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Blue Valley teachers get $400K ‘surprise’ funding for classroom projects

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Several academic programs and classroom upgrades across the Blue Valley School District received a spontaneous financial boost this week.

The Blue Valley Educational Foundation’s “Surprise Squad” spent Thursday morning surprising teachers across the district with grant funding. The event serves as the foundation’s biggest one-day grant giveaway of the year.

Throughout the day, grants went toward districtwide and school-specific programs teachers have requested funding for. The event served as a fun way of finding out their proposal was selected. The teachers’ funding requests ranged from classroom supplies and new building features to new music and mental health programs.

This year, the foundation’s Surprise Squad gave out more than $400,000 in grant funding.

“I can’t think of a better way to spend today than by giving out and surprising a lot of amazing teachers with these grants,” said Blue Valley Educational Foundation Board President Katie Bruels. “We love being able to give back to our schools.”

Here’s how the day of surprises looked across the district.

Surprise Squad
The Blue Valley Educational Foundation presented a check for increased mental health aid training for teachers at the Blue Valley District Office. Photo credit Lucie Krisman.
Surprise Squad
A Wolf Springs Elementary teacher receives funding for hands-on STEM activities. Photo credit Lucie Krisman.
Surprise Squad
Teachers receive checks at Aspen Grove Elementary for hands-on STEM activities and phonics learning skills. Photo credit Lucie Krisman.
Surprise Squad
Students pose after celebrating at Aspen Grove Elementary. Photo credit Lucie Krisman.
Surprise Squad
Teachers at Aubry Bend Middle received funding to support pre-engineering curriculum. Photo credit Lucie Krisman.
Surprise Squad
Students formed a celebratory tunnel at Blue Valley Southwest High, which earned several grants for things like supporting the school’s MakerSpace, garden improvements and a 3D art display. Photo credit Lucie Krisman.
Surprise Squad
A teacher jumps for joy at Pleasant Ridge Middle after learning she received funding for new microscopes. Photo credit Lucie Krisman.
Surprise Squad
High fives all around at Sunset Ridge Elementary, which earned funding to support calming toolboxes to help students self-regulate, phonics/reading enhancement equipment and speech language therapy materials. Photo credit Lucie Krisman.

About the author

Lucie Krisman
Lucie Krisman

Hi! I’m Lucie Krisman, and I cover local business for the Johnson County Post.

I’m a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, but have been living in Kansas since I moved here to attend KU, where I earned my degree in journalism. Prior to joining the Post, I did work for The Pitch, the Eudora Times, the North Dakota Newspaper Association and KTUL in Tulsa.

Have a story idea or a comment about our coverage you’d like to share? Email me at lucie@johnsoncountypost.com.

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