The Griffin-Spalding Partners In Education (PIE) Committee awarded 25 classroom and field trip grants to Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) educators totaling $22,500. On November 30 and December 1, PIE representatives visited 14 schools to surprise the 2023 PIE Grant winners.
“It is exciting and rewarding to surprise these educators in their classrooms, in front of their students, and give them a check for either classroom items or a field trip to enhance learning experiences for their students,” stated PIE Director Adam Pugh.
During October, the PIE board solicited grant proposals from individual classroom teachers, subject area departments, grade levels or teaching teams in need of funding for field trips or classroom programs/projects requiring up to $1,000.
The board awards grants for projects that are innovative and instructional, support the goals of the school and district and have realistic objectives and budgets. Applicants submit their grants online and volunteer reviewers rank the proposals for funding. The grants are funded by proceeds from the annual PIE Golf Tournament which is the board’s signature fundraiser.
Classroom grant proposals awarded ranged from $270 for games to build fine motor skills, to $1,000 for portable sound equipment. Other classroom grants funded include classroom furniture, books, art supplies, math supplies and a poster printer.
Fieldtrip grant proposals awarded ranged from $360 for local field trips, up to $1,000 for Crystal River in Florida. Other funded field trip destinations include iFLY Atlanta, High Museum of Art, Atlanta History Museum, Go Fish Educational Center, Civil and Human Rights Museum, LEGO Discovery Center and Center for Puppetry Arts.