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PEF Teacher Grants help inspirational teachers in every PUSD school enhance the classroom experience for their students. The grants, provided directly to educators, benefit thousands of students in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre.

In December 2023, over 220 PUSD educators received $223,000 in grants thanks to the Pasadena Educational Foundation, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. This is the largest amount of money awarded to the largest number of educators in PEF’s 50+ year history.

SUBMIT ONLINE PEF Teacher Grant Evaluation

Grant applications for this year are now closed. Please check back here next year in Fall 2024.

Looking for help with funding a field trip?
Our Field Trip Grant applications are always open on a rolling basis.

PEF Teacher Grants 2023-24

Special Awards

Calvin Hunt Arts Award

In memory of Calvin Hunt who, as Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, took dancers all over the world as cultural ambassadors. This award promotes and supports dedicated teachers enhancing arts education in PUSD.

Liane Shih & Denise Seider ~ Marshall Fundamental
The Dinner Party

In conjunction with Women’s History Month, the PUSD all-school annual art exhibition “No Boundaries”, and the City of Pasadena’s biannual event ArtNight Pasadena, students at Marshall Fundamental, Norma Coombs Elementary, and Altadena Arts Magnet will create a re-imagined version of Judy Chicago’s famed Dinner Party.

Jarratt Brunson Memorial Award for Literacy

Honoring the late Jarratt Brunson, the PEF founder who initiated the Teacher Grant Program, this award goes to the proposal that best reflects Jarratt’s passion for reading and early literacy.

Dr. Elisa Perez ~ Madison Elementary
Let’s Read Eagles! Soaring to Success with Books!

This reading incentive project aims to provide underserved students with access to quality literature and projects to improve their literacy skills and ignite a love for reading.

Kathy Onoye Principal Award

This award goes to the PUSD administrator whose proposal best exemplifies their role in inspiring leadership.

Erika Cooper ~ Hamilton Elementary
STEM Lab

Hamilton Elementary is building a Science Lab to create an inviting and visually stimulating experience. The lab will align to the school’s curriculum to support teachers who will integrate hands-on science learning. The STEM lab is accessible to all students, including those with disabilities. The lab would encourage collaboration and group activities to foster teamwork and problem solving skills.

School-Wide Grants

Michael Bell ~ Rose City High School
Student ID Machine and Incentives

Erika Cooper ~ Hamilton Elementary
STEM Lab

Raymond Cross ~ Norma Coombs Elementary
Improving Art & Garden Teaching Areas

Dana Hill ~ Altadena Arts Magnet
Masterminds Club

Mathew Kodama ~ Pasadena High School
Outdoor Learning

Lindsay Lewis ~ PUSD Early Childhood Education
Sensory Soothers – SEL Calming Kits

Jodi Marchesso ~ Sierra Madre Elementary
A Student-Created Book About Our School

Amy McGinnis ~ Blair IB School
Reading for Fun, Reading to Grow!

Garrett Newsom ~ Sierra Madre Middle
SMMS Robotics Program

Noemi Orduña ~ Octavia E. Butler Magnet
Outdoor Learning / Kindness Spaces

Elisa Perez ~ Madison Elementary
Let’s Read Eagles! Soaring to Success with Books!

Merian Stewart ~ McKinley School
McKinley Library Revitalization

Lori Touloumian ~ Marshall Fundamental
Outdoor Ceramics Classroom

Charlene Tucker ~ Field Elementary
PBIS Schoolwide Student Store / Character Trait Badges

Veronica Villagrana ~ Jackson STEAM Elementary
Student Safe Spaces and Wellness

Teacher Grants

Altadena Arts Magnet

Vivian Alfonso
Early Emergent Reading Books

Mary Roper
Connecting All Students

Blair IB

Monica Benson
Amplifying Student Voices!

Kyla Berman
Blair Self-Defense

Kevin Bice
Manipulating Variables: Exploring Scientific Method Through Growing Hydroponic Microgreens

Jesus Cobian
Reading Comes to Life in Color

Raul Delgado
H2O, Ready, Set, Go!

Luis Escalante, Veronica Yepez
Math Dream Box

Adria Espinoza
Improving English Learner Reading Scores Through Literacy Projects

Darius Hines
Experiments with Air Tracks

Stephanie Linardos
Cricut Tangible Take Home Designs

Esmeralda Lomeli
Making History Fun for All Learners

Joy McCreary
Novel Studies & Book Buying

Elizabeth Najera
International Academy Garden and Literacy Project

Liliana Tang
Accessible Science World Magazines for International Academy

Maria Teresa Garcia de la Vega, Laura Howard
Empowering Excellence: Chromebooks, Technology, and English Learner Tutoring at the International Academy

Jessica Volpi
Wired for Excellence: Enriching Blair Theatre through Headsets

PUSD CARE Program

Ryan Dahlstrom
Incentives for Behavior Improvement

Madelyn Gittens
Developing a Growth Mindset

Michelle Stowers
Kinesthetic CARE Therapeutic Classroom

CIS Academy / PALS

Scott Phelps, Kimbra Norton, Egbert Azariah
Using Galileoscopes to Enhance Physics and Observe the 2024 Solar Eclipse

Andrea Reynoso
Improved Virtual Tutoring

PUSD Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development

Jose Ortega
The Learning Curve: A Print Publication by the Student Think Tank

Don Benito Fundamental

Lauren Partma
Inclusive Library for All Students

Victoria Smith, Yvonne Davis
The Glow Gallery: Empowering Students Success through Personal Identity

Wayne Valenzuela, Candace Annett
Growing Young Minds: Interactive Garden

Eliot Arts Magnet

Jeffrey Bracamonte
Extending Math Beyond the Curriculum

Dr. Jane Lambert
Integrating Literacy in the Mathematics Classroom in 8th Grade!

