Ithaca Public Education Initiative's (IPEI) Executive Director has announced funding for 20 projects and programs in the second round of grants made by IPEI during the 2018-19 school year.

"Because of our generous supporters, IPEI is able to turn teacher ideas into engaging realities for our students. We're so proud to support the work and love our teachers put into their classrooms and schools," said Steven Manley, Executive Director.  "This round of grants supports community character education, senior projects for students and connects students with members of the greater Ithaca community including Southside Community Center and the Hangar Theater, to name just a few."

Grants from IPEI support teacher, staff and student projects and programs which create innovative learning opportunities for students, classes and entire school communities. Since 1996, IPEI has used community support to provide more than 1.5 million dollars of grant funding for projects ranging from exploring cultural differences and celebrating 100 years of the IHS band to challenging elementary students to evaluate their own learning styles.

IPEI Red and Gold Grants (Grants of up to $500, typically to support purchase of materials for a project or program)

Character Education and Community Building Through Music
Beverly J Martin Elementary School, Teacher: Nicole Temple
Grades involved: Pre-K through 5th grade, # of students involved: ~318, All students Pre-K through 5th grade

Drones in Honors Geometry
Ithaca High School, Teacher: Gauri Kolhatkar and David Pepe
Grades involved: 9 and 12, # of students involved: 150

Harpsichord Building
Ithaca High School, Recipient: Owen Cummings
Grades involved: 9-12, # of students involved: All orchestra and choir participants, present and future

Second Grade Series Book Clubs
Caroline Elementary School, Teacher: Jennifer Goodmark
Grades involved: 2nd, # of students involved: 46

Flex-Seating
Belle Sherman Elementary School, Teacher: Melissa Millspaugh
Grades involved: 2nd Grade, # of students involved: 16

The Great Study Hall Lego Build
Dewitt Middle School, Teacher: Harry Nichols
Grades involved: 6, # of students involved: 30


IPEI Teacher Grants (Grants up to $1500 to support projects or program requiring the expertise of a community partner)

Animals in my Backyard? Year 2
Beverly J Martin Elementary School, Teacher: Nancy Braun
Grades involved: Kindergarten, # of students involved: 33

“Be the Change You See”: Examining our own community while learning about the past.
Boynton Middle School, Teacher: Rebecca Siegrist
Grades involved: 6th grade, # of students involved: 106

South Hill Storytelling Around the World
South Hill Elementary School, Teacher: Jane Koestler
Grades involved: 3rd, # of students involved: 62

Supporting Indigenous Cultural Survival Through Education and Action
LACS, Teacher: Jon Raimon
Grades involved: 4th thru 12th, # of students involved: 200+

Sensory Pathways: Journeys to Self-Regulation
Enfield Elementary School, Teachers: Kristin Herman, Margitta Cudlin, Stephanie Colombo, Joanne Thayer
Grades involved: Pre-K through 5, # of students involved: 187

Nurturing Nature with Primitive Pursuits (Year 2)
Beverly J Martin Elementary School, Teacher: Andrea Sands
Grades involved: K, # of students involved: 16

Understanding the Enslavement of Africans and African-Americans Through Black Spirituals
Dewitt Middle School, Teacher: Theresa Souchet
Grades involved: 7th & 8th, # of students involved: 150

Ty Allan Jackson Manuscript project
Beverly J Martin Elementary School, Teacher: Paula Long
Grades involved: 3,4,5, # of students involved: 140

Go Local with History (Year 3)
Boynton Middle School, Teacher: Cindy Kramer
Grades involved: 7th and 8th, # of students involved: 160

Immigration Photography
Beverly J Martin Elementary School, Teacher: Ann Kolodji
Grades involved: 5th, # of students involved: 51

Analysis of Hominin Fossils to study evolution (Year 2)
Dewitt Middle School, Teacher: Wayne Gottlieb
Grades involved: 7th, # of students involved: 160

Morocco Cultural Exchange (Year 2)
Ithaca High School, Teacher: Todd Noyes
Grades involved: 12th, # of students involved: 24

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