevillia – Provide students at all grade levels with meaningful alternative lunchtime activities
• Kindergarten – NA – Hands-on small group activities that my students can positively engage in, independently
• Kindergarten – (Katie) Thanh Lu – Learning center materials – more activities for small group station rotations, concentrating of literacy and math manipulatives
• Kindergarten – Michelle Rothe – Learning Center Materials
• K – 5th – Jenny Gross, Ivan Quiteno – Play Therapy Supplies
• K – 8th – Ivan Quiteño – Curriculum, games and other materials to facilitate counseling and social emotional lessons
• K – 8th – Min Kim – Sensory Integration Certificate Program (professional development)
• 1st – 3rd – Stephanie McMaster,” Meghan Ghassemzadeh,” Lisa Mudd,” Christine Litwin – Decodable Readers for Early Literacy
• 1st grade – Carla Shao, Tristan Young, Jamela Shaban – Hands-on teaching materials, supplemental resources, and interactive educational games
• 1st grade – Jamela Shaban, Tristan Young, Carla Shao – iPad Pros for classroom teachers to use for instruction and assessments
• 1st grade – Tristan Young, Jamela Shaban, Carla Shao – Literacy games, centers, guided reading books, magnet letters, and boards
• 2nd grade – Nicole Medeiros – iPad for accessment and other learning software for teacher as well as expansion of classroom library
• 2nd grade – Najlaa Qattawi – STEM toys and games, and math manipulatives
• 3rd – 8th – Katey Marsh, Carolyn Fogarty, Katie Hunter, Jay Herington, Ryan Hansen – Skutt glass kiln with accessories
• 3rd & 4th – Tripta Joshi, Tara Russell, Jeannette Martinez, Mark Fox – Creating Connections: Art and Cultural Celebrations
• 3rd grade – Jeannette Martinez, Tripta Joshi, Tara Russell – Flexible Seating
• 3rd grade – Tara Russell, Tripta Joshi, Jeanette Martinez, Mark Fox – Hands-on, nature-based activities, students will deepen their understanding of plants, ecosystems, and their own relationship with the natural world.
• 4th & 5th – Derek McGovern, Ryan Hansen, Christina Spicker, Danielle Nuezca-Tibbs, Keli McHugh, James Bolton – Nesbit Garden and Compost Program
• 4th & 5th – 4th/5th Grade – James Bolton, Carolyn Fogarty, Mark Fox, Katey Marsh, Keli McHugh, Danielle May Nuezca-Tibbs – Podcast – equipment, software, opportunities, and curriculum to support this endeavor
• 4th & 5th – Nerina Carpenter – Selection of rocks for hands-on investigation of geology topics
• 4th & 5th – Lisa Sweeney, Anne Strehlow, Mia Fanourgiakis, Alice Robertson, Derek McGovern – Consumables for hands-on science experiments
• 4th & 7th – Jay Herington, Cassandra De Wood, Mark Fox, Katie Hunter – Expand  classroom libraries and book club selections to support both environmental literacy and general reading engagement
• 4th grade – Carolyn Fogarty – Engage in engineering and Mathematical thinking through games and STEM kits
• 5th grade – Danielle May Nuezca-Tibbs – Classroom organization & storage
• 5th grade – Keli McHugh – Classroom Organization and Non-tech learning tools
• 5th- 8th – Katey Marsh, Keli McHugh – Dare to Dream Jr. Musical
• 6th grade – Kyle Ting, Tim McIntyre – Bringing Virtual and Augmented Reality to the Classroom
• 6th – 8th – Cassandra de Wood, Katie Hunter, Jay Herington, Clara Divelbiss, Lisa Mudd, Travis Whitebread, Chandra McKeon, Kyle Ting, Teena Farrell – Empowering Emerging English Learners through Live Translation Technology
• 6th – 8th – Clara Divelbiss – Celebrating Culture: Hands-On Traditions Through Art
• 6th – 8th – Lisa Mudd – 9-month practicum work required to become Orton-Gillingham certified and for additional support materials for the students
• 6th & 8th – Paul Lucich – Tobacco, Drug, Vaping Prevention Peer Educators
• 6th – 8th – Chandra Mc Keon – STEM Inventions kits and refresh my classroom library
• 7th grade – Katie Hunter, Cassandra De Wood, Jay Herington – Implement the INTERACT “DIG” IB project, an immersive, hands-on archaeological simulation that transforms students into archaeologists uncovering the remnants of a lost civilization
• 8th Grade ( and 6th-8th for athletics) – Travis Whitebread – Classroom books & book club books

