“When you hear the drums coming down the hallway, your heart just starts racing,” explained Kristina Salonen, Mineola Primary School instructional coach for pre-K through third grade. Salonen was describing the surprise notifications which wound their way through the halls of the school last Friday.    

Accompanied by a drumline, confetti and noisemakers, members of the Mineola Education Foundation awarded $68,000 to fund 26, teacher-inspired, projects. From Sky Ranch scholarships to kinesiology skeletons, the teachers of Mineola Schools were gifted grants for a wide array of improvements, each designed to enhance instruction and experience at Mineola Schools.  

Second grade teacher Brittany McMahon commented, “The support of the local community and the Education Foundation means so much to all the teachers here…. It impacts many, many kids for many years.”

The individual projects are identified and requests submitted early in the school year. Should a project be selected, it is then resourced for installation or use in the next fall semester. 

Martha Holmes, education foundation vice president for programs and grants, explained that the foundation rounds up the number slightly to account for cost increases between the time of application submission and the awarding of the grants. The excess also covers shipping costs.

The end result of the process is something extra – whether that be improved desks or hands-on instructional materials – which each individual teacher can leverage to improve the quality of instruction.

As primary school principal Jole Ray summarized, “The annual foundation grants are an uplifting experience, and it communicates the message that our focus is on every student.”

MEF Grant Checks for 2025

Kristina Salonen and Primary Science Team, $2,000, Supplies for hands-on science activities

Kristina Salonen and Primary Reading Team, $5,436, Decodable readers

Stephanie Griffin, $209, Multisensory learning items 

Sheila Cash, $1,436, I-pads and accessories

Hannah Davis and Primary Campus, $6,000, Outdodor learning area materials and construction

Alison Dusek and Primary Campus, $3,000, Furniture and accessories for learning area

Aaron Cavitt and High School Team, $5,996, Cinematic drone

Aaron Cavitt and High School Team, $6,000, 3D CnC Machine

Josh Burns and 5th Grade Team, $1,500, Sky Ranch scholarships 

Jessica Bryant and 4th Grade Team, $5,231, Pedal desks

Sueanne Bardwell, $1,390, Book Sets

Melissa Snook and Primary Campus, $2,409, Xylophones and Note Knacks

Suann Pullen and 2nd Grade Team, $825, Time Magazine for kids

Jana Nance, $1,486, Whiteboard tables

Paige Clark, $393, Books for adults and children (dyslexia)

Amanda Crone, $1,314, Drunk Buster Goggles

Suann Pullen and 2nd Grade Team, $6,000, Desktop Cruisers

Deborah Armstrong, $1,500, Oculus Quests

Julie Chappa, $224, Hands-on math items

Julie Chappa and HS Math Team, $1,823, Numworks calculators

Kaye Morris and District Technology Team, $2,783, Document cameras

Heather Kinsel and Primary Campus, $4,867, Poster Maker

Deborah Armstrong, $736, Biomedical engineering supplies

Brittany McMahon and 2nd Grade Team, $3,344, Organizing shelves for hands on learning materials

Payton Williams, $1,056, Kinesiology skeleton

Madison Brooks, $450, Owl pellets for dissection