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Educare Announces $96,083 in Educator Initiative Grants to Mankato Area Public Schools for the 2021-22 School Year

Mankato, Minn. – The Educare Foundation is pleased to announce $96,083 in Educator Initiative grant awards to support innovative learning across Mankato Area Public Schools.

Grant awards for the 2021-22 school year include:

Music Labs,

  • Mankato East and Mankato West High Schools, $40,100.00
    • This will be used for the creation of a new Music Tech class at Mankato East and Mankato
    •  West High Schools which will be an alternative to the traditional music ensembles, and the goal is to attract students that are traditionally under-represented in the current music offerings.

Student Run School Store/Coffee Shop

  • West High School, $53,899.00
    • This is for the construction and operation of a student-run store and coffee shop at
    •  West High School.

Physical Anthropology/Hominid Anthropology,

  • East High School, $2,084.00
    • This request is for the purchase of life size resin replicas of prehistoric hominid skulls
    •  as well as a modern human skull to be used as learning tools in the World History class that addresses the Paleolithic age.

Educare also provides support through the Ed Waltman Mini Grants Program during the school year. The Foundation distributes up to $24,000 annually in mini grants, and with the Educator Initiative Grants awarded, Educare is excited to announce it has funded more than $1.4 million in grants since its inception in 1995!

Educare Announces $76,223 in Educator Initiative Grants to Mankato Area Public Schools for the 2020-21 School Year

(May 7, 2020) Mankato, Minn. – The Educare Foundation is pleased to announce $76,223 in Educator Initiative grant awards to support innovative learning across Mankato Area Public Schools.

Grant awards for the 2020-21 school year include:

  • Virtual Reality Expeditions for East and West High School, Prairie Winds, and Dakota Meadows, $31,223
    • This will bring the world to the classroom and allow students to explore a variety of topics, and experience immersive virtual settings from the Louvre to Mount Everest.
  • Roller Skating Program for K-5, $15,000
    • The equipment will be used to implement a roller skating program into the district elementary physical education curriculum.
  • Greenhouse for East High School and Prairie Winds Middle School, $30,000
    • The greenhouse will allow students the opportunity to study and apply topics including science, math, agriculture, and nutrition. Students could even participate in a “Farm to Fork” sustainable food system.

Educare also provides support through the Ed Waltman Mini Grants Program during the school year. The Foundation distributes up to $24,000 annually in mini grants, and with the Educator Initiative Grants awarded, Educare is excited to announce it has funded more than $1.3 million in grants since its inception in 1995!

Educare Announces $57,124 in Educator Initiative Grants to Mankato Area Public Schools for the 2019-20 School Year

(May 10, 2019) Mankato, Minn. – The Educare Foundation is pleased to announce $57,124 in Educator Initiative grant awards to support innovative learning across Mankato Area Public Schools. Grants will be awarded to educators at the annual Educare Benefit on May 17, 2019.

Grant awards for the 2019-20 school year include:

  • Telepresence Robots by OhmniLabs for all K-12 schools, $10,775
    • The robots provide a unique communication experience through a combination of video cameras, video screens, and remote physical operation.
  • STEM Kits & Buddies for Jefferson Elementary, $11,599
    • The STEM kits provide hands-on examples, puzzles, and challenges related to core STEM subjects.
  • Mariachi Ensemble for East High School – $6,607
    • East High School would like to add depth to its musical ensembles by developing a mariachi ensemble.
  • Multi-Process Welders for East and West High Schools, $11,529
    • Mankato Area Public Schools see more than 300 students taking welding courses, including students involved in Welding Internship and Manufacturing Apprenticeship Programs.
  • Construction Pathway Expansion for Central, East and West High Schools, $16,614
    • The high schools are requesting funds to expand its construction trades program to purchase equipment that is outdated or non-existent in the program.

Educare also provides support through the Ed Waltman Mini Grants Program during the school year. The Foundation distributes up to $24,000 annually in mini grants, and with the Educator Initiative Grants awarded, Educare is excited to announce it has funded more than $1.2 million in grants since its inception in 1995!

Educare Announces $92,395 in Educator Initiative Grants to Mankato Area Public Schools for the 2018-19 School Year

(May 10, 2018) Mankato, Minn. – The Educare Foundation is pleased to announce $92,395 in Educator Initiative grant awards to support innovative learning across Mankato Area Public Schools. Grants will be awarded to educators at the annual Educare Benefit on May 18, 2018.

