Applications due December 1st, 2022
Coming this year – Online Application!
An online application will be available on this website mid fall – please check back frequently! In the meantime, read below for details on the grant and for inspiration from past grant recipients.
Download the Teacher Grant Application.
The Germantown Community Scholarship Fund, Inc. (“GCSF”) has been dedicated to helping graduating seniors finance their post high school education for over two decades. While the Fund’s focus continues to be on student scholarships, the board is also committed to Germantown School District teachers for their efforts in helping these students develop.
Since 2004, over $42,250 has been awarded to 70 deserving educators. Through the efforts of dedicated volunteers, the MudSplash Run for Fun was established in 2015 and is specifically dedicated to raise money for our Germantown educators. We are pleased to announce that the grant amount has increased from $500 to $1,250 in 2018! We award $5,000 in grants each year!
We understand that to successfully help students grow, teachers must broaden your knowledge through conferences and workshops. We also understand that limited district funding may preclude teachers from attempting new and creative methods of improving students’ academic performance and classroom experience. To help lessen the financial burden of teachers’ development courses and to encourage innovative classroom projects, we are offering grants of up to $1,250 to reimburse Germantown School District teachers for costs incurred in connection with attending professional development courses that will relate directly to your students or implementing classroom and educational programs, all as described in more detail in the below Statement of Philosophy of Awarding Educational Grants.
The number and amount of grants available will be determined each year by the Board of Directors of the Germantown Community Scholarship Fund, Inc. No grant may exceed $1,250 without the consent of the Board of Directors of the Germantown Community Scholarship Fund, Inc., and the Board may, from time to time, establish or modify the guidelines to be followed in connection with the grant program.
Unless otherwise agreed by the Scholarship Committee, grants will be used to reimburse a teacher for costs incurred upon submission of appropriate documentation evidencing the costs so incurred.
Teacher’s Education Grant Timeline 2022-23
December 1, 2022 Applications due to GCSF
January 2023 Announcement of grant recipients
End of May 2023 Teacher Grant Recognition at Scholarship Awards Night
GRANT FUNDS
The Germantown Community Scholarship Fund Grant Committee (“Grant Committee”) will review all grant requests submitted by the deadline and select the grant recipients based on criteria established by the Grant Committee. Grant recipients will be notified of the award as soon as possible and recipients will be honored at the annual Senior Scholarship Awards Night traditionally held in spring.
The number and amount of grants available will be determined each year by the Board of Directors of the Germantown Community Scholarship Fund, Inc. No grant may exceed $1,250.00 without the consent of the Board of Directors of the Germantown Community Scholarship Fund, Inc., and the Board may, from time to time, establish or modify the guidelines to be followed in connection with the grant program.
Unless otherwise agreed by the Grant Committee, grants will be used to reimburse a teacher for costs incurred upon submission of appropriate documentation evidencing the costs so incurred.
The Board of Directors of the Germantown Community Scholarship Fund, Inc. (the “Board”) appoints a Grant Committee to administer and evaluate applications. The Board will annually establish the number of educational grants (“Grants”) available to one or more teachers employed by the Germantown School District. The Grant Committee shall establish such guidelines and criteria as it determines appropriate to distribute the Grants.
BASIC CRITERIA
TGo be eligible to receive a Grant, a teacher must be employed by the Germantown School District, both at the time of application and at the time reimbursement is requested.
Grants are intended to reimburse a recipient for qualified development and educational costs of:
- Professional development activities such as professional seminar or workshop which will benefit your curriculum
- Educational supplies for use in the classroom
- Projects that will enhance the education of students or faculty within the Germantown School District
- Grant proceeds may not be used for any purpose other than the payment of “qualified development and/or educational costs”. Proceeds may not be used for any other purposes.
- Recipients receiving Grants or other similar reimbursements greater than $1,000 from any source are ineligible to receive a Grant
- Grants will be not be given for travel/lodging expenses in association with professional development activities
- Grants will be reimbursed for costs incurred by the recipient as agreed upon from the application.
- Grants for professional development activities must be utilized for courses taken during the year in which the application is approved or the following academic year. Grants for other costs may be used to reimburse the teacher for costs incurred during the academic year in which the application is submitted, however, preference will be given to costs to be incurred in the academic year following the date of the award of the Grant. In any event, all Grants should be utilized during the academic year in which the application is submitted or the following academic year. Unless otherwise agreed by the Grant Committee, any Grants not used within said time will be forfeited. The Grant Committee may consider extending the time that a Grant may be used only at the time of application by the applicant.
