Blake Elementary teachers earn mini grants for creative classroom projects

The Medina City Schools Foundation, in collaboration with an anonymous donor, awarded two $1,250 Professional Teacher Mini Grants for the 2025-26 school year. The grants are designed to cover costs or offset expenses for innovative educational projects, with priority given to those that directly impact student learning.

This year’s grant recipients are Judy Nightingale and Andrea Risenhoover, both teachers at Blake Elementary School.

Nightingale’s project will provide all first-grade students with the opportunity to attend a field trip to the McKinley Museum in February 2026. The visit will connect directly with the Portrait of a Bee as well as the CKLA Knowledge of Astronomy unit through a planetarium experience. Students will also tour the Discover World, where they will explore exhibits on dinosaurs, Ice Age animals and people, and rocks and minerals. These experiences will further enhance their understanding of habitats in the CKLA Animals Unit.

Risenhoover’s project will transform Blake Elementary into an art-inspired environment through the Oberlin Allen Art Museum in-school program. Students will learn about three-dimensional art and contribute to a rotating “Gallery Wall” display featuring picture frames with spotlights to showcase student artwork. Each week, one homeroom will be highlighted, giving students a platform to share their creativity, talents and future aspirations.

The district congratulated Nightingale and Risenhoover on receiving the grants and extended appreciation to the Foundation and the anonymous donor for making the opportunities possible. Their generosity ensures that students have access to meaningful and inspiring educational experiences.