Ralston

• 6th grade – Fleur Uptegraft – Aquatic Ecosystems & a new Genetics Lab
• 6th grade – Kelly Jorgensen, Robert Banker, Fleur Uptegraft, Susan Welter – Bringing Biology to Life: Hands-On Exploration Through Frog Dissection and Life Science Inquiry
• 6th grade – Sabrina Adler, Kelly Jorgensen, Patrick Wilson, Fleur Uptegraft, Susan Welter, Robert Banker – Marine Science Institute Watershed Collaborative
• 6th grade – Susan Welter – Two engineering projects (aside from the ongoing Wind Turbine project); one project for Life Science & one for Physical Science
• 6th grade – Susan Welter, Robert Banker, Fleur Uptegraft – Wind Turbine Project
• 6th grade – Kirsten Knudson – Walk Through History/the Ancient World
• 6th & 7th – “Lynn McVey”, “Kathy Tofigh”, “Franziska Bussiek”, “Ellie Launer” – Greek and Latin Root Program that provides diversified vocabulary learning lessons, Vocabulary.com
• 6th – 8th – Clare Marks, Peter Thielen – Orff Percussion Instruments
• 6th – 8th – Myself, Audree Payne, Teri Delgadillo – Student Cumulative Locking File Cabinets / Office Chairs
• 6th – 8th – Suba Marti – Cultivating a Maker-Centered Mindset – to instill a maker-centered mindset, shifting students from passive consumers to active creators
• 6th – 8th – Brittany Jolivette, Felah Murray, Lisa Kafka, Sabrina Adler, Patrick Wilson, Kelly Jorgensen, Ellie Launer – Campus wide activities to enage students in cultural understanding
• 6th – 8th – Steve Pomeroy – The core purpose of this grant is to instill a maker-centered mindset, shifting students from passive consumers to active creators
• 6th – 8th – Vanessa Maass – High-quality teaching materials, subscriptions, books, and games that will help my middle school speech students achieve their communication goals
• 6th – 8th – Min Kim – Sensory Integration Certificate Program (professional development)
• 7th grade – Hanah Allen – Earth Science Unit Upgrade–Rock and Mineral Kits
• 7th grade – Heather Staniszewski – Mini whiteboard, eraser, and whiteboard marker and replace classroom whiteboards
• 7th & 8th – Helen Taptelis – RamTV Starter Fund expand the journalism program to include a television channel, where our journalists can use visual and audio media to tell their stories to the whole school during our Homerooms
• 7th & 8th – Maia Bromberg, Ana Jauregui – Comprehensible readers and high-interest books to meet the needs of students at all levels of Spanish at Ralston
• 7th & 8th – Alison Kim – Collaborative and skill/strategy-based games for the classroom
• 7th & 8th – Laura Parks – Cameras for yearbook class use
• 7th & 8th – Patrick Wilson, Dave Ortolan, Kayleigh Jozwiak, Stephanie Wald, Hannah Ashton, Dustin Bryan – Monthly Science from Scientists classroom lessons
• 7th & 8th – Sara Tolliver – Hoods, ventilation and professional tools to expand culinary arts program
• 6th grade Science; 7th & 8th STEM elective – Robert Banker – Science in Action: Biological Exhibits – to transform scientific principles into lived experiences
• 6th – 8th – Lizz Atwood, Paul Lucich, Vickie Garcia De Alba, Brittany Jolivette, Felah Murray, Lisa Kafka, Danielle Kim, Ashley Doss, Anisha Ramani, Kristen Sevillia – Provide students at all grade levels with meaningful alternative lunchtime activities
• 6th – 8th – Ivan Quiteño – Curriculum, games and other materials to facilitate counseling and social emotional lessons

