The District 51 Foundation announced its 16th round of Professional Learning Grant award recipients, awarding $10,096.60 in grants to train 126 Mesa County Valley School District 51 staff members.

The foundation received grant requests totaling more than $43,000. Since 2018, the D51 Foundation has donated more than $170,000 to 590 District 51 staff members for professional learning.

According to Jade Decker, a teacher at Orchard Avenue Elementary School and past D51 Foundation grant recipient, “The value of Professional Learning Grants extends beyond just the learning and strategies that teachers gain. When we take part in high-quality professional learning around topics we are passionate about, our excitement and motivation are renewed, and we have the energy to keep showing up with our best for kids.”

Each year, the D51 Foundation uses proceeds from its White Iced Celebration and other fundraising efforts to fund specific needs in School District 51. This year, fundraising dollars will be used to invest in technology and innovation for students, provide professional learning for District 51 staff and support student and staff wellness.

This year’s 14th White Iced Celebration will take place Feb. 7, 2026, at the CMU Ballroom. Sponsorship opportunities can be found at www.d51foundation.org.

The Professional Learning Grant recipients in this round, their schools, the grant amounts and how the grants will be used are as follows:

• Amie Schraeder, Wingate Elementary, $1,238, Coach Facilitated Half-Day Planning.
• Britny Walker, New Emerson Elementary, $1,080, Advantage Math Recovery Course.
• Danny Medved, Orchard Mesa Middle School, $520, Solution Tree PLC Book Study.
• Emily Currey, Rim Rock Elementary, $835, Staff Book Study: The Morning Meeting Book.
• Emma Kemper, Palisade High School, $595, CADA Convention.
• Francisco Castaneda, Grand Mesa Middle School, $325, Colorado Music Educators Association Clinic.
• Kaily Panagoulis and Brittney Roedell, Mt. Garfield Middle School, $450, MYP Language Acquisition Training.
• Katie Duff, Pomona Elementary, $405.40, CDE Autism Training.
• Katie Langelier and Ethan Kitchell, Basil T. Knight Center (BTK), $750, APTA Pediatric 2025 Annual Conference.
• Kelly Mendenhall, West Middle School, $300, American School Counselor Assoc. Specialist Designation.
• Lisa Crabtree, Fruita Monument High School, $280 National Board Maintenance Certification.
• Lisa McCall, Taylor Elementary, $219, Rosetta Stone Online Learning.
• Mairi Risner, BTK/Bookcliff Middle School/Mount Garfield Middle School, $230, BASC-3 On Demand Training.
• Matthew Bohling, Tope Elementary, $325, Colorado Music Educators Association Clinic.
• Megan Henry, Independence Academy, $315, Colorado Art Education Association.
• Molly Moyer, New Emerson Elementary, $595, WRS Online Introductory Class.
• Rebecca Ely, Fruita Monument High School, West Middle School, Grand River Academy, Tope Elementary, $390, ACT for Adolescents.
• Sean Henry, Grand Junction High School, $315, Colorado Art Education Association.
• Shannon Carrol Orchard Mesa Middle School, $929, Learning by Doing PLC in Action.

The grants are specifically for professional learning opportunities and support.

For more information, visit www.d51foundation.org or call 970-254-5108 or 970-210-4120.