Grant Opportunities for EHPS Staff
Each year, the East Hartford Alumni Association and Education Foundation provides grants to staff of the East Hartford Public School System to fund new programs and projects that would not be financed by Board of Education resources. The EHAAEF accepts grant applications from any staff member within the East Hartford Public School system. In order to ensure the best use of funds, proposals should:
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Have clear goals and measurable outcomes;
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Be unique and academically sound
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Have a reasonable and itemized budget;
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Promote collaboration between school, home, and community; and
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Have a broad and far-reaching impact, in both number of students served and longevity within the district.
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A full listing of grant recipients is available below.
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The application deadline for the 2025-2026 school year has passed. Please check back in August 2026.
2025-2026 Grant Recipients
Janet Billiter
Langford Elementary
Science Exploration
Spark students’ curiosity, deepen their understanding, and ignite a love of learning for science through visits from the Connecticut Science Center’s traveling classroom.
Ronall Cannada
EHHS
STEM Skills for International Students in U.S History.
Support students to examine the impact of American inventors and inventions and to reimagine U.S. history using technology like the Microbit, MakeyMakey, and Code a Key.
Daniel Crovo
EHHS
Expanding Access to Competitive Training for East Hartford High School Swim Teams
Provide modern training tools so members of the boys’ and girls’ swim team can access high-quality practices.
Melissa Ewing
EHHS
Shakespeare Comes Alive: A Hands-On Learning Experience for 9th Graders
EIncrease students’ understanding of Shakespeare’s works through the Shakespeare Comes Alive program, an immersive learning initiative that engages students in experiential approaches.
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*This project was funded by the EHHS Class of 1974 in memory of William 'Rick' Wood, a long time East Hartford Public School teacher.
Katie Farber
Pitkin Elementary
Stories That Sing: Bringing Frog and Toad to Life for Students
Expose students to performance arts and foster creativity, empathy, and cultural literacy through a field trip to Playhouse on Park for a performance of "A Year with Frog and Toad."
Greg Hoyt
EHHS
Culturally Responsive Instrument Library
Provide students with authentic instruments from diverse musical traditions to broaden their understanding of world music and create more inclusive learning opportunities.
Jennifer Nardelli, Jackie Sagendorf, Hayley Fieldhouse
EHMS
Literacy Circles and Book Clubs
Enhance students’ reading comprehension, engagement, empathy, and discussion skills through access to literature circles and book clubs.
Kathryn Pentore
EHMS
Remembering the Past: Building Empathy and Historical Awareness through Holocaust and WWII Literature
Strengthen students’ understanding and awareness of the Holocaust and World War II through literature to cultivate empathy, critical thinking, and a commitment to justice.
Nadia Wentzell, Emma Fetridge
Mayberry Elementary
Roots & Routes: A Plant Part Adventure
Enhance students’ understanding of plants and gardening through hands-on-activities at Handel Family Farm and the expansion of the school’s garden.
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*This project was funded by the EHHS Class of 1974 in memory of their classmates.
2024-2025 Grant Recipients
Melissa Dumas
EHHS
Experiential Education for Marine Students
Expand students’ learning about marine biology through a field trip to New England Aquarium and Boston Harbor Whale Watch.
Brandyn Barstis
Woodland School
Green Learning: A School Garden for Environmental and Educational Growth
Support the creation of a garden to serve as an outdoor classroom to promote hands-on learning, environmental stewardship, and health education for students.
Caitlin Carbonell
EHMS
Build on Our Language Fluency Skills in the Library
Support the development of fluency for English Language Learners' through expanded access to library books available in their first language.
Kathryn Pentore
EHMS
Enhancing Flex Time and Empower Health: WSCC with Educational and Recreational Games and Activities
Enhance the social and emotional lives of students by providing them with a variety of activities during FLEX time to encourage healthy and active play, cooperative group and team building, and conflict resolution.
Katie Farber
Pitkin Elementary
Music Fun for All
Expose students to the orff instrument family of xylophones and metallophones and embrace music and rhythm with sand blocks.
Laura Buck
Sunset Ridge Middle
Bookcases celebrating Heritage Celebration Months
Strengthen equitable student access to books that reflect and celebrate various cultures during various cultural heritage months throughout the year.
Reginald Billue
EHHS
Drones to Support Student Creativity
Support the Drone Club to create videos and photos at school events, enhancing extracurricular options for students.
Kevin Bagley
EHHS
Building a Rain Garden
Support AP Environmental Science students to build a rain garden that increases groundwater recharge, provides habitats for butterflies and songbirds, and works to mitigate climate change in the local community.
2023-2024 Grant Recipients
Evan Bellman
EHHS
Expand the DJ/Sound Class Learning Opportunities with Professional Lighting Systems
Create opportunity for students to learn how to set up and run professional lighting systems.
