The 2024-2025 Teacher Grant Application is now open! Please submit your online application by December 1st, 2024. Award nominees to be announced in January 2025.
CLICK HERE for link to 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, almost $52,000 has been awarded to 83 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 up to $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 2024-25′
December 1, 2024 Online application deadline
January 2025 Announcement of grant recipients
May 21st, 2025 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
To 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 2023-24′ Grant Recipients
- Kaitlyn Kurtzweil – County Line Kindergarten Special Education: Awarded funding for TouchChat app to help students who have difficulty communicating with their voice.
- Kelly Herbst – Rockfield Grades 3-5 Reading Specialist: Awarded funding for continuing education, ‘Shifting the Balance’, a course that focuses on bringing the science of reading into grades 3-5 by reconsidering best practices.
- Amy Martin – Amy Belle 2nd Grade Teacher: Awarded funding to purchase 30 take-home chapter books and folders to promote social studies and science-based learning at home.
- Joy Keagle – Rockfield 4K Teacher: Awarded funding for a double-sided magnetic design center board and accessories, to be used in small groups for creative designing, literacy, math activities and STEM/engineering experiences.
- Corey Ahrens – KMS 8th Grade Teacher: Awarded funding to purchase items at the Crusader Mart for students who earn ‘Crusader Cash’ by exemplifying the KMS way through being safe, respectful, and responsible.
- Steve Martin – GHS 9-12 Business/Marketing Teacher: Awarded funding for 4 years of membership in DECA+ subscription, which will aid DECA students and business/marketing courses with case studies, sample exams, etc.
- Becky Wittemann – KMS 6-8 Grade Counselor: Awarded funding to purchase art supplies for ‘Getting at the ART of Me’ counseling group and a ‘Creative Calming Corner’ for the counseling office.
Congratulations 2022-23′ Grant Recipients
- Amy Willard, KMS 8th Grade Math Teacher: To implement a new teaching practice based on ‘Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics’ where vertical dray erase boards are used to increase student thinking, engagement, and collaboration.
- Amy Brehmer, KMS Spanish 7th and 8th Grade Teacher: To purchase Spanish Readers for the Spanish classroom so that students can choose from a variety of current and age-appropriate Spanish books to free read as the class starts, improving engagement, connection, and Spanish reading skills.
- Brooke Gronitz, GHS Special Education Teacher, Beyond 18 Program: To start up a popcorn business for special education students. Students will learn all the steps in a business process from making, delivering, selling, and collecting/depositing funds which will help prepare and transition them to work experiences in the community.
- Heather Janke, KMS 7th grade Math Teacher: To implement a new teaching practice based on ‘Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics’ where vertical and moveable dray erase boards are used to increase problem solving, engagement, and collaboration.
- Nicole Schmitt, County Line Special Education: To purchase C-Pen Readers which allow students to have text-to-speech accommodation for printed/written words. This will allow students with special reading needs to work independently on reading and remain in the classroom while obtaining extra help. This will also free up teachers to help more students.
- Shawn Burns, Amy Belle 5th Grade Teacher: To purchase 30 sets of speed stacks for K-5 PE program which will be used as a non-traditional athletic activity during winter months where students learn different stacking patterns and formations. This will improve team work, hand-eye coordination, and critical thinking skills while providing exercise for students.
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.
