The District 51 Foundation recently announced its 15th round of Professional Learning Grant Awards with more than $11,500 in grants awarded to District 51 staff members.

Since 2018, the D51 Foundation has donated more than $161,000 to 470 District 51 staff members for professional learning.

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 provide professional learning for D51 staff, invest in technology and innovation for students, and support student and staff wellness.

The grant recipients are:

Sutton Casey, R-5, $350, National Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference; Jade Decker, Orchard Avenue Elementary, $300, Teaching Strong Brains; Alice Dussart, Juniper Ridge Community, $458, A-Z Grant Writing Series; Elizabeth Elliott, Fruita Monument High School, $495, National Board Teacher License Renewal; Katrina Fallas, D51 K-12, $400, Working with Children/Teens and Understanding Foundations of Complex Trauma;

Scott Finholm, Central High School, $270, Annual Conference for the Colorado Council for the Social Studies; Katy Haerle and Julie Schmaltz, Grand Mesa Middle School, $550, NASRO Adolescent Mental Health Training; Carissa Hanvey, West Middle School, $565, Wilson Language Training; Mira Hurshman, Fruita Middle School, $295, Practical Strategies to Incorporate Specially Designed Instruction into Your Co-Teaching; Damian Johann, Fruitvale Elementary, $199, Music Will Modern Band Summit;

Katherine LaFrenierre, Dos Rios Elementary, $495, Alibion Center for Professional Development: Trauma in the Classrooms Critical Literacy Strategies; Erik Larson, Summit & Therapeutic Day Program, $1,500, EMDR Basic Training; Bil Pfaffendorf, Pomona STEAM, $3,000, Strong Families: Training for Staff; Lora Quesenberry, New Emerson & Emerson Administration Building, $645, Art Source Colorado Summer Residency: Artistry in Scale; Maja Sommersted, Thunder Mountain Elementary, $645, Art Source Colorado Summer Residency: Artistry in Scale;

Meredith Thornhill, Rim Rock & Monument Ridge Elementary, $569, 2025 Seng Annual Community Conference and Retreat Blueprints of Brilliance; Lori Twardowski-Raper, Palisade High School, $290, National Council for the Education of Ceramic Artists Conference; and Amber Wright, Juniper Ridge Community, $600, Pathways to Structured Literacy.

The grants are specifically for professional learning opportunities and support. Research consistently shows that highly trained teachers have the most significant positive impact on student academic growth and achievement.

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