Grant awards for the 2018-19 school year include:

• Electronic Instrument Ensemble for West High School, $28,803
• PLTW (Project Lead The Way) Biomedical Science Equipment for East and West high schools, $10,000
• Heart Zone Systems including hardware and software to monitor heartrate for Get Fit! Stay Fit! program, $32,473
• Vinyl cutters for FabLabs at East and West high schools, $3,890
• Makerspaces equipment including 3D printers & pens, Osmo kits and littleBits, $17,229

Educare also provides support through the Ed Waltman Mini Grants Program during the school year. The Foundation distributes up to $24,000 annually in mini grants, and with the Educator Initiative Grants awarded, Educare is excited to announce it has funded more than $1.2 million in grants since its inception in 1995!

The Educare Foundation receives the 2017 Spirit of Youth Award

On May 24, 2017, Educare received the 2017 Spirit of Youth Award for Outstanding Non-Profit Organization from the Mankato Area Community Education & Recreation Department. “The work of your Foundation in funding grants is awe inspiring,” said Melanie M. Schmidt, Chair of the 2017 Spirit of Youth Award. “Certainly the youth of Mankato Area Public Schools would not have the opportunities they have today if not for the work your board members of Educare provide, and expecting nothing in return.”

Educare Announces $88,819 in Educator Initiative Grants to Mankato Area Public Schools for the 2017-18 School Year

(May 2, 2017) Mankato, Minn. – The Educare Foundation is pleased to announce $88,819 in Educator Initiative grant awards to support innovative learning across Mankato Area Public Schools. Grants will be awarded to educators at the annual Educare Benefit on May 19, 2017.

Grant awards for the 2017-18 school year include:

• PLTW (Project Lead The Way) Biomedical Science Equipment for East and West high schools, $54,939
• Heart Zone Systems including hardware and software to monitor heartrate for Get Fit! Stay Fit! program, $10,000
• Equipment for construction and woodworking class at Central High School, $10,000
• Makerspaces equipment including 3D printers & pens, Osmo kits and littleBits, $13,880

Educare Foundation Announces More than $1 Million in Financial Support to Mankato Area Public Schools Since 1995

(March 6, 2017) Mankato, Minn. – For the 2016-17 school year, Educare awarded $67,625 in grants to help purchase laser engravers, plasma cutters, Vex Robotics equipment, 3D printers and more. “The funding that Educare provides supports innovation which enables our teachers to explore new ways to engage our students in their learning,” said Sheri Allen, superintendent of Mankato Area Public Schools.

Educare also provides support through the Ed Waltman Mini Grants Program during the school year. The Foundation distributes up to $24,000 annually in mini grants, and with recent mini grants awarded, Educare is excited to announce it has funded more than $1 million in grants since its inception in 1995!

Casey Rose, a 7th grade science teacher at Prairie Winds Middle Schools, recently submitted a mini grant request for her classroom to receive funding to purchase medical slides to view normal and unhealthy cells under a microscope to determine cause of death. “It is innovative requests like these that really support the mission of Educare and the goal we’re trying to achieve to explore new ways of learning for our students,” said Shannon Beal, Educare Foundation grants committee chair.

Recent grant submission requests for the 2017-18 school year are totaling more than $179,000 and Educare would not be able to support these grants without the donations from generous sponsors and longtime supporters. Grants funded for the 2017-18 school year will be announced at the annual Spring Benefit on Friday, May 19, 2017, tickets are available online and all are invited to attend.

Educare Announces $43,625 in Grants to Mankato Area Public Schools for the 2016-17 School Year

(May 16, 2016) Mankato, Minn. – The Educare Foundation is pleased to announce $43,625 in grant awards to support innovative learning across Mankato Area Public Schools. Grants were awarded to educators at the annual Educare Benefit on May 20, 2016.

Grant awards for the 2016-17 school year include:

• Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Plasma Cutter for Fab Lab at West High School, $13,556
• Two Laser Engravers/Cutters for East and West high schools, $28,008
• Global Issues Readers for 8th grade global studies at Prairie Winds and Dakota Meadows middle schools, $2,061

Educare Announces $64,209 in Grants to Mankato Area Public Schools for the 2015-16 School Year

(May 15, 2015) Mankato, Minn. – Educare Foundation is pleased to announce $64,209 in grant awards to support innovative learning across Mankato Area Public Schools. Grants were awarded to educators at the annual Educare Benefit on May 15, 2015.

