T he first batch of recipients for the Coffee County School System’s new Innovation Grants were announced at the Feb. 9 school board meeting.

Over 20 applications were received, according to Director of Schools Scott Hargrove, and of those, eight programs received grants.

The Innovation Grants were first introduced in a social media post by Board Chairman Thomas Ballard in September as a way to fund innovative ideas for classroom programs that positively impact learning outcomes for students.

Open to all employees of the school system, the grants awarded up to $2,500 for programs that fit into the rubric created by the Innovation Committee.

Funding for a $50,000 pool for the grant program from the schools’ Fund Balance was approved at the Nov. Board meeting.

Grants were awarded to a variety of programs.

Col. Daniel Janusz with Coffee County High Central High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC program was awarded funds for a flight simulator at the high school. Mindy Acklin also received a grant for the CCCHS Criminal Justice program.

Deerfield’s Mary McCartney and Amber Cerio received a grant for their Hungry Minds program that uses the literature of children’s author and illustrator Eric Carle ( The Very Hungry Caterpillar) to “enhance reading fluency through art, music, literature, writing, and movement, by working collaboratively together to teach phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.”

Jennifer Dennison from North Coffee Elementary received a grant for a STEM Robot Club, and Coffee County Raider Academy’s Anita Krause was awarded a grant to fund a history trip.

Hickerson Elementary’s Michelle Mullican received a grant to fund a Baby Animal Farm, and Amy Partin with Hickerson’s Excellence Program also received a grant for a Spanish class.

Coffee County Middle School’s Betty Shelton received a grant to fund a Pathways Night an informational event where families explore specialized academic, career, and technical education (CTE) options to guide student success.