Leaders Education Foundation has granted $35,550 to educators in West Tennessee schools through its L.E.A.D.S. Grants program, wbbjtv.com reported.
The funding supports three specific categories: classroom projects, teacher appreciation, and professional development or certification. Leigh Anne Bentley, president of the foundation, noted the initiative aims to remove financial barriers for teachers working to create hands-on learning environments or advance their own qualifications.
The grant distribution culminated in a reception held at Union University’s Ethos Forum, where checks were formally presented to the 42 selected recipients. Funding for the classroom projects was determined through a public voting process hosted on the foundation’s Facebook page, where teacher-submitted videos reached more than 150,000 individuals and generated over 17,500 total interactions.
Classroom grant recipients span multiple districts and grade levels. They include Chantel Barnes at North Side High School, Hannah Bogue at East Elementary School, Sharrell Bray at Denmark Elementary School, Hannah Butler at Trenton Rosenwald Middle School, Becky Clark at Alamo City School, Sharon Clark at Sunny Hill Intermediate School, and Karen Danter at Thelma Barker Elementary. Additional recipients are Samantha Ellis at South Gibson County Elementary School, Leah Gray at Freed-Hardeman University, Amy Groves at Jackson Christian School, Sandy Hodges at Peabody High School, Whitney Hogg at Rose Hill School, Samantha Hutcherson at Ripley Elementary School, Jamaica Kirby at Haywood Elementary School, and Susan Lankford at Freed-Hardeman University.
The roster of classroom awardees continues with Claire Layman at South Gibson County Elementary School, Brittany Lewis at East Chester Elementary School, Shanice Martin at Jackson Career & Technology School, Jasmin Parks at Denmark Elementary School, Shereka Phinnessee at Parkview Prep Academy, Jeffrey Sartain at Bolivar Central High School, Wendy Tate at Stigall Primary School, Denise Tucker at Arlington Elementary School, Angela Walden at Thelma Barker Elementary, and Angela Yopp at Jackson Central Merry Middle High School.
Leaders Education Foundation awards grants to West Tennessee educators pic.twitter.com/0N23S7grWb
Teacher Appreciation Grants were distributed at $500 each, providing recipients with flexible funds to put toward classroom supplies, instructional materials, or a dedicated celebration day for educators. Recipients in this tier consist of Adrian Anderson from the Libertas School of Memphis, Chontel Bridgeman from North Parkway Middle School, Vicki Crossno from Huntingdon Primary School, Brittanie Doaks from Northeast Middle School, Angelia Haltom from Chester County High School, DeShadrian Henson from Rose Hill School, Dr. Jody Hinson from Rutherford School, Jeanna Rice from Thelma Barker Elementary School, Debbie Sheehan from Stigall Primary School, and Xavier Taylor from Liberty Tech High School.
Meanwhile, Professional Development and Certification Grants were awarded at $1,000 each to educators seeking to further their own formal education and credentials. This group features Laura Carter from Trenton Elementary School, Matthew Davis from the Collegiate School of Memphis, Nathan Ganucheau from Middleton High School, Jessica Lawson from Trenton Elementary School, A’Laseyunna Ragland from Halls Elementary School, Janet Sweeney from South Elementary School, and Joy Whetstone from the Jackson Academic Steam Academy.
The application cycle for the L.E.A.D.S. Grants program opens in July. Educators interested in applying for future funding cycles can submit applications through the foundation’s official portal at leadersgives.org/grants.
