Investing in true innovative student, educator & family-led projects to transform DPS schools
DPS Foundations Innovation Grants, fund projects aimed at increasing equity, accessibility, resources, and opportunities within DPS schools. Available in the fall of each school year, Innovation Grants are open only to DPS students, teachers, staff, administrators, and family members for projects that directly center and impact their school or school communities.
The DPSF Innovation Fund awarded $85,900 to 14 projects at 18 schools for the 2024 - 2025 school year.
We also awarded an additional $82,500 to 22 projects at 25 schools for the WHOLE Schools Fund, and we’ll be offering that grant program again in 2025-2026. Click here for more info on the WHOLE School Fund, for projects specifically related to mental health.
Our grants process is a cohort model, therefore we integrate support, connection, collaboration, and peer-based learning into this grant process.
Follow along @bullcityschools as we share these amazing projects throughout the year.
2024-2025 Funded Projects
Equitable Resources for ESL
Burton IB Magnet Elementary School $2,000
This grant plans to utilize wireless keyboards and headphones with microphone components to improve student learning experiences. The keyboards will help 4th and 5th graders practice typing skills, particularly in preparation for the Access exam, while the wireless headphones will minimize distractions during individual and group work. The headphones' microphone feature will allow ESL students to practice speaking and reading skills, which are essential for their success in the ESL program and general classroom.
Around the Kitchen Table: Celebrating Cultures and Building Community Through Stories and Food
Glenn Elementary School $2,800
This project brings 10-12 families together per session to listen to culturally themed stories and cook traditional foods. After a read-aloud, families will prepare a simple dish and discuss their experiences, sharing similarities and differences with their own cultural foods. The sessions foster community and celebrate diversity through storytelling and food. As a culminating project, a Glenn Community Cookbook will be created, featuring recipes and stories from participants, and distributed to families at no cost.
Bull City Mayor's Veganuary Student Art and Vegan Chef Challenges
Northern High School $1,500
The DPS Arts Challenge and Vegan Chef Challenge will provide students the opportunity to learn about plant-based diets for the month of January, by engaging with information through their creativity, on their terms, and according to their values. In the Arts Challenge, elementary, middle, and high school arts teachers will invite their students to create artwork reflecting one of these four benefits potential of plant-based diets: Health, Sustainability, Animal Welfare, and Feeding a Growing World Population. Winning pieces will be selected by a panel of judges from the Durham Arts Council, and student winners will be honored by the Mayor at City Hall. With the support of Downtown Durham, winners and runners-up will have their artwork hung in local businesses and displayed at a pop-up at the Third Friday Art Walk and Gallery Crawl in January. For the Junior Vegan Chef Challenge, student chefs in the award-winning Culinary Program at Northern High School will put their training and creativity to the test to create delicious, healthy plant-based dishes. These dishes will meet National School Lunch Program nutrition guidelines and earn a place on the school lunch menu.
Cafecito En La Clase - Building Authentic Relationships to Improve EL Attendance At Brogden Middle School
Brogden Middle School $3,000
This grant plans to improve caregiver engagement and student attendance at their school. "Coffee in the Classroom" (“Cafecito En La Clase”) is a monthly event, held on the first Monday, where families are invited to observe student learning in a casual setting. The event includes parent education on attendance and grades, showcases student work, and fosters connections between families and teachers. For those unable to attend, at-home activities will be provided. The goals are to build stronger relationships between the school and families and to implement a teacher-led, data-driven intervention to address student attendance issues.
What Is Architecture?' Workshops
Club Boulevard Elementary, Glenn Elementary & Lakewood Elementary $4,600
The What Is Architecture? Workshops will introduce 435 4th and 5th graders at three elementary schools to architecture through engaging, hands-on activities. The workshops include (1) Presentation by a Design Professional: An architect explains the field and its tools. (2) Discussion and Idea Generation: Students share ideas and think creatively. (3) Hands-on Design Activity: Students build with Lego bricks, write about their designs, and see AI-generated visualizations of their creations. The program enhances STEAM opportunities and promotes creativity and spatial thinking.
VOICE: Visionaries Of Impactful Communication and Expression
Durham School of Technology (DST) $15,000
VOICE is a student-led program designed to provide hands-on experience in digital media, including podcasting, video production, and digital publishing. Through this initiative, students will acquire technical expertise and develop communication skills essential for creating and sharing media content. The funds will purchase the necessary equipment, software, and online tools to support student-driven content creation. VOICE will give students a platform to produce media that reflects their interests and community concerns, fostering creativity and collaborative learning.
