Grants Awarded for the 2024-25 School Year

AMLE - District Leadership Summit

Assistant Superintendent Torrance Lewis will attend the Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE) District Leader Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona this July. This professional development opportunity will connect Lewis with a national network of district leaders focused on middle school education, where he'll collaborate on best practices and gain leadership strategies to support middle-level educators district-wide. The knowledge gained will help position Lincoln as a model district for innovation, equity, and improved learning for young adolescents in grades 5-8.

French Language Games

French teacher Karena Hansen is launching weekly "Game Thursdays" to make French class more engaging and interactive for Lincoln's 75-100 middle school students. The LSF grant provides French-language board games, card games, and digital learning subscriptions like Wordwall, Gimkit, and Blooket. These games will help students practice vocabulary and grammar in a fun, collaborative setting while building confidence in spontaneous French communication. The reusable game library will benefit students for years to come, especially those who thrive with hands-on learning methods.

Growing Local Skills at a National Conference

Lincoln School librarian Gwen Blumberg will attend the American Association of School Libraries (AASL) National Conference in St. Louis this October. As a first-year librarian, Blumberg will learn from expert practitioners, explore diverse and inclusive book collections for K-8 students, and build a professional network with school librarians nationwide. Upon her return, she'll share insights with colleagues through professional development sessions and begin implementing new strategies in library programming that align with national AASL standards, creating a more inclusive and engaging library experience for all students

Learning & the Brain Conference

Lincoln School Foundation awarded a grant to Lincoln 5-8 Principal Peledge and two staff members to attend the Learning & the Brain conference, focusing on the Science of Emotion. This interdisciplinary conference equips educators with evidence-based strategies to support students who face emotional and mental health challenges. he professional development opportunity will provide our educators with cutting-edge research and practical approaches to enhance student wellbeing. Upon their return, the team will implement these strategies directly in Lincoln's classrooms, strengthening our school's ability to support students' emotional needs

Hanscom Tripods

Art teacher Scott Wiener and Instructional Technology Specialist Nicole Putnam are equipping Hanscom classrooms with iPad-compatible tripods to enhance digital storytelling and multimedia learning. The 36 tripods (one class set each for K-3 and grades 4-8) will enable students to create high-quality videos and photographs for art projects, makerspace activities, and integrated classroom assignments. This equipment will build teacher confidence in using multimedia tools while empowering all students, including military-connected learners, to express themselves creatively and demonstrate their understanding through digital media.

Making Student Thinking Visible

K-4 Math Specialist Rachel Goldner is taking a professional course focused on making student thinking visible in math classrooms. The course includes personalized coaching to help Goldner develop classroom routines that encourage students to articulate their mathematical reasoning and participate more actively in discussions. By learning to better identify student misconceptions and differentiate instruction, Goldner will strengthen math learning for Lincoln's K-4 students. She'll share the strategies with colleagues during Common Planning Time and district professional development sessions, extending the impact beyond her own classroom

Middle School Pickleball

Wellness teacher David Trant is bringing pickleball to Lincoln's middle school as a fun, inclusive fitness activity that students can enjoy for life. The LSF grant covers equipment for four courts and painting court lines on campus this summer. Starting in fall 2025, students in grades 5-8 will learn this fast-paced game that reduces competitive pressure by allowing multiple games per session. The intergenerational appeal of pickleball means students can play with peers, teachers, and family members, promoting lifelong physical activity and cooperation.

Mosaic Skills Lab

Art teacher Pamela DiBiase will attend a four-day intensive mosaic workshop at Snow Farm in Williamsburg this June, studying with master artist Cynthia Fisher. The professional development will deepen DiBiase's artistic practice and give her the skills to guide Lincoln middle school students in creating a large-scale collaborative mosaic installation. Students will gain direct exposure to the professional artistic process while working together on a permanent piece for the school, learning both individual mosaic techniques and the value of collaborative art-making.

Reading League Conference

Six Lincoln Public Schools educators will attend The Reading League's 9th Annual Conference in Chicago this fall to bring back the latest evidence-based literacy practices. LASH Coordinator Karyn Saxon will lead a team including literacy specialists Andria Gross and Linda Lamenza, instructional coaches Rose Vignola and Maureen Markelz, and Assistant Superintendent Torrance Lewis. The team will learn strategies to strengthen Tier 1 instruction and small-group support for K-8 students while building district capacity through high-quality professional development. Upon returning, they'll deliver peer-led training sessions and coaching support across both schools, improving literacy instruction and student achievement district-wide.

Reading Pen Pilot

Special Education Liaison Colette Kuchel is piloting C-Pen Reader text-to-speech devices to support struggling readers and English Learners across Lincoln School. The handheld reading pens will help students access text more independently by reading aloud when scanned across printed words. Kuchel and her collaborators will test two different models with students in grades 4-6 to determine which devices work best for different age groups and needs. The pilot aims to increase student independence and confidence while building teacher skills in assistive technology and inclusive practices.

Understanding Our Differences

Speech-Language Pathologist Shawna Young is piloting the "Understanding Our Differences" autism unit during Neurodiversity Celebration Week at Lincoln School. The program will launch with a 5th grade assembly and related learning activities designed to promote disability awareness, neurodiversity, and anti-ableism among students and staff. The grant provides curriculum materials, books, posters, and resources to support neurodiversity education. If the pilot proves successful, the program may expand to additional grade levels in future years, helping create a more inclusive school culture where all students feel valued and understood.

Using Heart Rate to Teach Regulation

Special education teacher Charlotte Fitzgerald is using wearable smartwatches to help Hanscom's Foundations program students connect their heart rates to emotional states. The 12 smartwatches will be used daily in individualized and small-group lessons that integrate the Zones of Regulation and Wayfinder curricula. Students will learn to recognize physiological cues linked to emotional dysregulation and develop strategies to regulate independently. This hands-on approach to self-regulation builds on successful anecdotal use of the technology and aims to reduce behavioral disruptions while fostering skills that transfer across different settings and time.

World Drumming

Music teacher Ryan Ruiz is introducing world drumming to students across both Hanscom and Lincoln schools through an LSF-funded 16-piece Turbano drum set. The new unit will be integrated into general music curriculum and will culminate in performances at school concerts throughout the year, including middle school winter concerts and spring performances. Students will learn about music and cultures from around the world through hands-on drumming experiences that are accessible to all learners. The program particularly benefits students who may not traditionally thrive in other performance formats, while building school-wide appreciation for diverse musical traditions.