Amy Mattson, Shane Horan
Physical Edcuation

Robert Moya
College Level Curriculum

Erica Peters
M Cubed: Making Math Meaningful

Dawnley Raices
Stamps For Joy

Summer St. Pierre
Building Literacy through Nonfiction Library Collection Development

Elliott Sutter
The Art of the Equation

Field Elementary

Anqi Deng
Empowering Language and Cultural Immersion in 4th Grade

Yichen Liu
Workshop Model in Mandarin DLIP Classroom and Classroom Library

Karen Raab
Hands-On Science: Dig In and Learn Through Gardening

Jinghong Wang
Bilingual Library Enrichment for Dual Mandarin Immersion Class

Wai Yan Wu
Bring Science to Life! Exploring Observation & Hands On

Weili Xia, Jing Gao
Art/Science Integration in First Grade: Inspiring Young Minds

Siyin Yang
Refine the Mandarin and Math Workshop

Hamilton Elementary

Alden Denila, Isaac Dye
Drumset and Drumsticks for Hamilton

Felicia Gomez
Butterfly Garden

Marion Yamada
Shaking Up Some Mathemagical Fun!

Patrice Yocum
Animated Memories

PUSD Home Hospital Program

Marla Kaseff
Helping Students Classified as Moderate/Severe

Jefferson Children’s Center

Carolina Arizaga
Early Arts Expression

Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary

Debbie Ayala, Taeya Long
Garden Classroom Extension

Merle Bugarin
Tools for English Learner Success

Sara Dave, Erica Nellessen, Maria Hernandez
Jackson Wellness Project

Jennifer Fernandez
3rd Grade Bilingual Book Clubs

Jacob Fuerte
Jackson PE

Elizabeth Holle
Sensory Exploration

John Newell
Restock, Rebuild, and Reimagine Lab Science

Maureen Noble
Windows and Mirrors Library Collection

Corrine Parker
An Overall Kindergarten Upgrade

Christian Reynaga
Visual Arts at Jackson, Exploration of a New World

Melissa Ruiz
Updating Classroom Library: Multicultural, SEL, & Butterflies

Elaine Serna
Book Club

Diana Suarez
A STEAMy Update

John Muir Early College Magnet

Shakirim Brown
Exploring Topics Through Podcasting

Cassandra Franklin
Vocal Amplification

Daniel Harris, Jill McArthur
California Native Plant Propagation

Janet Hart
The Secret Garden Revisited

Karen Klages
Music Library for Mighty Mustangs

Theresia Kleeman
Muir Student Writers: Imagine Two Pines Framing a Dirt Path

Cynthia Lake
Up the Cycle: Revise, Refine, Rework, Renew the Unwanted

Courtney Scrabeck, Micol Issa
Periaktoi for Library Gallery Displays and Stage

Longfellow Elementary

Mavie Arellano
Elementary Physical Education

Claudia Becerra
Multicultural Teacher Library

Kaiulani Sallas
Longfellow Lions Blossom and Bloom

Madison Elementary

Helena Alves
Students Treasure Becoming Publishers

Luis Amaya, Myrna Rodriguez
Eagle’s Nest: Interactive Activity Room

Laura Cambrelen, Donna Irie
Blooming Minds: Hands-On STEM

Patricia Guzman, Kathryn Marquez
Madison Monarch Waystation

Aysia Lynch, Amparo Angela Magalong
Sensory Corner for Special Education Students

Marco Rodriguez
Music Director iPad

Diane Salson, Flor Manzano, Cheryl Hinojosa
For the Love of Words!

DeRon Tyler
Fitness in Youth

Marshall Fundamental

Daarina Abdus-Samad
Celebrating Ceramics!

Zara Agvanian
Statistical Research: Creating and Interpreting Frequency Distributions

Moises Champo, Ana Chavez
Folklorico Dance: Connection, Confidence, Creativity

Roxanne Duboucheron, Jonathan Miller
The Narrative Workshop (TNW)

Norwin Gardener
Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Reading Area

Alison Garfinkel
Building Marshall Drama’s Staging Capacity

Christine Gunnell
Scoping for Microscopes

Stephen Kooshian
World Atlases for AP Human Geography

Marysia Narvaez
The Power of Music in the Classroom

Suengmee Seo
Periodic Table Tile

Liane Shih, Denise Seider
The Dinner Party

Jay Stapleton
Build My Classroom Library

Fara Valentine
Surgeons in Training

McKinley School

Anthony Bonoli, Topaze Fraser-Lake
McKinley School Garden and Science Impact

John Lira
The McKinley 4th Grade Garden: Farm to School 2023

Cynthia Macias
Activate All Students Imagination With S.T.E.A.M. Multicultural Barbies

