Apple Seed Recipients 2024-2025
Congratulations to all of the deserving Apple Seed Grant winners! The St. Joseph School District Foundation awards the grants, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. The Foundation is a local non-profit foundation that supports learning in the SJSD. Funding is provided entirely through community donations. The Apple Seed Grants are awarded to teachers and staff who have innovative ideas that would directly affect students. The grants give schools the opportunity to explore new ideas in the classroom.
Danyelle Gonzales – Math Connections with Robotics - Central High School
This innovative project brings hands-on robotics into SJSD math classes and the after-school Math Team, helping students see math come to life. Using TI-84 Python calculators with TI-Innovator Rovers and Hubs, students will code robots to explore geometry, algebra, and real-world problem-solving in motion. By integrating coding, collaboration, and creativity, Math Connections with Robotics makes math engaging, meaningful, and fun.
Nicole Adams – Book Buddies - Oak Grove Elementary
Book Buddies is a trio of after-school book clubs for 5th graders at Oak Grove designed to ignite a love of reading—especially among reluctant readers. Now in its third year, the program has shown remarkable success, boosting reading enjoyment from 37% to 89% in just one month. Funding supports hands-on, story-based activities, creative projects, snacks, and cozy reading spaces that help students connect with stories, classmates, and the joy of reading.
Madison Michalski – Little Ears, Big Ideas - Field Elementary
Little Ears, Big Ideas uses Yoto players as a screen-free way to boost listening comprehension, creativity, and communication. Students will practice active listening tied to classroom texts, then script and record short podcasts featuring book reviews, stories, and project highlights. Accessible for all learners, the program supports ELLs and students with learning differences through self-paced listening and guided discussion. Funding provides Yoto players and cards to upload student work—helping students strengthen literacy skills and find their voice.
Rhianna Villanueva – 3D Pen Station - Coleman Elementary
3D Pen Station will turn the Coleman Elementary library into a hands-on makerspace where students explore STEM through design and creativity. With classroom 3D pens, materials, and workshops, students will prototype, problem-solve, and collaborate across science, technology, engineering, and math—building innovation and future-ready skills for all learners.
Kaitlyn Poage – Gridiron Geometry 3D: Bringing Math to Life with Football and 3D Printing - Eugene Field Elementary
Gridiron Geometry 3D boosts 6th-grade math by linking ratios, proportions, and geometry to a high-interest, real-world challenge: designing and building scaled NFL stadium models. Building on students' football stats unit, teams research stadium dimensions, calculate scale factors aligned to Missouri Learning Standards, prototype in CAD on Chromebooks, and fabricate parts with 3D printers, finishing details with art materials. Three classroom teachers coach each phase—from October kickoff to a late-January Super Bowl Stadium Expo for families and the community—while pre/post assessments track growth. Funding supplies two shared 3D printers, filament, measuring tools, storage, and build materials. The result: math that feels meaningful, hands-on STEM exposure, and future-ready skills in collaboration, design, and problem-solving.
Elizabeth Hoskins & Becky Carter – Creative Currents: Arts With Purpose - Bode Middle School & Central High School
Creative Currents: Arts With Purpose unites students from Bode Middle School (Elizabeth Hoskins) and Central High School (Becky Carter) to create culture-rich art prints—ranging from traditional block prints to modern graphic designs—celebrating heritage months, seasons, holidays, and local landmarks. The student work will be sold through a Traveling Mini Art Print Vending Machine hosted by partnering local businesses, with a portion of proceeds benefiting charities chosen with each host. Alongside after-school studio time, Central's Marketing I and Intro to Business classes will handle branding, advertising, and a community route/timeline to place the machine where foot traffic is highest. Funding jump-starts materials and outreach so students can produce ongoing collections, practice real-world entrepreneurship, and direct their creativity toward community impact.
Tomi Violett – STEM Bins - Hyde Elementary
STEM Bins will bring hands-on engineering to kindergarten by turning everyday materials into big learning. Organized tubs filled with LEGO® bricks, cups, sticks, straws, and more will anchor a weeklong cycle of free exploration, simple design challenges (build a tall tower, a bridge, a ramp), and quick share-outs that build creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. With visual prompts and age-appropriate reflection drawings, students practice early STEM concepts alongside fine-motor, language, and social-emotional skills. The project culminates in a classroom STEM Showcase, giving every child a chance to present a favorite build and discover that they are thinkers, makers, and engineers.
Lucy Mize – Escape Room Math - Lafayette High School
Escape Room Math equips classrooms with Breakout EDU kits so students can design and run their own math escape rooms—turning algebra, geometry, and logic into immersive puzzles. Aligned with NCTM Principles and the Standards for Mathematical Practice, the project builds problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking while giving students real choice and voice in how they apply what they've learned. After a quick rollout in one lead class, lessons and puzzles will be shared across math courses and schools throughout the year, fostering collaboration, curiosity, and persistence as math comes to life.
Kathleen Adams – Real World Literacy for the Littlest Learners - Hosea Elementary
Real World Literacy for the Littlest Learners brings real-world careers into kindergarten, pairing curiosity with early literacy. Each month, a guest professional—think construction workers, veterinarians, and firefighters visits to share what they do and why it matters. After the visit, a classroom center transforms into that career (mini clinic, bakery, construction site), where students role-play, read themed books, practice new vocabulary, and complete simple writing prompts during literacy rotations. Monthly reflections help children explain what they learned and how each job serves the community. The result is playful, hands-on learning that builds reading, writing, and career awareness—advancing the district's goal of exploring pathways from the very start.