Redwood Shores

• Transitional Kindergarten – Lisa Ildefonzo, Katie Evans, Natashya Sison – Fine Motor and Sensory Skill Development
• TK – K – Rachel Thompson – Fine Motor Toolkits to give students time outside of their educational day to build upon skills necessary to get the most out of their education
• TK – 5th – Lizz Atwood, Paul Lucich, Vickie Garcia De Alba, Brittany Jolivette, Felah Murray, Lisa Kafka, Danielle Kim, Ashley Doss, Anisha Ramani, Kristen Sevillia – Provide students at all grade levels with meaningful alternative lunchtime activities
• TK – 3rd – Michaela Donofrio – Acquire various music instruments and materials
• Kindergarten – Deborah Weinstein – Math Games Curriculum & Manipulatives
• K – 5th – Jenny Gross, Ivan Quiteno – Play Therapy Supplies
• K – 5th – Ivan Quiteño – Curriculum, games and other materials to facilitate counseling and social emotional lessons
• K – 5th – Lisa Kaiser – Educational games for math and language arts
• 1st – 5th – Sara Simmons – Pocketalk: a two-way small hand held translation device that creates connections across 92+ different languages for newcomers to English
• 1st, 4th & 5th – Sara Teeple, Shannon Pastore, Kyana Nguyen, Beth DeStefani, Emily House, Kara Talledge – Honoring voices and histories through art to deepen students’ appreciation and understanding of the many cultures within the United States through hands-on, creative expression. Each month features a lesson highlighting an artist connected to the culture being celebrated.
• 1st- 2nd grade SDC – Norma Meza Lopez – Hands on materials for centers and weighted vests
• 2nd grade – Heather Bassett – Classroom tools for Diversity and Equity
• 2nd grade – Kirsten Ivazes – Flocabulary (software), classroom STEM materials
• 3rd Grade – Heather Hoover – Decodable Books, Hi-Lo Books, & ELL Resources
• 3rd grade – Katy – High-Lo books
• 3rd grade – Sheri Norman – Generation Genius – digital science/math lessons
• 4th & 5th – Lisa Sweeney, Anne Strehlow, Mia Fanourgiakis, Alice Robertson, Derek McGovern – Consumables for hands-on science experiments
• 5th grade – Beth DeStefani, Emily House, Kara Talledge – Sisters Grimm Theme Activities – writing and book club experience
• 5th grade – Emily House, Beth DeStefani, Kara Talledge – Hands-on, paper-making experience
• Preschool – 5th – Stacey Okumura – Library Browsing Book Bin
• Preschool – 5 – Leah Sevillia – Sensory items and reinforcers for our SDC classrooms
• Preschool and TK – Marta Obejero Paz, Amaya Echarte, Kathry Ketchum – Laser color printer, ink and thermal laminating pouches
• SDC M/M for grades 3 to 5 – Nodira Dadabaeva – Supplemental materials to reading fluency; Science video lessons
• SDC TK/K – Kasandra Rueda – Sensory centers and sensory items
• Whole school – Ashley Doss – Positive social-emotional wellbeing of all students on campus including SEL lessons and tools

Sandpiper

• TK – 3rd – Michaela Donofrio – Acquire various music instruments and materials
• TK – 8th – Anisha Ramani – Peacemakers program, a student conflict manager initiative that empowers students to resolve peer conflicts respectfully and constructively
• TK – 8th – Gloria Higgins, Stephanie Scala – Student Lead Clubs – expand opportunities for belonging, leadership, and creative expression
• TK – 8th – Lizz Atwood, Paul Lucich, Vickie Garcia De Alba, Brittany Jolivette, Felah Murray, Lisa Kafka, Danielle Kim, Ashley Doss, Anisha Ramani, Kristen Sevillia – Provide students at all grade levels with meaningful alternative lunchtime activities
• TK – 8th – Kristi Neu – Sensory supports to classrooms will help support regulation, engagement, attention, and learning for all students
• Kindergarten – Jennifer Schultz – Kindervention materials games and resources
• Kindergarten – Margaret Watson – Kinder Garden Materials for shade and planting
• K – 5th – Jenny Gross, Ivan Quiteno – Play Therapy Supplies
• K – 8th – Melanie Hendersen, Nicole Murillo, Annette Salazar, Ariana Huertas – Calm Down Room Development
• 1st grade – Jessica Dong – Mentor Texts for Writer’s Workshop & Classroom Library books
• 1st-8th grade – None – Sensory supports like weighted shoulder and lap pads, gyroscopes, and hand calming clips create a more inclusive learning environment where students can meet sensory needs and better engage in learning
• 3rd grade – Katie Rosas, Lydia Tang – W.I.N. (What I Need) diversify student learning by giving the students greater access to different types of learning. They will be able to access the curriculum through games, word work, technology, design challenges, diverse books, etc.
• 3rd grade – Lydia Tang – Educating the Whole Child through Social-Emotional Learning, Self-Sufficiency, and Real-World Skills
• 4th & 5th – Lisa Sweeney, Anne Strehlow, Mia Fanourgiakis, Alice Robertson, Derek McGovern – Consumables for hands-on science experiments
• 6th grade – Nikole Buret – Walk Through the Ancient World which is an in school living history field trip that is put on by California Weekly
• 6th & 8th – Andrea Manchester, Valerie Gow, Fran Karkoski, Nikole Buret – Intersession, a unique, school-wide enrichment event exclusive to Sandpiper School. During Intersession, teachers design and lead one-week intensive classes on a wide variety of topics that go beyond the traditional curriculum—offering students hands-on, immersive learning experiences they wouldn’t typically encounter during the regular school year.
• 6th & 8th – Valerie Gow, Andrea Manchester, Nikole Buret, Fran Karkoski – Professional development of high-quality electives for our students
• 6th- 8th – Valerie Gow, Kristen Ozorio, Francesca Karkoski – Consumables for hands on scince leanring for MS students at Sandpiper
• 7th grade – Caroline Baldonado – Enrich 7th grade English and History instruction through cross-curricular, art-integrated projects and to support our “Adulting 101” middle school intersession course.

District Office

• District Office – Jessica Cornejo, All District Office Staff – District Office Team Building
• District Office – Trung Le – Professional Development for course work and certifications
• District Office – Preschool – 8th – Sonya Vianna, Robin Lockwood, Director of Special Programs (TBD) – Two assemblies for special day students