Snohomish Education Foundation Awards Over $40,000 in Innovate ED Grants to Support Classroom Innovation

The Snohomish Education Foundation (SEF), in partnership with education research organization foundry10, has awarded more than $40,000 through the inaugural InnovateED Grant Program to support innovative education. The 11 grants are being awarded to 10 schools for projects across the Snohomish School District.

Designed to encourage creativity, exploration, and new approaches to student learning, InnovateED provides funding for educators to pilot ideas that have the potential to enhance student engagement, expand learning opportunities, and inspire future innovation in classrooms and schools.

The first grant cycle generated significant interest from educators throughout the district, with 30 applications submitted representing a wide range of innovative projects and ideas. Following a competitive review process, funding was awarded to 11 projects that demonstrated strong potential for impact and learning.

The selected projects span multiple grade levels and subject areas, providing students with hands-on learning experiences, opportunities to explore new technologies, engage in real-world problem solving, and deepen connections to their learning.

“One of the most exciting parts of this program is seeing the creativity and passion our educators bring to their work every day,” said Erica Cenci, Executive Director of the Snohomish Education Foundation. “InnovateED gives educators the opportunity to test new ideas, take thoughtful risks, and create experiences that can have a meaningful impact on students. We are grateful to foundry10 for helping make these opportunities possible.”

Through its partnership with SEF, foundry10 is helping expand access to innovative educational opportunities while supporting educators as they explore new approaches to teaching and learning.

“By engaging educators as innovators, we have an opportunity to learn from those who know the youth in their schools the best and share practical approaches to learning that can inform and inspire others,” said Duncan Frost, Director of Organizational Strategy, foundry10.

Awarded projects will be implemented during the 2026–27 school year, with participating educators sharing outcomes and lessons learned as part of the program’s reporting process. The goal is not only to support individual classrooms but also to identify ideas that may have broader applications across the district.

2026 InnovateED Grant Recipients

• Sadie Brumley, Machias Elementary – Mini Air Conditioner Creation
• Kelly Sheward, Central Emerson Elementary – STEM on the Go: Mobile Makerspaces & Nature-Based Learning
• Kristel Armes, Dutch Hill Elementary – Farm to Table Learning
• KT Allyn & Jim Wilson, Centennial Middle School – Disc Golf Course
• Erin Patterson & Matt Van Winkle, Glacier Peak High School & Snohomish High School – High School Trike
• Amy Bazile, Machias Elementary – 6th Grade Rocketry Design and Launch Program
• Erin Matthews, Riverview Elementary & Cascade View Elementary – Bike Rodeo Program
• Heather Hunsberger, AIM High School – AIM Forward Career Development Program
• Molly White, Erin Patterson and Emily Dittoe, Totem Falls Elementary – Adaptive Cooking Club: A Multidisciplinary Pilot for Functional Learning
• Evon Xu, Glacier Peak High School – Developing a Proficiency-Based Chinese Reading Curriculum Through Authentic Digital Texts and Instructional Scaffolding
• Elizabeth Kienzle & Brehanna Fraser-Bumatay, Cascade View Elementary – Wheels for Growth: A Developmental Mobility and Inclusion Pilot

For more information about the Snohomish Education Foundation and its programs, visit www.snoed.org.