The Stokes County Education Foundation Fund of the Shallow Ford Foundation has awarded 10 Innovative Classroom Grants totaling almost $23,000 to educators across Stokes County Schools. This marks the first year of the Innovative Classroom Grant program, which supports forward-thinking classroom projects designed to spark curiosity, strengthen skills, and create engaging learning experiences for students.

In April, members of the Stokes County Education Foundation advisory board surprised teachers in their classrooms with ceremonial grant presentations, sharing the exciting news that their proposals had been selected for funding. Awarded through a competitive application process, the grants will support both individual and collaborative projects during the 2026–2027 school year.

The following educators and projects were awarded Innovative Classroom Grants:

Southeastern StokesMiddle School – Erin Warrilow
Digital water quality testing tools allowing students to collectand analyze real‑world environmental data whilestudying North Carolina river systems.

South StokesHigh School – Rafal Jurkiewicz and Alan Largen
Military‑style obstacle course materialssupporting JROTC training in endurance, teamwork, leadership, and competitivepreparation.

LondonElementary School – Lori Booze
Audiobook listening resources creating a classroom literacy labthat builds early reading skills and fosters a love of learning.

ChestnutGrove Middle School – Molly McDowell
High‑interest science texts and labmaterials integrating literacy and hands-on STEM instruction.

Piney GroveMiddle School – Adam Jones
Hands‑on woodworking tools and materialsallowing students to design and build custom dining tables while developingtrade skills.

Sandy RidgeElementary School – Donna Stowe
Screen‑free audio storytelling toolssupporting literacy development, creativity, and student engagement inkindergarten classrooms.

KingElementary School – Marcia Saunders, Amber Stogner, and Amber Baker
Outdoor learning equipment expanding creative, hands‑on exploration opportunities in Pre‑Kclassrooms.

ChestnutGrove Middle School – Tracy Horton and Krystal Dawn Kovach
Permanent microbiology lab resources allowing eighth grade studentsto explore disease, immune response, and prevention through inquiry‑based learning.

Piney GroveMiddle School – Tiffany Morgan and Lori Spencer
Student‑led multimedia broadcast studioempowering student voice while building communication and media skills.

KingElementary School – Miranda Ketchum
Multi‑sensory, technology enhancedlearning experiences transforming fifth grade classrooms into interactiveexploration labs.

Lori Booze shared her excitement aboutreceiving an Innovative Classroom Grant, saying, “I am extremely pleased to bea recipient of the Innovative Classroom Grant from The Stokes County EducationFoundation (SCEF). I am delighted that the SCEF is supporting theimplementation of our classroom literacy library. Our students will now havethe tools and resources needed to support reading motivation, strengthenliteracy skills, and encourage a love of learning.”

Stokes CountySchools Superintendent Brad Rice emphasized the importance of launchingthis new community supported initiative: “Mondaymarked an important milestone in the Stokes County Education Foundation’sjourney, from forming an advisory council this fall to securing generousdonations and now awarding our first grants.  While celebrating theseawards is exciting, what inspires us most is seeing these ideas come to life inclassrooms and impact our students this fall.  We are deeply grateful tothe Shallow Ford Foundation for their leadership and partnership.  Throughtheir support, innovative ideas become reality, teachers’ dreams take shape,and new opportunities are created for every student we serve in Stokes CountySchools.”

The Stokes County Education Foundation(SCEF), a fund of the Shallow Ford Foundation, is dedicated to enhancing public education in Stokes County by providing resources and support beyond traditional funding through classroom grants. The fund operates on the belief that every student deserves access to the tools and experiences that help ensure success in school, career, and life. Community support makes these Innovative Classroom Grants possible. To help continue investing in Stokes County educators and students, consider making a gift to the Stokes County Education Foundation Fund at www.sff.gives/scef