Grant awards for the 2015-16 school year include:

• Chromebooks for Social Studies, West High School, $11,558
• 22nd Century Learning and Readiness, East High School, $13,216
• Eight Pulse Welders (four at each school), East and West High School, $15,300
• WeatherBug, Dakota Meadows Middle School and East Junior High School, $15,735
• Middle School Gateway to Technology VEX Equipment, Dakota Meadows Middle School and East Junior High School, $8,400

Educare Foundation Announces $55,000 in Grant Awards for 2014-15 School Year

(May 16, 2014) Mankato, Minn. – Educare Foundation is pleased to announce $55,000 in grant awards to support innovative learning across Mankato Area Public Schools.  Grants were awarded to educators at the annual Educare Benefit on May 16, 2014.

Grant awards for the 2014-15 school year included:

•”Cardio for Life,” heart rate monitors, East and West High School, $3,800
•”Seeing the Unseen,” gas chromatograph, West High School, $2,165
•Improving Social & Emotional Support, iPad minis, Franklin Elementary, $1,867
•Learning through Technology, iPad minis, Franklin Elementary, $3,581
•Biomedical Lab Careers, iPad Airs/cases, East and West High Schools, $12,479
•Music Dept., IPad Airs, West High School, $5,148
•Digital Citizenship & eLearning, iPad minis, cases, cart, Kennedy Elementary, $11,700
•Flying High with iPad minis, Rosa Parks, $11,700
•Increasing Access to Reading, leveled readers, Hoover Elementary, $2,558

Educare Foundation announces $63,146 in Educator Initiative Grants for 2013-14 School Year.

(May 2013) Mankato, Minn. – The Educare Foundation is pleased to announce that it will distribute $63,146 through grants to help Mankato Area Public Schools offer enhanced educational opportunities to students.

This year Educare received 13 large grant requests that totaled $184,855 in requests. After review and consideration, the Educare Board approved 10 large grant requests.

Educare Foundation Awards $51,000 in Grants to Mankato Area Public Schools for 2011-2012 School Year

Mankato, Minn., May 4, 2011 – The Educare Foundation is pleased to announce that they will distribute $51,000 in grants to help Mankato Area Public Schools offer enhanced educational opportunities to students.

“We value the good ideas teachers submit,” said Di Storvick, grant review committee chair. “When our committee reviews grant applications we follow criteria that focuses on innovation in the areas of building language and math skills, technology-aided learning, world language competency and high expectation learning programs.”

Grants receiving approval:
East High School, $3,281—to purchase seven additional Vernier Sensors sets for use in chemistry. The Vernier equipment is some of the latest technology that is available in education to assist in implementing the new standards for technology within science curriculum.

West High School and Dakota Meadows Middle School, $799—A new portable digital keyboard will be used by choral music students, in rehearsals, sectionals and individual practices and in musical productions. The keyboard has a myriad of sound effects for use in musical productions along with choral accompaniment. It is also transposable in that it can be used to play music in multiple keys to access the voice range of many students.

Franklin Elementary School, $3,233—A SMARTBoard will be used in band and orchestra classes and lesson groups to assist with classroom composition and facilitate solos and small ensembles. New curriculum is designed for use and instruction on the SMARTBoard allowing students to see and assess progress in real time as they perform. It also allows enhances instruction as students learn and perform directly from the SMARTBoard screen.

Dakota Meadows Middle School, $21,000—A classroom set of Apple iPads with a mobile cart and charging station will be used in the 8th grade to focus on reading/English language arts, mathematics and science. They will also be used for career and academic planning.

Washington Elementary School, $1,493—Purchase of a Keystone View Telebinocular will be used in S.M.A.R.T. intervention—Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training. As a multisensory approach to learning. It is designed to develop and enhance the psychological and neurological readiness skills students need to succeed in school. The Telebinocular examines functional vision; the ability of the eyes to communicate with the brain, allowing for identification of students with vision deficiencies that directly affect learning capacity in reading.

Mankato Area Public Schools, $6,991—Specialized equipment in special education helps students with disabilities become successful in general education and life. Best practice is to trial equipment with students before purchasing. To expedite the trail process teachers involved in special education will develop an assistive technology library. Items in the library will be available to teachers for a 30-day trial period for students birth through age 21. Items in the library will include three iPads with Proloquo2go, dragon dictate, tap speak and time timer, Voice Pal, a voice activated switch, a movement sensor switch, eye gaze plexiglass, a low vision keyboard, colored keyboard and a touch screen.

East Junior High School, $7,450–A collaborative, teachers will purchase sound systems for 10 classrooms to enhance student listening and learning.

Eagle Lake Elementary School, $1,900—The purchase of 19 Flip Video Cameras will allow student successes to be shared with all students at school. A video camera will be available in each classroom and special learning area. When students or a classroom of students have reached a goal, the news will be captured and shared on video and shared with others in the school. This grant was matched through a school fundraiser event.

