2026-2027 Teacher Grant Program is open!

The PTSA Teacher Grants Program is designed to provide funding for innovative projects, materials, or programs that directly enhance student learning and engagement.

Calling all Taylor High School Teachers

Apply here now!

Congratulations to all of the teachers who received PTSA grants last school year! These projects will give students more hands-on learning, practical skills, and meaningful support—making a real difference in classrooms and across our school for years to come, and we were delighted to be able to support the teachers in their efforts. 

Lian Blake - Health Science - Trauma Manikin Moulage Kit

Congratulations to Health Science teacher Lian Blake on her awarded grant for a 16-piece Trauma Manikin Moulage Kit! This project directly impacts 201 students this year across multiple Health Science, Medical Assisting, and Medical Terminology classes. By providing hands-on moulage scenario experience, this equipment allows students to learn about the causes, presentations, and treatments of trauma, including burns and wounds. The PTSA is proud to fund durable resources that create more realistic clinical environments, ultimately enhancing deep learning and long-term recall for our future healthcare professionals.

Kyle Brown - AP Physics - Circuit and Arduino Kits

Congratulations to AP Physics teacher Kyle Brown on his awarded grant for electronic project! This project directly impacts 60 to 120 students by tasking them with designing and building their own interactive electronic machines. Using basic circuit components alongside programmable open-source software, students will explore required course concepts in a realistic, tangible setting. The PTSA is thrilled to fund these durable resources that will provide students with a robust understanding of real-world physics applications for many years to come.

Heather Burgess - Chemistry - Small Group Modeling Boards

Congratulations to Chemistry teacher Heather Burgess on her awarded grant for small-group dry erase boards! This project directly impacts approximately 150 students this year, and as a durable resource, it is expected to facilitate collaborative modeling for over 700 students in the next five years. By utilizing these vertical non-permanent surfaces, students are empowered to engage in Argument-Driven Inquiry, allowing them to visualize abstract chemical concepts without the fear of making permanent mistakes on paper. The PTSA is thrilled to fund this transition to a dynamic "thinking lab," where students can draft, critique, and revise their scientific models in real-time.

Carla Dagher - Chemistry - Portable Double-Sided Whiteboards

Congratulations to Science teacher Carla Dagher on her awarded grant for portable, double-sided dry erase whiteboards! This project directly benefits 130 to 150 students per year by supporting active learning and collaboration during chemistry lessons and station labs. Working in small groups, students will use these interactive whiteboards to solve problems, draw molecular structures, and explain chemical reactions. The PTSA is proud to fund these durable materials, which shift the classroom away from limited paper-based activities and allow the teacher to instantly assess student understanding and clear up misconceptions in real time.

Stefania Mitzithras - Latin - Tiered Latin Literature Library

Congratulations to Latin teacher Stefania Mitzithras on her awarded grant for a Tiered Latin Literature Library! This project benefits students across multiple grade levels by supporting their transition from textbook-based Latin to authentic ancient texts through a structured, scaffolded approach. Using these published tiered reading texts, students will engage with major literary works in small groups at varying levels of complexity, building comprehension and confidence before tackling the original Latin passages. The PTSA is excited to fund this innovative resource, which bridges a critical gap in the curriculum, reinforces grammar and vocabulary, and helps students develop stronger reading fluency.

Carolina Penaranda – Spanish - Headphones with Microphones

Congratulations to Spanish teacher Carolina Penaranda on her awarded grant for high-quality headphones with microphones! This project directly impacts approximately 120 to 180 students each school year by providing reliable audio equipment for daily listening and speaking activities. With these durable tools, students will be able to record videos and spontaneously respond to questions in Spanish, allowing them to effectively practice and demonstrate their speaking proficiency. The PTSA is proud to fill this critical resource gap, ensuring equitable access to essential language-learning tools that will improve students' oral communication skills and confidence for multiple years to come. 

Jarryn Rosas and Mikaela Wittmer - CTE Health Science - Thats VITAL Information! 

