Excitement filled classrooms across the district as the Poudre School District Foundation recently visited schools to celebrate staff selected as Ignite Grant recipients.
These grants, formerly Impact Grants, provide up to $2,000 in funding for innovative projects focused on literacy; mental health and belonging; workforce readiness; and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Whether sparking student curiosity or expanding opportunities, Ignite Grants continue the PSD Foundation's tradition of empowering educators with the resources to foster creativity, innovation, and access.
This year, the PSD Foundation awarded a total of nearly $28,000 in grant funding to these schools:
Bauder Elementary School - Bauder's Encore Program
With funding from the Ignite Grant Maribeth Ragle received, Bauder's Encore and School Counseling teams will provide kindergarten to fifth-grade students with age-appropriate tools and learning opportunities related to mental health. Integrated into Encore rotations (art, music, P.E., technology, and library), these lessons will address mental health in a fun way related to each subject.
Cache La Poudre Middle School - Calm Corners
Christi Bramwell and a cohort of teachers at CLPM are piloting a program of trauma-informed practices, and the grant funding will go toward materials to create Calm Corners. These spaces will support students' sensory needs, helping them regulate emotions and feel safer, which can improve their mental health, sense of belonging, and more.
Early Childhood Education - Social Emotional Library
Melissa Kimball and Cheryl Refuerzo received an Ignite Grant to support a Social Emotional Library project, which provides classroom staff with a research-backed program that fosters students' social and emotional growth while helping students, families, and staff create a resilient, supportive learning environment. This project equips staff with tools to address classroom-wide and individual needs by prioritizing mental health, well-being, and belonging.
Fort Collins High School - Black Box Theater Sound Console
Performing Arts teacher Jason Tyler will be able to expand opportunities for students with this Ignite Grant and sound console for Fort Collins High School's Black Box Theater. The Performing Arts program at FCHS helps support many students by supporting their mental health, sense of belonging, personal expression, and now Career Techincal Education and Concurrent Enrollment classes with the opportunity to learn and grow with industry-standard equipment.
Fossil Ridge High School - Graphic Novels Class
Thanks to the Ignite Grant Katie Rude received, a graphic novels class will start at Fossil Ridge next year. This class will offer English credit and focus on graphic novels to help students, including multilingual learners and those with disabilities, access rich literary experiences. The graphic novels selected will allow students to relate to the content or expand their worldview, creating opportunities for connection and engagement.
Fossil Ridge High School - Ironworking Class Tools
The Ignite Grant will help teacher Herb Beaven expand tooling options for their Kaka Ironworker and provide more opportunities for students to increase their knowledge of the ironworker and skillset in metal fabrication. Expanding tooling options will directly support the learning opportunities for all students taking classes in Fossil Ridge's manufacturing program.
Integrated Services - Special Olympics Track and Field Day
With the grant Erin Coy received, a committee of PSD staff will organize the first annual Elementary Track and Field Event in partnership with Special Olympics for students with and without disabilities. All elementary schools will be invited to participate, and this event will support the mental health and belonging of students with disabilities in PSD while supporting our vision of inclusion for all students.
Irish Elementary School - Equitable Science Fair
Irish Elementary has revamped its science fair to create a more equitable student experience. This year, David Peachtree received an Ignite Grant, which has allowed the event to continue improving annually and provide students with this valuable opportunity.
Laurel Elementary School - EL Books
At Laurel Elementary, Katie Lane's project will support approximately 35 students with language-based learning disabilities. Students will receive small-group instruction focused on vocabulary, academic language structures, and therapy goals by integrating texts from the Imagine Learning EL Education curriculum into speech and language therapy sessions. Use of these texts during speech and language therapy sessions will support students' access to general education texts.
Lesher Middle School, Poudre High School, and Rocky Mountain High School - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Resilience groups
Natala Paroz and Heidi Thompson received a grant to establish Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Resilience groups at Lesher Middle School, Poudre High School, and Rocky Mountain High School. The groups will teach students how to manage difficult emotions by building distress tolerance, practicing mindfulness, enhancing emotional regulation, and improving interpersonal skills to foster stronger relationships and a greater sense of belonging.
Lesher Middle School - Spanish Language Library
Melissa Olson received an Ignite Grant to enhance the Spanish Language & Literacy course by creating a Spanish Language Library, offering a variety of books to inspire a love of reading in Spanish. These resources support heritage Spanish speakers in developing their literacy skills. For many students, this course is their primary opportunity to explore the Spanish language through reading.
Lincoln Middle School - STEM Technology Access
Stephanie Newhouse received an Ignite Grant to increase STEM technology opportunities, inspiring students to gain skills, access high school certification and pathway programs, and graduate with options.
Lopez Elementary School - Decodable Books
Justin Hausmann received an Ignite Grant to enhance Lopez's shared skills library with books. These books will reinforce key reading skills and offer multiple options that may align more with students' interests as they work on specific skills.
Lopez Elementary School - Respite Care Luncheon
At Lopez Elementary School, Hollie Johnson received a grant for the annual Hearts for Respite Care Luncheon, a project where fourth-grade students create and staff a restaurant using community donations to raise funds for sending children with special needs to Wilderness Camp. In preparing for the luncheon, students develop various skills by researching the local nonprofit Respite Care of Larimer County, contacting local businesses for donations, and writing invitations to families, teachers, and community members.
Poudre Community Academy - Warrior Brew Coffee Shop
Emily Breese received this grant to expand Warrior Brew, a student-run coffee shop in PSD's transportation building, and provide hands-on work-based learning experiences for nearly double the number of students. These students will gain valuable skills like customer service, teamwork, and operational management, enhancing their readiness for future employment and empowering them with real-world experiences in a supportive setting.
Poudre High School - Scientific Literature Library
Science teacher Laura Lenczycki received a grant to start a scientific literature library at Poudre High School. The ninth-grade biology teacher team hopes to increase scientific literacy by structuring lessons around these texts and incorporating many writing styles into science classes.
Rocky Mountain High School - Rocky Geometry in Construction
Math teacher Lucas Burge received an Ignite Grant to support Rocky Mountain High School's new Geometry in Construction class, starting in the 2025-26 school year. The course integrates math and construction skills, enabling students to build sheds, greenhouses, playhouses, and homes as part of a service-learning project. These experiences prepare students with the skills in the construction industry to start at an entry-level position.
Student Services Mental Health Team - Journey Program
Katy Courtway received a grant to help expand in-person support hours for students in the PSD Journey Program. Students who have been expelled and chose to enroll in PSD's Journey Program can receive at most six hours per week of in-person academic and social-emotional support at the Teen Activity Center (TAC) in Fort Collins. This project would increase the number of in-person hours available to students at the TAC.
The PSD Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit who focuses on strengthening community relationships and inspiring investments in Poudre School District. Learn more about the PSD Foundation.>>