The Griffin-Spalding Partners In Education (PIE) “Prize Patrol” awarded 26 classroom and field trip grants to Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) educators totaling $22,000. The week before the holiday break, PIE representatives visited 13 schools to surprise the 2022 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 the month of 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 $250 for math playing cards, to $1,000 for drones. Other classroom grants funded include classroom furniture, band equipment, art supplies and sound equipment.
Fieldtrip grant proposals awarded ranged from $300 for a kindergarten class to visit Dauset Trails, up to $1,000 for a high school theatre class to visit the Fox Theatre. Other funded field trip destinations include Georgia Aquarium, Mercedes Benz Stadium, CFA Football Hall of Fame, Atlanta Zoo and Center for Puppetry Arts.