The Foundation for Educational Excellence awarded 19 Innovative Teacher and School Resource Grants on Tuesday, Nov. 19 to teachers across Beaufort County. These grants totaling more than $23,000 were given to teachers whose educational activities and projects surpass regular
school lessons.

“The funds will provide 3,837 unique learning opportunities for students throughout the district at all age levels,” chairperson Deborah Colella said in a release.

Projects funded this grant cycle range from science to the Arts and everything in between.

Battery Creek High School’s Vincent Vernacchio won a grant for “Argument Driven Inquiry.” Port Royal Elementary’s Kim Waters won a grant for “We Need A Hero.”

“Bridging the Language Divide” won for LaToi Smith for Mossy Oaks, Whale Branch and Davis elementary schools and Whale Branch Middle School. Rebecca Gerrard and Barbara Mallon of Robert Smalls International Academy won a grant for “Learning With LEGOs.”

Kelly Lee Turner of Whale Branch Elementary won a grant for “World Drumming.”

Also receiving a grant this fall was a unique project entitled “BOOK CLUBS – Bringing families and classrooms together.” This innovative idea will impact all ELA students district-wide through the purchase of new and relevant books to facilitate parent/student book clubs.

This grant cycle was partially funded by generous contributions by The Bargain Box of Hilton Head, Friends of Callawassie, Italian American Club of Hilton Head and the foundation’s major fundraiser, “Jewels and Jeans.”

“We are so thankful to the organizations that help make it possible for the foundation to award grants to these inventive teachers who want to go beyond the basic to transform the educational experience of students in Beaufort County,” foundation board member and grant chair Michel Claudio said in a release.