- Grants are limited to $1,250.00 per teacher, per year. Grants are one-time awards. Grant recipients may apply for Grants that involve the same or similar supplies or projects; however, preference will be given to new applications.
Selection of Award Recipients
The Grant Committee submits to the Board of Directors the results of the applications. The Committee then determines the total number of Grants and amounts to be awarded based on available funds for that year.
Announcement of Results
Grants are awarded at the Germantown High School Senior Scholarship Night. Applicants will be notified in advance if they were selected. Teachers receiving grants are encouraged to attend the Senior Scholarship Awards Night.
Application Process
All faculty currently teaching within the Germantown School District are candidates for the Education Grant. Applications are due to the GHS counseling office by the due date. The Scholarship Committee will administer and evaluate all applications. Scholarship Committee members are not permitted to participate in the selection process if they have spouses or family members applying for a Grant. The philosophy of the Board in awarding Grants is to identify those teachers who have defined goals and plans to improve education for both students and peers in the Germantown School District.
The Scholarship Committee will review the applications in accordance with the following criteria, which may be modified from time to time by the Scholarship Committee:
Project Design. The application must describe the primary purpose of the Grant and its impact on the education of students and/or teachers. Classroom supplies require an explanation on how they will benefit both students and teachers. Any course/class you wish to attend requires a detailed description. To the extent a Grant is sought to reimburse a teacher for costs associated with a classroom project, the project should be described in detail, as well as the benefits of the project and the implementation plan.
Number and Type of Students: Applicants should clearly identify the target audience and why this course/project/supply is important to them in relation to the rest of the student/faculty population.
Education Based: The course/project/supply must demonstrate that it is sound in educational theory.
Creativity: The course/project/supply should demonstrate creative ways of teaching, learning, or engaging others in the education of children.
Potential Impact: The course/project/supply should identify the importance and significance for the target audience. It should also identify the intended learning outcomes.
Consistent with the GCSF Education Grant Philosophy: The GCSF will also evaluate grant requests for their overall support of the goals of GCSF.
PAYMENT OF GRANTS
Grant recipients are required to request reimbursement of costs incurred and will be required to provide evidence of payment of costs consistent with the Grant application prior to any disbursement of the Grant.
Grant checks will be sent by the Treasurer of Germantown Community Scholarship Fund, Inc. pending verification of required documentation.
Recipients are required to submit the following items to the Grant Committee, W180 N11501 River Lane Road, Germantown, WI 53022 to receive their Grant check:
- Copy of original invoices, including method of payment(s) or other documents to substantiate reimbursement of approved Grant.
Congratulations 2021-22′ Grant Recipients
- Joseph Woger, 4th grade at County Line: To design a STEAM Lego Boost Robotics Lab to allow children to create different robot models with motors and sensors. And bring their creations to life through simple scratch coding commands. Inspiring children to love learning starts with fund and with relationships.
- Julie Quigley, Kennedy Middle School, Special Education: Purchase equipment for Treadmill and recumbent bike to help students with mobility issues and regulate their body in order to function productively.
- Jenni Last, Speech and Language Services: Purchase of sensory bins as well as items (rice, popcorn, beans, etc) to put into the bins to engage students in finding a learning target.
- Tiffany Maryanov, Reading Specialist & Gayle Groth, Amy Belle Elementary School: LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) comprehensive training for teacher to have deeper understanding of the SCIENCE of reading and evidence-based strategies.
- Wesley Hoopes, GHS, Chemistry, Physics, and AP Physics 1: Funding for solar powered car project.
Congratulations 20-21 Grant Recipients
- Jeff Thielke, Kennedy Middle School: Purchase of 2 Matter & Form 3D Scanners for “Critical Thinking” skills.
- Heidi Ludorf, Germantown High School: German Readers for beginners.
- Lynn Collins, Mac Arthur Elementary: Hands-on plant growing unit.
- Tim Bauer, County Line Elementary School: iPad for interactive classroom learning.
- Andy Waller, General Education Diploma option 2: “Life Steps” on resourcefulness, perseverance, and optimistic views.
- Jon O’Callaghan, Amy Belle Elementary digital portfolio of artwork from kindergarten to senior year. Also a great fundraiser.
Congratulations 2019-20 Grant Recipients
- Elizabeth Mueller and Stephanie Kaebisch, Grades 9-12, GHS: Grant to purchase “Mindfulness” supplies.
