Grants boost hands-on learning for Chelan Valley, NCW classrooms

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2025 NCEF Teacher Grant Award List

CHELAN VALLEY — Teachers across Bridgeport, Lake Chelan, the Colville Reservation, Manson, Omak, Orondo, Pateros and Tonasket have received funding from the North Central Education Foundation (NCEF) through its annual Teacher Classroom Grant program. The grants support hands-on learning and classroom enrichment projects throughout North Central Washington.

This year, 253 educators received awards, funded through local donors, business sponsors and community partners. With 364 teachers applying and more than 100 proposals unfunded, NCEF says the grants highlight how many educators are seeking ways to bring creative, skill-building experiences into the classroom beyond what regular school budgets allow.

Across the Chelan Valley and surrounding areas, these grants support projects in reading, science, math, cultural learning, STEM building, attendance engagement, nutrition education and student creativity.

This year’s regional grant recipients include:

Bridgeport
• Julie Cain, for Voices Rising: Empowering Elementary Language Learners (collaborative award)
• Lorena Lopez, for Student Store

Lake Chelan
• Chelsey Martin, for Building Engagement through Supporting Physical Need for Movement
• Jennifer Polley, for Building Fluent Readers
• Jill Deal, for Cardboard Relief Sculptures Using ‘ChompSaw’
• Melissa Collins, for Math Games

Manson
• Gregorio Benavides, for Dia de Los Muertos (collaborative award)
• Michelle Rogge, for Hope Week (collaborative award)
• Janine Sanborn, for Science and STEM
• Rosanna Pittman, for STEM Brain Bins Exploration

Omak
• Brenda Worden, for Attendance Team (collaborative award)
• Katie MacLean, for News & Science Spin Subscriptions for 3rd Graders! (collaborative award)
• Tiarha Agee, for Fungus Among Us

Orondo
• Alicia Lopez, for Rural Children Attendance Incentive Program
• Brisa Gomez, for Classroom Library for Little Learners
• Patricia Stagg, for Accelerated Reader (AR) Initiation (collaborative award)
• Leah Potter, for Gear up for Math and more
• Ryan Kuhl, for 3D Pens
• Vanessa Castaneda, for Family Nights (collaborative award)

Pateros
• Teagan Straub, for Culturally Responsive Classrooms
• Joy McCulley, for DIG In! Standards Based Nutrition Education from the Ground Up (collaborative award)
• Talicia Miller-Poole, for Perfect Attendance Incentive (collaborative award)
• Taya Schweizer, for Annual Math Fair

Paschal Sherman Indian School
• Priscilla Williams, for Gardening to Good Health

Tonasket
• James Richardson, for Classroom Garden
• Lyndell Peterson, for Felt Monster Collaboration Project (collaborative award)
• Kimberly Fitzthum, for Da Vinci Camp
• Valerie Coolidge, for Sewing Internship

The grants reflect a growing demand for creative, culturally relevant and hands-on learning tools. From STEM building and cultural projects to nutrition education and attendance support, teachers across the region are using small grants to build big learning opportunities that connect to students’ needs and interests.

Readers can view the full list of recipients by clicking here.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media