Ms. Brittany Reese, a science educator at SAIL Charter Academy in Evans, Georgia, was awarded a classroom grant by the Association of American Educators Foundation (AAEF). The grant funds will be used to create a Monarch Butterfly Habitat Garden.

“I have been planning and dreaming of starting a school garden for more than five years,” noted Ms. Reese in her submission. “I have a passion and a love for gardening and I want to bring that into my classroom and school community. Over the past year I have created a schoolwide curriculum, plans, and activities for each grade level, and have had it approved by our administration but it must start in my classroom with me.”

The AAEF National Scholarship and Grant Program seeks to acknowledge excellence in education through highlighting innovative approaches and best practices. AAE Director of Professional Learning Melissa Pratt who oversees the National Scholarship and Grant Program said, “Supporting the development of interdisciplinary, hands-on lessons that create lasting positive outcomes for an entire school community is at the core of this important grant and scholarship program. AAEF is pleased to help educators realize their vision and make often years of research and planning a reality for their students’ best educational outcomes.”

The AAE Foundation National Teacher Scholarship and Classroom Grant Program is open to all full-time educators. Applications are considered twice-a-year on a competitive basis and evaluated by a volunteer review committee of educators. The program is now accepting scholarship and grant applications through the deadline of October 1, 2022. More details and application information are available at aaeteachers.org/awards.