- Kimberly King, 1st Grade, MacArthur Elementary: Grant to purchase new literature and flexible seating options.
- Whitney Betanzos, 6th Grade Science, KMS: Grant to purchase a 3D printer.
- Stacy Stoecklein, Grades 9-12 Science, GHS: Grant to purchase 3-D pens and filaments.
- County Line Special Education Team, Grades K-5: Grant to purchase updated reading curriculum.
- Greg Siegert, Grades K-5 Physical Education, Rockfield Elementary: Grant to purchase equipment for a Specially Designed PE setting.
2018-19 Grant Recipients
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Jennifer Runde, Grades K-8, Elementary School Counselor, Amy Belle – Grant to establish “Mindfulness” program.
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Ryan Jacobsen, 2nd Grade, MacArthur – Grant to purchase flexible alternative seating for students.
2017-18 Grant Recipients
- Heidi Timm, Grades 9-12 Functional Skills, GHS – Grant to Implement a student run coffee shop in collaboration with special education and regular education students.
- Jeff Schreiber, Library Media Specialist, GHS – Grant to invite author Andrew Maraniss to speak to students at GHS and Kennedy middle school.
- Dawn Books Kosanke, Kindergarden, MacArthur – Grant to purchase learning tools a.k.a. toys that can be used to allow children to play creatively and cooperatively.
- Janel Gliniecki, Grades 9-12 Odysseyware Credit Recovery and ILC Study Hall, GHS – Grant to purchase alternative types of seating for the classroom.
- Jeffery Thielke, Project Lead the Way, Plastic Technology and Technology Education, KMS – Grant to purchase a maker bot replicator mini +3-d printer.
- Mark McClellan, Grades 11-12 Environmental Science, GHS – Grant to continue the pond trail that was started last year to link the three pond ecosystems together
- Lori Herden, K-5th Grade, Amy Belle – Grant on behalf of all Amy Belle teacher to engage students in the STEM (science/technology/engineering/math) activities with app driven mini robots called Meeper Bots.
2016-17 Grant Recipients
- Tiffany Brewer/Angela Dora/Mary Van Slett, 3rd grade, MacArthur – Grant to purchase one DC-21 Epson document camera.
- Nicole Leffler/Candice Miller, Early Childhoold Program/Special Education, Rockfield – Grant to expand “Bucket Fillers” program.
- Jeffery Thielke, Grades 6-8 Tech Ed, KMS – Grant to purchase one Maker Bot Mini Compact 3D printer.
- Mark McClellan, 11-12th grade environmental science, GHS – Grant to purchase wood supplies and hardware to construct a “floating” trail at the Menomonee River.
- Gayle Groth, 1st grade, Amy Belle – Grant to purchase materials to support LEGO Education MoreToMath and LearnToLearn curriculum packs.
- Becky Witteman, School Counselor, KMS – Grant to expand “Mindfullness” program.
- Lindsay Baranowski, ELL and Spanish, GHS – Grant to attend the WIDA National Conference in October, 2017.
- Melissa Pecunia, 1st grade, MacArthur – Grant to purchase Stomp Rockets, hand rockets, and/or Air Blasters for Science curriculum.
2015-16 Grant Recipients
- Vicki Niehus/Linda Krohn, 4th grade, Rockfield – Grant to purchase “Orphan of Ellis Island” books to make a connection to immigrants of Wisconsin.
- Jocelyn Ritger, 1st grade, Rockfield – Grant to purchase supplies to make a grow light system so students can witness the entire life cycle of the plant in their school garden.
- Jeanne Kasza, Spanish 1 and 2, GHS – Grant to attend a conference that focused on teaching Spanish proficiency through reading and story telling.
- Mark McClellan, 11-12th grade environmental science and earth/space science, GHS – Grant to purchase hip boots for students to gather water tests.
- Tracy Miller, K-5 MacArthur and K-1 Rockfield – Grant to rent a contemporary art exhibit of artist Wyland, marine life artist and conservationist.
- Stephanie Milmore, GHS – Grant to purchase dry erase boards for auxiliary gym and lower gym to share information in class.
- Kimberly King, 1st grade MacArthur – Grant to purchase document camera for classroom teaching.
2014-15 Grant Recipients
- John Gradel, Amy Belle Elementary School – Grant to purchase educational classroom board games supporting learning in Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies and social skills.
- Melissa Pecunia, MacArthur Elementary School – Grant to purchase a second document camera that projects onto a Smart Board.