Natalie Pando, Raquel Lomeli, Briseyda Rivera
Empowering Excellence: Enhancing Social, Emotional, and Academic Skills in Inclusion Education

Lai Sam
Literacy Corner

Beth Strehl
Kinder-Garden

Norma Coombs Elementary

Alma Cielo Livingstone, Barbara Ishida
Outdoor Education through Native Plants & Ceramics

Diana Delgado Ramirez
TK Students Learning Through Play

Rebekah Flores, Wendy Giang
Interactive Learning In An Embedded Instruction Program

Kyle Kennelly
Sensory-Centered Learning

Octavia E. Butler Magnet Academy

Natalie Daily
Our Science Fiction Festival Opens New Worlds

Andrew Driffill, Mary Lauderdale
Robotics Competition Support

Robyn Wehrly, Jensine Lucas
Intimidation to Integration: Physics Through Rube Goldberg Machines

Pasadena High

Girma Aleme
Electrostatic (Van-de-Graaf) Generator

Richard Chung
Scaffolded S.T.E.M. Curriculum for Special Education

Anne Hastings
PHS Library: The Welcoming Heart of Our Community Where All Come to Learn, Discover, Create, and Connect

Ruihan He
Immersive Audio/Visual Experience for Chinese Language & Culture

Rachel Jacalone
Biological Models

Benjamin Lambert
Molecule of Life

Amy Marmol
Flexible Seating in Secondary Classroom

Carolina Marquez Villasenor
CI Spanish Readers

Norma Ohlson, Asusena Camacho Raudales
Audio-Visual Technology

Marian Pena
Math Materials to Engage Students

Richard Rosa
The Chemistry of Paints and Pigments

Kristin Trammell, Jessica Carbajal, Natalie Hernandez, Sobukwe Ramsey
Adapted PE

Kevin Wood
Creating Interest for Introverts

Rose City High

Christopher Tolosa
Physics and Chemistry Hands-On Resources

San Rafael Elementary

Luz Ceja
Building Skills That Stick

Carla Landaverde, Cristina Arellano, Jessica Cervantes, Juana Orozco, Maite Soriano, Priscila Leon-Didion
For the Love of Printed Books!

Veronica Martinez
Read Around the World!

Lizet Rodriguez
Hands and Minds on Math

Sierra Madre Elementary

Lucy Chaparian
Hatching and Raising Chicks

Richard Garretson, Sarah Healy
Green Waste Awareness and Collection Program

Carolyn Halpern
Pollination Power

Barri Messersmith
Building The Future, One Bot at a Time

Yolanda Munoz
May The Force Be With You!

Dany Richey
Revitalized Goodwill Gardens

Sierra Madre Middle

Alexandra Gonzales, Samantha Dominguez
Handcrafted by Hawks!

Elizabeth Korman
Think on Your Feet

Daniel Martinez
Transform Problem Solving: Write, Wipe, Restart!

Calvin Ramirez, Amanda Leja
Peace Patio

Jane Ruwe
Reading Culture

Jun Yu
Online News Reading in Mandarin Chinese & Book Creator

PUSD Student Wellness & Support Services

Elsa Gutierrez
Restorative Justice Art

Washington Elementary STEM Magnet

Debbie Afsharian
POP into Reading

Michele Durrett
Every Face Has a Place at Washington STEM

Katherine Mickelson, Chanika Martin
Small Group Wiggles

Tina Minkler
Ignite STEM Learning in Kindergarten!

Webster Elementary

Yesu Baymus, Joane Copeland-Muro
Collaborative Eco Art Project

Candice Cooper Horn
Let’s Get Creative!

Amy Froeschle, Sabrina Mandigo, Arpine Khrlopyan
Connecting Our Past With Our Future

Sophia Mejia
Let’s Build!

Willard Elementary

Melanie Gray
Supporting Social Emotional Learning Through Culturally Responsive Literature

Melinda Killen
Safety and Fun in a Beautiful Environment

Penny Magalong
After School LEGO STEM Club and Robotics Team

Stacy Torres
What a Wonderful World

Linda Wittry
Student Action and Service Through Gardening, IB Murals, and Campus Beautification

Take a look at our archive of past teacher grant recipients:

150
Projects
223000
Awarded
222
Teachers & Principals
45
Years

“Every year I am awed by the creativity and passion that our district’s teachers and principals share in their grant proposals.” -Patrick Conyers, PEF Executive Director

Grant projects are:

Student centered.
Related to the curriculum.
Directly benefit students.
Enhance and Improve student achievement.

Grants are generally awarded to teachers in amounts up to $1,000, special awards up to $2,500, and school-wide grants up to $5,000.

Thank you to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, and the generous support of the community

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Support creativity in our schools!

Teacher Grants are one of the many ways the Pasadena Educational Foundation helps to create a vibrant and enriching educational experience for all public school children in Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre.

DONATE!