TOWSON, MD—The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., this week announced the 21st Century Instructional Initiative Grant recipients for 2023-2024.

Project funds were awarded to schools for proposals dedicated to enhancing the skills and knowledge students must have to be successful in the 21st century.

This year’s grant recipients are as follows:

• Battle Monument School – “Let’s Put Some ‘Fun’ in Functional Learning,” Principal Kyle Martin & Grant Liaison James Schuyler
• Catonsville Elementary School – “Subsisting Agriculture Classroom,” Principal MeLissa Powers & Grant Liaison Rachel Hodges
• Catonsville High School – “Shape Your World: A 3D Printing Initiative for Students,” Principal Matthew Ames & Grant Liaison Dr. Zachary Wiseman
• Catonsville Middle School – “Achievement on the Activity Bus – Providing Equitable Access to Extracurricular Education,” Principal Stephanie Fanshaw & Grant Liaison Aaron Sporik
• Dogwood Elementary School – “Maddie the Musical: A Dogwood Spin on Matilda,” Principal Novella Ables & Grant Liaison Brendan Penn
• General John Stricker Middle School – “Using Mentoring to Facilitate Improved Culture, Climate, and a Sense of Shared Cultural History,” Principal V. Melanie Kearns & Grant Liaison Everett Elliott
• Golden Ring Middle School – “North Bay Legacy Program,” Principal Jeffrey Grouleau & Grant Liaison Kai Lassiter
• Hernwood Elementary School – “Sensory Learning Lab in the Library Media Center at Hernwood Elementary School,” Principal Tamara Harris Murphy & Grant Liaison Diane Fontinell
• Holabird STEM/Middle School – “Holabird Courtyard Expansion Project,” Principal Yolanda Booker & Grant Liaison Rebecca Satterfield
• Johnnycake Elementary School – “Communicating Clearly,” Principal Patricia Collins-McCarthy & Grant Liaison Jolene Anticoli
• Meadowood Education Center – “Family Game Night,” Principal Karl Radday & Grant Liaison Erin Kempa
• Norwood Elementary School – “Springfest at HOLAWOOD: Embracing 21st Century Cultures,” Principal Mark Taylor & Grant Liaison Marcy Hotchkiss
• Owings Mills High School – “Student-Run Fabrication Lab and School Store: hOMade,” Principal Terri Moses & Grant Liaison Jennifer Filosa
• Pine Grove Middle School – “Becoming Kings Mentoring,” Principal Deborah Magness & Grant Liaison Vernon Fains
• Ridge Ruxton School – “Maiden Choice and Ridge Ruxton Run Clubs and Accessible Track Meets,” Principal Missy Beltran & Grant Liaison Katie Augsburger
• Riverview Elementary School – “From Bystanders to Upstanders, Safe School Ambassadors Bullying Prevention Program,” Principal Colleen Fitzmaurice & Grant Liaison Sara Carr Bennett
• Sparks Elementary School – “Written Words, Painted Sounds,” Principal Magan Chyko-Leigh & Grant Liaison Brian Price
• Sparrows Point Middle School – “SPMS Robotics,” Principal Dr. Mary Boswell-McComas & Grant Liaison Aimee Farrell
• Western School of Technology and Environmental Science – “Never Again: The Holocaust,” Principal Jewell Ralph & Grant Liaison Melanie J. Coates
• Woodholme Elementary School – “National Museum of African American History and Culture Field Trip,” Principal Julie McDivitt & Grant Liaison Marisa Rardon

This year, the top 20 grants were awarded a total of $38,494, nearly $8,500 00 more than ever awarded before.

“We are so grateful that our board unanimously voted to dedicate additional funds to allow us to award more grants this year,” said Deborah S. Phelps, the foundation’s executive director. “The Board has worked so hard to raise funds for exactly this reason, and they were excited to be able to grow our grants program this year.”

Each grant was scored by three experts in the field. The following grant ambassador judges participated in  this year’s grant selection process: Danielle Alderson, Jamie Bakert, Lesley Beavers, Eric Cromwell, Dr. Michael Grubbs, Kristin Huber, Bruce Ickes, Dr. Shane Jensen, Cindy Jones, Ellen Kobler, Jim Longenecker, Dr. Sam Neghaban, Kate Perry-Jones, and Alyssa Sooklal.