Brendan Boyd
EHMS
Digital Drawing Graphic Tablet
Support students to develop drawing, design, and computer skills in world history class in Greek mythology and medieval Europe curriculum through the use of digital drawing graphic tablets.
Monique Butler, Catherine Horter, Stephanie Hendrickson
Norris Elementary
3rd Grade Transforms a Beautiful Moment
Expand students’ learning about environmental changes and life cycles through a field trip to Magic Wings, an indoor butterfly conservatory.
Amber Dickey
EHHS
The Gift of Time for XC Runners
Strengthen cross-country runners ability to pace themselves and compete with more affluent school districts through use of Garmin running watches.
Katie Farber
Pitkin & Langford Elementary
Music is Therapy
Support students in exceptionalities and autism programs through specialized music therapy to strengthen communication and socially appropriate interactions.
Christian Siegel
EHHS
Streaming EHHS
Promote access to East Hartford High School events for families through a stronger streaming component on the school’s YouTube channel.
Elizabeth Trojanowski
Sunset Ridge Middle
Cardboard Creations with Motorized Functions
Establish a foundation and general understanding of robotics for students through creation of new devices or 3D models with simple, motorized functions.
2022-2023 Grant Recipients
Christian Siegel
EHHS
Lighting the News of EHHS
Promote learning of video production, filming, and editing through the creation of a regularly filmed news show featuring all things East Hartford High School.
Raymond Frost & Michael Vaughan
EHHS
Introducing Electronics to Automotive and Robotics
Teach automotive and robotics students electrical theory and how to build electrical currents, promoting hands-on skills essential to careers in these fields.
Amanda Cooper
Sunset Ridge Middle
A Beluga’s Journey
Support students to simulate of a beluga whale transfer, applying scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device the minimizes thermal energy transfer
Janice May, Thomas Pinnex & David Davies
EHHS
University of Hartford Field Trip
Encourage art students to explore higher levels of art production through workshops and campus visits to the University of Hartford.
Dan O'Brien
EHMS
Global & Creative Music Concert Series
Create community performing opportunities for students in the Global and Creative Music programs at East Hartford Middle School and East Hartford High School alongside professional musicians at a concert series put on in partnership with East Hartford Public Library.
Meghan Christopher
O'Brien Elementary
Putting for Personal Growth
Promote self-management, patience, self-confidence, and resilience through a “build your own mini golf” unit.
Christine Mariano
Woodland School
Building a High School Library
Develop the foundations of a high school library that meets the reading level range of all students and represents the multicultural population of the school.
Renee Edge
EHMS
Mindful Movement
Support the creation of a mindful movement room with sensory seating and tools to allow for engaging movement breaks, mindful breathing, and sensory stimulation.
Kristine Emond
EHHS
Library Book Club
Bring together students from all grade levels and reading levels to read and discuss a nonfiction graphic novel to support peer learning of others’ views, opinions, and personal experiences about the book’s themes.
2021-2022 Grant Recipients
Michael Craig
EHMS
Respecting diversity and SEL in the classroom Create a physical education unit titled “Games Around the World to build cultural acceptance and multicultural awareness while celebrating differences in the class and community.
Meghan Christopher
O'Brien Elementary
Scooters for Justice
Promote justice in the gymnasium using scooters to eliminate the gap between students of differing abilities, giving them a more even playing field to access physical activity.
Janice May
EHHS
Bringing back sewing​
Renew the high school’s after school sewing club to teach the important life skill of sewing and incorporate problem solving, math, and creativity.
Raymond Frost
EHHS
One More Step Toward Program Certification
Teach automotive students to properly research repair data using Mitchell1, a program used in the industry, to increase students’ marketability in the automotive field.
Maritza Soto-Gomez & Kristen Wilder
Pitkin Elementary
Mindful Fusion Program
Promote mindfulness among students through music using a variety of new musical instruments that echo sounds of nature.
2020-2021 Grant Recipients
Christine Sposito
EHMS
Implementing functional digital programs to increase engagement during remote learning
Digital curriculum to build the vocational, independent living, functional academic, and functional communication skills of students with significant special needs, even when learning from home.​
Monique Butler &
Kelley Hunter-Morales
Norris Elementary
Coping through a pandemic - making numbers make sense
Provide access to math manipulatives to increase math concepts, skills, and visual representation for all 4th grade students, regardless of if they are in-person learners or remote learners.
Sara Smith
O'Connell Elementary
Diverse books for all students and teachers​
Provide developmentally appropriate books for all classrooms to build capacity of staff to thoughtfully and intentionally address diversity and inclusion in discussion with their students.
Harmony Lovell
O'Connell Elementary
Using literature to engage students and teachers in discussions about race​
Provide books featuring racially diverse characters to promote student learning that addresses broader topics around race and allows for opportunities for analysis and action.
Brenda Gooley
EHHS
Capable independence life skills curriculum - live and remote learners
Address functional academic skills and improve targeted life/self-help skills for special needs learners through a digital curriculum.