Teachers of children with disabilities have the best insight into methods that succeed in helping children learn. Often, funds are not available from regulated tax dollars to support enhanced programs, and teachers find themselves trying to purchase materials themselves or foregoing programs that are too costly. Special Education Foundation has stepped in since 2002 to help where tax dollars stop. For the 2021-2022 school year, the Foundation supported 59 programs totaling $53,818.07. Twenty-five of those programs, totaling $22,875, were awarded for the previous year, but were unable to be delivered due to Covid-19 and were carried over to the new school year. Click here to apply.
Programs that are innovative and can be duplicated in additional venues are favored in the screening process. Books and equipment that should be available through public funds are not funded; neither is transportation or staff development. Teachers should report results the following year to the Foundation board of directors.
Check our applications page for deadlines to submit applications and feedback. Providing feedback is strongly encouraged for those wishing to reapply. For more information or for help with the online applications, please contact the Foundation at info@sef-stl.org.
For brief abstracts of the following programs, click here.
Thomas Bamvakais
SSD, VSP
VA Medical Center
Picnic in the Park
Thomas Bamvakais
SSD, VSP
VA Medical Center
Manners Matter!
Emily Beger
Ferguson-Florissant
Duchesne
Multi-modal Tools for Teaching and Learning
Emily Beger
Ferguson-Florissant
Duchesne
Flexible Seating
Patty Benner and Christina Allen
SSD
Litzsinger
Stewards of the Earth II
Patricia Billeau and Barb Raney
SSD
Northview
Common Connections: Bringing ELA Instructions to Life Through Live Theatre
Patricia Billeau and Barb Raney
SSD
Northview
Inclusive Live Theatre (Meeting and Exceeding IEP Goals Through Live Theatre)
Ellen Birch
SSD
Ackerman
Circle of Friends Field Day
Ellen Birch and Jason Betancourt
SSD
Ackerman
Let’s Make Gingerbread Houses
Kimberly Brandt
Hazelwood
Russell
Stock up for Success
Erin Capoccia
SSD Countywide
Early Childhood Special Education Program
Early Childhood Basic Needs Grant
Daniele Cerone-Griffin
SSD
Litzsinger
Enhancing Learning Connections Through Core Word Communication
Victoria Cicotte
SSD
Ackerman
Learning with Loved Ones
Mamie Clark
SSD
Ackerman
Unity Day at Ackerman School
Julie David
SSD, VSP
Lunch Bunch
Maura Edington
Parkway
McKelvey Primary
Outdoor Nature Learning
Elizabeth Engelmeyer
SSD
Ackerman
Quilting with a Purpose
Elizabeth Engelmeyer
SSD
Ackerman
Derby Day
Molly Raines Evans
SSD
Litzsinger
Learning with Our Hands: A 3D Approach to Literacy and Math Instruction for Visually Impaired Students
Connie Fiore and Karlan Bishop
Parkway
McKelvey Primary
ECSE Baby Doll Circle Time: Conscious Discipline
Alicia Firman
Hazelwood
Brown Elementary
DHH Trauma Yoga for Elementary Students
Alicia Firman
Hazelwood
Hazelwood Central High School
Teens Cooking Academy – Learning the Basics in the Kitchen for Independent Living
Rachel Gill and Angela Aromando
Hazelwood
Brown Elementary
DHH Mentoring Program
Rachel Gill, Amanda Howell and Lauren Walls
Hazelwood
Brown Elementary
DHH Social Butterflies
Katherine Hartson
SSD
Northview
Student-led Character Education
Julie Harter
Riverview Gardens
Michelle Obama Early Childhood Academic Center
Conscious Discipline: Building Resiliency in Young Learners
Steve Headrick
Webster Groves
Webster Groves High School
Sitting in Style
Ann Hiebert
Ferguson-Florissant
Duchesne
Books for All: Promoting Access to High-interest Reading Materials for Students of All Abilities
Carrie Klein and Tatianna Ware
SSD, VSP
VSP Family Night Out
Tracy Kroenlein
Lindbergh
Lindbergh Early Childhood Center
Fruit of the Month Club
Sarah Kroeschel
SSD, VSP
Spring Fling
Sarah Lehman
SSD
South Early Childhood Special Education Programs
Early Childhood Special Education Project Hope Holiday Assistance
Jessica Little and Rachel Lute
Ritenour
Marvin Elementary
Full STEAM Ahead! Engaging Imagination and Academics Through Kinesthetic STEAM Opportunities on Osmo
Jessica Little, Rachel Lute and Jodie Gordon-Bertish
Ritenour
Marvin Elementary
Building Independence in Self-care Skills for Elementary Students – Year 2
Meg Lovera
SSD Countywide
Social Work
SEF-SSD Care Closets – Kids Helping Kids
Erin Madden
SSD
Litzsinger
Restorative Mindfulness and Yoga
Jayne Mansfield and Lori Guess
SSD
Northview
Expanding Job Skills for Post Graduation Vocational Opportunities
Janet Matthew
SSD
Litzsinger
Boo Bash
Garrick Mueller
Normandy School Collaborative
Lucas Crossing Complex
Technology Center
Andrew Nardi
Kirkwood
Kirkwood High School
The Pioneer FLASH (Fitness, Learners, Active, Social, Healthy)
Alana Powers
Valley Park
Valley Park High School
Uke Club!
Beckie Rainbolt and Deanna Wright-Coffman
Affton
Rogers Middle School
Garden of Growth
Matt Reyes
SSD
Ackerman
Disc Golf Tournament
Matt Reyes
SSD
Ackerman
Fun in the Sun
Sarah Romanowski
Clayton
Clayton High School
This Year I Will Love the Work in Progress that Is ME!
Kara Rose
Lindbergh
Lindbergh Early Childhood – West
Accessible Tech for Awesome TOTS
Kara Rose and Jessica King
Lindbergh
Lindbergh Early Childhood – West
Healthy Snacks for Healthy Kids
Kara Rose
Lindbergh
Lindbergh Early Childhood – West
Innovative iPad for Independent Kids
Catherine Schweitzer
Ferguson-Florissant
Duchesne
Cooperative Games for Teaching Social Skills
Ginny Scognamiglio
SSD
Litzsinger
Getting Cozy with Core
Angela Slape
SSD
Litzsinger
Litzsinger Green Paws Garden Club
Samantha Snarzyk
SSD
North County
An iPad for an Itinerant
Kerrie Townsend
SSD
South Technical High School
Special Olympics
Debbie Tuitasi and Abby Heiland
SSD
Litzsinger
Healthy Kids = Successful Kids
Lauren Walls
Hazelwood
Brown Elementary
Learning Language in a Winter Wonderland
Tatianna Ware and Carrie Klein
SSD, VSP
Meet and Greet Vocational Skills Family Night
Amanda Williams
SSD
Northview
Northviewopoly Game
Cassie Williams
Webster Groves
Webster Groves High School
Green Thumb Gardeners
Alyssa Yakimov
Ritenour
Ritenour High School
Cooking in the Classroom
