Education Alliance Announces EmpowerEd Mini-grant Winners
Teachers from Clay and Fayette Counties Receive Funds

(Charleston, WV) The Education Alliance announces the recipients of the new EmpowerEd Teacher Mini Grants for Clay County and Fayette County. With support from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, ten outstanding educators, five from each county, were selected to receive funding in support of innovative classroom projects designed to enhance student learning and engagement.

“We congratulate each of these dedicated teachers for their creativity, commitment, and passion for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their students,” said Dr. Amelia Courts, Education Alliance President/CEO. “We are excited to see how these grants will inspire new ideas, strengthen learning, and positively impact classrooms across both counties.”

“The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation is thrilled to support the EmpowerEd Teacher Mini-Grants program. This opportunity is meant to provide public school teachers with flexible funding to enhance their classrooms and inspire students. Thanks to the Education Alliance for advancing this important effort, and congratulations to the teachers who have been awarded grants that will help bring their classroom ideas to fruition.” Dr. Foster, President and CEO of The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to expand meaningful, real-world learning experiences for our students.” Phillip Dobbins, Superintendent of Clay County Schools

“The Education Alliance Mini Grant provides meaningful support to our teachers by empowering them to bring innovative ideas directly into their classrooms. We are grateful for this investment in Fayette County educators and the positive impact it will have on teaching and learning across our schools.” David Warvel, Superintendent of Fayette County Schools

Clay County Teacher Mini Grant Winners

• Clay County Elementary: The grant will help create grade-level and themed text sets aligned with science and social studies standards, with support for related field trips or guest speakers.
• Clay County High School: The grant will enable students to create an activity book that explores Elk River/Clay County ecosystems and promotes understanding of and stewardship of natural resources.
• Clay County High School: The grant will support the Farm Stand’s collaborative initiative between the Agriculture and Baking & Pastry programs at Clay County High School, designed to bring hands-on, real-world learning experiences to students while serving the local community.
• Big Otter Elementary: The grant will help establish a school garden or greenhouse, enabling our students to apply their knowledge of science and agriculture and work together to solve real-world problems.
• Big Otter Elementary: The grant supports the Quaver Health program, which teaches health and wellness standards to K-5 students.
  Fayette County Teacher Mini Grant Winners
• Oak Hill High School: The grant supports the School of Rock after-school program, which provides students with a safe, structured space to develop their musical skills, creativity, and teamwork.
• New River Primary: The grant supports students’ regulation, focus, and participation in learning with sensory tools and equipment
• New River Primary: The grant supports Math Stackers in providing opportunities for independent exploration, small-group activities, and whole-class demonstrations, ensuring every child develops a strong foundation in number concepts that supports their success in later grades.
• Fayetteville PK-8: The grant will help create a Math Master Makerspace that transforms part of my third-grade classroom into a hands-on, standards-based learning lab where students explore math through building, problem-solving, and real-world STEAM experiences despite limited existing resources.
• Midland Trail High School: The grant supports the reintroduction of daily Silent Sustained Reading by providing diverse, engaging books and student-driven activities that promote choice, accountability, and a love of reading.
  
  The mini grants are intended to empower teachers to bring innovative ideas to life, whether through hands-on learning experiences, new instructional resources, or creative approaches that spark curiosity and engagement. For more information about the EmpowerEd initiative, grant application process, or to see the positive outcomes these projects have on students, visit: https://educationalliance.org/teacher-mini-grants