Past Grant Recipients
The Apex Public School Foundation awarded teacher grants to support innovative and creative educational programs, technology, and equipment in Apex-area Wake County Public Schools.
The 2026 grant cycle reflected the dedication, collaboration, and innovation represented in applications from across Apex-area schools.
2026 Grant Recipients
$30,195
Total Awarded
16
Grants Awarded
13
Schools Impacted
8,022
Students Impacted
| Grant Title | School | Teacher(s) | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhancing Gifted Math Education through a VEX Robotics Math Elective 2026 Karen Sinders Memorial APSF Teacher Grant RecipientIncorporates VEX IQ robotics materials in math AIG elective to provide additional engaging, hands-on STEM challenges that deepen mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and engineering design skills. |
Lufkin Road Middle | Heidi Oxendine | $2,500.00 |
| Collaborative and Creative Outdoor Learning Space 2026 Thomas P. Haynie Memorial APSF Teacher GrantThis project involves the design and construction of an outdoor creative learning space that will serve as a collaborative environment for students across multiple disciplines. The space will be designed and built by CTE Construction Core students, transforming an underutilized area into a functional outdoor classroom and art studio with seating, tables, benches, and planter boxes. OCS and Visual Art students will help beautify and enrich the space over time. |
Middle Creek High | Ashley Peay-Bettini, Douglas Juris | $2,500.00 |
| Rain or Shine, We've Got You Covered! 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientThis project supports the work of the Student Safety Patrol team by ensuring they can continue to serve their peers effectively in all weather conditions. |
West Lake Elementary | Kimberly Hefelfinger | $1,096.26 |
| School Specialist Star Spots/Calm Corners 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientThe project equips the art and music classrooms with Calm Corners containing evidence-based sensory tools. These spaces support emotional regulation, performance anxiety, and sensory needs so students can return to instruction more effectively. |
Apex Friendship Elementary | Jenni Sonstroem, Erin McConnell | $2,400.00 |
| Gardening, Composting, and Recycling 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientThis project engages special education students and their peer partners in a composting and gardening project for hands-on learning experiences about sustaining the environment. |
West Lake Middle | Mimi Blackwelder | $874.59 |
| Zen Den - A Mental Wellness Space for Students in Need 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientEstablishes a sensory-friendly Zen Den where students can decompress and regulate emotions in a quiet, safe, supervised setting. The goal is to promote mental wellness, reduce stress, and help students return to their classrooms ready to engage and succeed. |
Felton Grove High | Kathy Hines, Jennifer Larsen-Neumann | $500.00 |
| Everyday Innovators: Hands-On STEM with Makey Makey 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientProvides Makey Makey kits for hands-on STEM learning, encouraging coding, design thinking, and creative expression. Kits will be integrated across science, math, art, music, English, CTE, and special education. |
Middle Creek High | Alison DiOrio, Laurel Sumner | $1,600.00 |
| Inquiry Labs and Activities in Forensic Science 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientProvides equipment to complete PCR and electrophoresis processes during inquiry labs and activities in Forensic Science class. Students will learn about entomology, forensic botany, and DNA fingerprinting techniques. |
Apex Friendship High | Nancy Cattrell | $2,286.38 |
| Light the World with Literacy 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientEstablishes an annual International Literacy Week program aimed at promoting literacy and enriching the curriculum for students. |
Pleasant Plains Elementary | Angela Ranous, Gina Winemiller | $2,500.00 |
| Reading the World: Building Bridges Through Diverse Books 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientExpands 3rd grade classroom libraries with high-quality, culturally responsive books that reflect the diversity of students and the world around them. The project aims to cultivate empathy, curiosity, and critical thinking in young readers. |
Olive Chapel Elementary | Camille Riedinger | $2,064.22 |
| Sensory Success 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientProvides flexible seating and sensory tools to support self-regulation and engagement for students with sensory and attention needs. |
Laurel Park Elementary | Alison Wynn | $812.75 |
| Family Science Festival 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientA large Family Science Festival featuring STEM activities and hands-on experiments designed to engage students and encourage families to explore science together. |
Apex Elementary | Jill Shea, Michelle McDaniel | $2,250.00 |
| Increasing Student Voice Using Makey Makey Designs 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientThis project provides Makey Makey kits to support second grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade students with giving voice to presentations of their learning. |
Salem Elementary | Brandon Mize | $2,126.32 |
| Cougars for Literacy: The BFF (Books for Families) Program 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientProvides themed book bundles for families to check out and use at home, strengthening at-home literacy practice and home-school connections. |
Apex Elementary | Hannah Wilson | $1,816.00 |
| Orff Ensembles in the Elementary Music Classroom 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientExpands the inventory of barred Orff instruments so more students can practice ensemble music-making, improving coordination, literacy, musicianship, engagement, and collaboration. |
Laurel Park Elementary | Mary-Elizabeth Thompson | $2,406.76 |
| Vertical Learning Instructional Tool 2026 APSF Teacher Grant RecipientThis project provides teachers across the school with reusable vertical learning surfaces to support the instructional model described in Building Thinking Classrooms. Vertical learning boosts student engagement, collaboration, and reasoning by allowing students to work in teams on non-permanent surfaces. |
Scotts Ridge Elementary | Courtney Beickert | $2,461.92 |