Berryville, VA — The Clarke County Education Foundation (CCEF) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Classroom Impact Grants, providing Clarke County Public Schools educators with funding to bring innovative, hands-on projects to life in their classrooms.
Classroom Impact Grants are designed to support innovative and creative projects that directly enhance student learning. Each year, teachers are invited to submit proposals that address classroom needs or unique ideas for improving instruction. With CCEF support, educators are able to move projects from concept to implementation—creating engaging, real-world learning experiences that may not otherwise be possible through school budgets.
This year’s funded projects span across all grade levels and disciplines, from music and theatre to STEM, agriculture, and social-emotional learning. Together, they reflect the creativity and dedication of Clarke County teachers to inspire students, build critical skills, and strengthen educational opportunities.
“CCEF is honored to invest in our teachers, who work tirelessly every day to inspire Clarke County students,” said Beth Williams, Executive Director of the Clarke County Education Foundation. “These grants represent our community’s commitment to ensuring every student has access to innovative, high-quality educational experiences.”
2025 Classroom Impact Grant Recipients
Boyce Elementary School (BES)
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Pam Murphy – Beat of Your Drum
This project builds on a Wolf Trap for the Performing Arts residency that introduced music, song, and movement into PreK classrooms to support special education learners. With grant funding, the class will continue integrating music, dance, imaginative play, and creative routines that engage both verbal and nonverbal students, fostering equal participation and belonging for all.
Clarke County High School (CCHS)
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Christine Brewer – Cuts, Bruises, and Scrapes – Theatre Makeup
This grant will create a theatre class makeup kit to teach students how makeup transforms actors into characters and supports the art of stage illusion. Students will explore techniques for applying makeup that simulates cuts, bruises, and burns while developing creative skills essential for live theatre production. -
Christine Brewer – Keep the Box Stocked
The theatre program will expand its existing CCEF-funded tool kit with new tools and accessories for set construction. These resources will allow students to design and build stage pieces for the annual spring musical, offering practical experience in collaboration, problem-solving, and stagecraft. -
Mark Curry – Portable Power for the Band’s Electronics
The Clarke County High School Band will replace an unreliable generator with a silent, portable Jackery battery to power its front ensemble equipment. This new power source will improve reliability, reduce distractions, and enhance the quality of live performances for students and audiences alike. -
Terrence Carlson – New Video Analysis Software
This grant provides updated video analysis software for the physics classroom, giving students advanced tools to collect data, analyze motion, and apply scientific concepts. The technology will expand opportunities for hands-on learning, critical thinking, and the real-world application of physics principles. -
Barbara Fairbanks & Jim Draucker – Clarke Chicken Project
The Clarke County FFA and shop classes will partner to launch a hands-on chicken project near the school greenhouse. Shop students will construct coops while agriculture classes hatch and raise chickens, providing practical lessons in animal care, egg production, and agriculture career pathways.
Cooley Elementary School (CES)
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Mandy Balas – Position to Grow – The Learning Posture Project
This project introduces flexible seating—such as wobble stools, balance balls, and portable desk chairs—along with ergonomic writing tools to promote student comfort and engagement. By supporting posture, stamina, and fine motor development, the initiative creates a dynamic, responsive classroom environment for all learners. -
Rachel Thompson – Inclusive Spaces for Student Success
Grant funding will establish a calming, sensory-friendly area in the TLC classroom designed to support students’ sensory and emotional needs. The space will include visuals and tactile tools that help learners self-regulate, reduce anxiety, and build focus, creating a welcoming environment for neurodiverse students.
Johnson-Williams Middle School (JWMS)
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Lauren Belzer – Fresh Ideas, Dried Foods
Eighth grade agriculture students will explore food science by researching, developing, and producing new dehydrated recipes using a classroom food dehydrator. Teams will also design a marketing plan and pitch their product to a panel of judges, gaining real-world experience in teamwork, creativity, and entrepreneurship. -
Melissa Brown – Rate of Regulation
This project introduces a research-based approach to teaching students self-regulation and emotional control. Using measures of heart rate and heart rate variability, students will learn to recognize signs of stress and dysregulation, then apply coping skills taught in sessions to adjust their body’s response. The initiative helps students strengthen emotional resilience and improve their ability to focus and thrive in school.
Since its founding in 1991, the Clarke County Education Foundation has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, scholarships, and program support to Clarke County Public Schools. The Classroom Impact Grants remain a cornerstone of CCEF’s mission: to empower teachers, support students, and build brighter futures for Clarke County.
For more information on the Classroom Impact Grants, or to learn how you can support CCEF’s work, please visit www.ccefinc.org.