Congratulations to CTE Health Science teachers Jarryn Rosas and Mikaela Wittmer on their awarded grant for "Thats VITAL Information!". This project directly impacts 460 students across multiple courses, including Principles of Health Science, Medical Terminology, and Medical Assisting. By replacing aging equipment and introducing new tools like rolling sphygmomanometers that replicate real-world clinical settings, students will have more hands-on time to practice foundational, life-saving measurement techniques. The PTSA is proud to fund these necessary instruments, which will eliminate the need to rotate lessons and better prepare our students for future success in healthcare. 

Madison Steakley - Japanese (LOTE) - Graded Readers (Short Stories) for Japanese Learners 

Congratulations to Japanese teacher Madison Steakley on her awarded grant for "Graded Readers for Japanese Learners"! This project directly impacts approximately 50 Japanese students in the short term and will continue to support future learners as the program expands. By building a classroom library with beginner-friendly physical books and one advanced AP-level textbook, this grant fills a vital resource gap, replacing online reading and minimizing distractions. The PTSA is proud to fund these resources, which align with students' proficiency levels and interests, ultimately strengthening reading skills and fostering a lifelong interest in language learning.

Kristen Samuelson - Career & Technology - Student Life at Taylor High School 

Congratulations to Career & Technology teacher Kristen Samuelson on her awarded grant for "Student Life at Taylor High School" to purchase a new Canon XA60 4k UHD Camcorder! This project directly impacts approximately 30 AV Production and Blue Review students each year, replacing a broken camera and filling a crucial resource gap. With this durable equipment, students will film and edit events around campus—including sports, fine arts, clubs, and everyday happenings—to share with the Taylor community. The PTSA is proud to fund this long-lasting resource, which will be used year-round across multiple courses to help students learn essential skills in teamwork, problem-solving, interviewing, and storytelling.

Jessica Mixon - Chemistry - Modeling Boards and Display Stands

Congratulations to Chemistry teacher Jessica Elizabeth Mixon on her awarded grant for small-group modeling boards and display stands. This project directly impacts approximately 90 students this year and provides durable, long-term infrastructure for hundreds of future Taylor High School scientists. We are proud to support innovative educators who creatively enhance instruction and fill vital resource gaps in our classrooms.

Karin Negron - Geometry - Measuring Tapes and Miter Saw Protractors

Congratulations to Math teacher Karin Negron on her successful grant award! This project provides 158 students this year with hands-on experience in real-world geometry applications used in engineering and construction. By funding durable resources like long-distance measuring tapes and miter saw protractors, the PTSA is helping bridge the gap between abstract math and practical, career-ready skills for years to come.

Stephanie Hofer, Nancy Santos - School Psychologist/Counselor - Sensory Tools and Yard Games

Congratulations to Stephanie Hofer and Nancy Santos for their successful grant award supporting the Mental Health Alliance! This funding provides durable, reusable materials—from sensory tools to community yard games—that facilitate stress relief and social connection for students across all grade levels. The PTSA is helping to ensure our students have the coping strategies and community support they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom.

Lian Blake - Health Science - Stop the Bleed Training

Congratulations to Lian Blake for her successful grant award to enhance "Stop The Bleed" training! This project introduces high-quality, durable silicone simulators that allow students to master essential skills like wound packing and tourniquet application. By filling a critical resource gap, the PTSA is helping transform our students from bystanders into confident leaders equipped with technical, life-saving knowledge that will benefit our community for years to come

Lanme Sierra - Advanced Animal Science/FFA - 3D Printer

Congratulations to Lanme Sierra for being awarded a PTSA grant to integrate 3D printing into our Agricultural Education program! This project directly impacts 75-100 students annually, providing them with hands-on experience in modern technology used for problem-solving in ag mechanics, plant science, and animal science. By providing access to these professional tools, the PTSA is helping our FFA members gain the high-tech skills necessary to thrive in today’s innovative agricultural careers.

All grant applications were assessed by our Grants Committee. Our Grants Program will reopen in March 2026.