Jefferson Elementary School, $4,576—Special Education and English Language Learners teamed up to provide students with the technology necessary to increase their academic skills in the areas of written language, vocabulary fluency, social interactions, phonics skills and reading fluency. Students use the iPad to enhance student learning. General education teachers will also have access to the 9 iPads and hub.

Educare’s annual fundraiser will be held 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday May 13, at the Mankato Golf Club, 18 Country Club Drive. Tickets are available at www.educarefoundation.org or by telephoning 507-387-5788.

The Educare Foundation serves Mankato Area Public Schools by providing funds beyond the normal operating budget for programs and activities that will enhance student learning opportunities.

Educare Foundation Announces $56,000 in Educator Iniative Grants for 2010-11

Mankato, Minn., May 11, 2010-The Educare Foundation is pleased to announce it will distribute $56,000 in grants to help Mankato Area Public Schools offer enhanced educational opportunities to students. “It’s always great reviewing the creative and innovative ideas teachers submit,” said Betty Ouren, grant review committee chair. “When reviewing grant applications, we use criteria to fund education ideas that generally provide the biggest impact to the greatest number of students.”

Grants for school year 2010-11 are as follows:
• Mankato Area Public Schools Rosa Parks Elementary School, $9,900—Early Childhood Family Education preschool and parent child classes. To provide preschool children a high-quality learning opportunity, educational equipment and learning materials will be purchased for the new Early Childhood Family Education at Rosa Parks Elementary School.
• Mankato Area Public Schools Monroe Elementary School, $900—Electronic Franklin Spellers. The purchase of 30 Franklin Spellers will be used by 5th grade students in language, reading and spelling classes daily to assist students with finding correct spellings and locating work definitions quickly and independently.
• Mankato Area Public Schools elementary schools, $7,152—FitnessGram fitness testing update for all students. FitnessGram materials will allow every student in grades 4-6 to receive results for fitness tests and reinforce the core fitness component of the district’s curriculum.
• Mankato Area Public Schools East and West High Schools, $4,086—purchase additional equipment for broadcast classes. The broadcast equipment will expand the quality and appearance of student productions. Broadcast program enhances school communication and enables the showcasing of student ideas, talents, abilities and achievements.
• Mankato Area Public Schools East High School and West High School, $2,470—purchase solar and fuel cells to investigate alternative energy. Purchase classroom set of solar/fuel cells to teach a new unit on alternative energy in response to a national revision in the field of engineering.
• Mankato Area Public Schools Children’s Therapeutic Support Services, $2,000—winter camping at Wolf Ridge Environmental Center. Send a group of students on a winter camping experience that focuses on basic living skills, environmental and natural sciences, personal growth and team building so youth with special needs can develop necessary skills to become contributing members of society.
• Mankato Area Public Schools East Junior High School and Dakota Meadows Middle School, $29,492—T1-Nspire graphing calculators to enhance student learning through the use of technology. The purchase of T1-Nspire graphing calculators make math a more engaging learning experience. Not only does the tool provide an improved teaching experience, it makes learning math even more attractive for students. The technology tool allows teachers instantly know if students in the classroom understand math concepts.

Educare’s annual fundraiser will be held on Friday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mankato Golf Club, located at 18 Country Club Drive. Tickets are available online or by telephoning 507-387-5788.

The Educare Foundation serves Mankato Area Public Schools by providing funds beyond the normal operating budget for programs and activities that will enhance student learning opportunities.

Educare Renames Mini Grants in Honor of Ed Waltman

MANKATO, Minn., Sept. 21, 2009 – The Educare Foundation announced today it has renamed its mini grants as the Waltman Mini Grants in honor of former superintendent Waltman. Educare provides financial support to the Mankato Area Public Schools through its Mini Grants and Educator Initiative Grants to fund programs and activities that enhance learning for students and encourage teachers to explore new ways of learning.

Waltman was a founding member of the Educare Foundation in 1995 and served as a school district liaison to the Educare board until he retired this past June.

“I am privileged that Educare Foundation Mini Grants will be associated with my name,” said Ed Waltman. “Educare members are working hard to provide extra innovative learning opportunities to youth and in these difficult budget times this funding is especially valuable.”

“We are pleased to honor Ed’s contributions to Mankato Area Public Schools and his support to Educare by renaming our Mini Grants in his name,” said Jay Weir, Educare Foundation board chair. “Educare Mini Grants are symbolic for doing a lot with a little and Ed certainly showed us this through his fiduciary responsibility through his tenure as superintendent.”
Educare Ed Waltman Mini Grants are distributed throughout the school year to support a variety of programs and learning experiences. Educators can find out more about the grant application process at www.educarefoundation.org.