Igniting Imagination in Classrooms
“To be or not to be…” outdoors! Performing Arts on Broadway students transformed a sunny afternoon into Shakespeare in the Park—bringing drama, laughter, and a little bit of Broadway magic to their school community.
The Marchi Mini Grant Program
Fueling Ideas. Empowering Classrooms.
The Marchi Mini Grant Program was created in 2013 to honor the memory of Lisa Marchi—a beloved Mapleton teacher and principal who poured her heart into helping teachers thrive and students succeed. Lisa believed that great teaching changes lives, and she championed creativity, curiosity, and connection in every classroom she touched.
Today, her legacy lives on through the Marchi Mini Grant program, which provides Mapleton teachers with funding to bring bold, hands-on, standards-based learning to life.
Grants of up to $1,500 for individuals and $3,000 for teams are awarded each fall to support innovative classroom projects that spark wonder, deepen engagement, and help students see themselves—and their learning—in new ways.
This program is more than a grant. It’s a celebration of what’s possible when teachers are trusted to dream big and given the tools to make those dreams real.
Applications are reviewed by the Mapleton Education Foundation Board of Directors, with recipients notified by the end of October.
Educators you can apply here, Marchi Mini Grant Applications Due 9/26/2025!
2025-2026 Marchi Mini Grant Awards!
The MEF Board of Directors in collaboration with the Teaching and Learning Team has selected eight Marchi Mini Grant submissions to be funded for a total of $15,000. Thank you to all who applied. Every year we receive more applications than we can fund, but we truly appreciate the innovation and thoughtfulness that is included in the applications.
Congratulations to the 2025-26 recipients:
Joyce Martinez, Explore PK-8 -- Math Ready: Support Early Number Sense
Amber Wilcox, Global Intermediate Academy -- Barbie's Bivariate Bungee Data
Lorraine Garrison, Clayton Partnership School -- Cougar Challenge: Team Building for Stronger Students
Maureen Russ, Meadow Community School -- Let's Talk About Cooking
Brian Touher, North Valley School for Young Adults -- End the Year Strong! Stem Credit Recovery Intensive
Tia Nevil, Welby Community School of the Arts -- Powering Creativity: Safe Tools for the Next Generation of Innovators
Mellissa Pfaff, Academy High School -- Biotech in Action: Equipping Students with Tomorrow's Tool
Nicholas Sabri, Mapleton Early Career Prep -- Creating a Flexible, Inclusive Classroom Environment
Rebecca Jessie, Achieve Academy -- Innovation and Individual Support
Bailey Humphrey, Global Leadership Academy -- Classroom Library Makeover
Erica Wernsmann, Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts -- Turn on the Light!
