Big awards given out for teacher grant requests.

Each year the Baldwin Education Foundation has teachers apply for grants. They will then go through their applications and the BEF trustees will vote on which grants should be granted.

“The Baldwin Education Foundation’s Board of Trustees spend weeks reviewing all grant applications after grant applications have first been reviewed by district administration. After careful study, BEF Trustees meet to vote on the grants to be funded,” BEF Director Kelley Bethell-Smith said.

This program grants teachers from pre-K all the way up to teaching 12th grade. They can ask for their grant to be up to $1,000. 

“Teachers/staff are allowed to apply for any amount of assistance for their innovative project grant up to $1,000. Last year, BEF gave $38,451 in Innovative Project Grants which funded 48 different projects from pre-K through 12th grade,” Bethell-Smith said.

They have added new features to the program last year where one person could add $500 to their total.

“A new feature added for the first time this last school year was for the top vote-earning project for each school building (PC, IC, JH, and HS) to receive an additional $500 prize for being the most innovative,” Bethell-Smith said.

Having the Paws Awards Program is good to have not only for the teacher but also for the Baldwin community.

“I believe a strong support organization like BEF can make a direct impact for students, staff, families, and the community by being a passionate champion for our schools. Schools are the heartbeat of small, rural Kansas communities. When BEF can inspire additional investment in a learning culture that values excellence, innovation, and belonging, we help create additional opportunities that are BaldwinBuilt,” Bethel-Smith said.

Decision making can take a while to decide which candidates deserve the grant.

“The Baldwin Education Foundation’s Board of Trustees spend weeks reviewing all grant applications after grant applications have first been reviewed by district administration. After careful study, BEF Trustees meet to vote on the grants to be funded,” Bethell-Smith said.