Empowering Education Intergenerational Fellowship
Hillside High School $10,000.00
In this fellowship program, high schoolers will complete five training sessions focused on leadership, storytelling, and civic engagement. They are then paired with an older adult from a minority background and a college student mentor in a field of interest. Twice a month, they meet for activities like storytelling and life advice, while following a social-emotional learning curriculum. Fellows also collaborate on a year-long "passion project" designed to create equity-centered positive change in Durham. Throughout the year, Fellows write reflective blog posts, receive pro bono college counseling, and meet regularly with the Fellowship Director for guidance.
Valle Esperanza
Hope Valley Elementary School $2,000
The "Valle Esperanza" project, is an expansion of the existing Latino Parent Group and aims to strengthen the connection between Latinx students, families, and the school community. Partnering with El Centro Hispano, the project will provide in-house tutoring, with funds supporting materials, snacks, and scholarships for those in need. The initiative promotes literacy, culture, and the arts through quarterly events: a Little Red Riding Hood play in Q1, literacy promotion and family food baskets in Q2, a school mural and rock painting in Q3, and an end-of-year celebration with a soccer tournament in Q4. Parents are encouraged to participate, fostering inclusivity and involvement in their children's education.
Piedmont Wildlife Center Montessori Programming
Morehead Montessori Elementary School $10,000
This grant is in partnership with The Piedmont Wildlife Center, to develop Montessori-inspired afterschool programming for DPS Montessori elementary schools. This nature-based program will promote students' well-being by providing a relaxed, hands-on learning environment aligned with Montessori principles. The initiative will foster holistic development, environmental stewardship, and personal growth, supporting Morehead Montessori’s mission to inspire lifelong learners and compassionate leaders. Through dynamic, experiential learning, this program will cultivate curious, confident, and compassionate individuals, grounded in the Montessori philosophy.
Young Cooks Society
Rogers Herr Middle School and DPS School Nutrition $15,000
This grant is a Three-tiered culinary education program addressing childhood obesity, food insecurity, and health inequities in underserved communities. The program empowers youth with practical culinary skills, nutritional knowledge, and food system awareness. A key component of the Young Cooks Society's outreach and engagement strategy is designed to introduce culinary education to a broader student population across Durham Public Schools (DPS). These sessions serve as a "taste" of the comprehensive program, aiming to spark interest in cooking and nutrition among students who might not otherwise have access to such education. Young Cooks Society not only teaches valuable life skills but also nurtures future leaders in the fight for food equity and justice.
Jumpstart Reading Program
Sherwood Githens Middle School $6,000.00
This project hopes to address significant literacy gaps that have grown over the years due to COVID-19 and an increase in English Language Learners (ELLs). The school plans to develop a sustainable intervention program focusing on decoding and comprehension strategies tailored to students' current levels. This program will use phonics materials, targeted comprehension lessons, online applications, and teacher professional development to improve literacy and support students in accessing content classes effectively. Community partners will be utilized by seeking book donations from Book Harvest, utilizing reading pathways and challenges from Durham Public Libraries, and training Refugee Resettlement partners to provide one-on-one tutoring for low readers. Additionally, designated teachers will attend Science of Reading training at the Hill Center to enhance their skills.
DPS Middle School Science Olympiad Team
James E. Shepard Magnet Middle School, Brogden Middle School, Lucas Middle School, Carrington Middle School, Durham School of the Arts, & School for Creative Studies $6,000.00
This grant plans to bring the Science Olympiad program to 20 underrepresented middle school students from Brogden, Carrington, Lucas, DSA, Shepard, and SCS within Durham Public Schools. The goal is to develop a district-wide Science Olympiad team that practices bi-weekly, guided by coaches, assistant coaches, and high school volunteers. The students will compete in the regional Science Olympiad tournament on March 1, 2025. This initiative also includes collaboration and mentorship from high school students at the City of Medicine Academy. The program will foster curiosity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, benefiting students academically and beyond.
ENABLE | Enabling opportunities through STEM
Riverside High School & Durham School of the Arts $3,000.00
ENABLE aims to boost STEM engagement among historically marginalized communities, focusing on Hispanic, AAPI, and low-income groups. Serving students in grades 6-12, the program hosts community events, partners with minority education nonprofits, sponsors student STEM projects, and encourages higher education. Funds will support these initiatives, including organizing STEM events, inviting guest speakers, partnering with robotics teams, and providing personal guidance. ENABLE seeks to enhance minority representation in STEM within the DPS community, promoting fairness, equity, and diversity.
Elevating the Needs of Beginning Teachers Seeking Alternative Pathways to Teaching
All DPS Schools $5,000.00
This project is a district-wide initiative to support Beginning Teachers who start throughout the school year. This will allow them to have an intensive onboarding process before jumping into schools. This project consists of a multi-session series in which newly hired ALs attend an in-person session before their start date and virtual follow-up sessions. Each session is focused on specific topics that will address pedagogical needs/gaps, enhance teaching practices, and provide practical strategies and tools for use in increasing teacher functionality, confidence, and student outcomes.