The focus of this project was to support literacy growth for all students learning a second language at Glacier Point Middle School Library and other libraries in the district through the purchase of high-interest books in Vietnamese, Arabic, Punjabi, and French. Each year, more students enter school with a native language other than English, and this project supports the belief that literacy development should begin in a student’s primary language.

Students used their imagination and creativity to design their own Buddy Pillows, with their drawings sent to Budsies where each creation was transformed into a personalized plush companion. Each day, students wrote about adventures with their Budsies in their morning journals, with some developing ongoing stories about imaginary planets and interactions between characters. Through this process, students developed a strong love for writing and eagerly shared their stories with classmates each week.

The Morning Miles program successfully engaged students and families in regular physical activity while promoting healthy habits, goal setting, and overall well-being. Through weekly walking, jogging, and running sessions, students developed perseverance, confidence, and teamwork skills in a positive and supportive environment. They strengthened social connections, celebrated personal growth, and built a greater appreciation for an active lifestyle.

This project helped create a classroom at Lincoln Elementary in the Kings Canyon Unified School District where all students felt seen, valued, and represented. Multicultural and bilingual books were made available in the classroom library so students could see their languages, cultures, and experiences reflected in what they read.

Cup o’ Java was a classroom-based coffee business developed with extensive student involvement across nearly every aspect of operation. Students participated in marketing research, determined operating hours, designed advertising and a logo, and helped create an accessible prep area, along with developing the menu, researching pricing, and defining job roles.

The Tutoring Totes project provided 31 high school peer mentors from 3 separate high schools with ready-to-use totes filled with academic, artistic and social-emotional learning resources to support elementary school mentees. By equipping mentors with high-quality materials, the program strengthened tutoring sessions, improved student engagement and academic confidence, and promoted literacy, math skills, and positive social-emotional growth.

Through the support of the Innovation Grant, the Link Crew program purchased custom, student-designed T-shirts for all 47 Link Crew leaders. These shirts created a strong visual identity of leadership and unity while helping incoming freshmen easily identify peer mentors throughout the school year. Leaders wore the shirts during Freshman Orientation, campus tours, registration, and other school-wide events designed to support ninth-grade students.

The Chicken Coop project at Tranquility High School has successfully progressed to egg production, generating strong interest and growing demand from community members. Students have gained valuable hands-on experience in animal care, agricultural practices, and the responsibilities involved in managing a sustainable project.

The Kingsburg High School Fishing Club provided students with an innovative opportunity to engage in fishing as both a sport and a wellness activity. Led by Assistant Principal Eric Rodriguez, the club helped students build connections with nature while developing patience, discipline, and positive peer relationships. Through fishing, students practiced Social-Emotional Learning skills such as stress management, mindfulness, and resilience in a natural outdoor setting.

With the generous support of the Innovation Grant, Mendota Junior High School successfully transformed its campus garden into a dynamic, hands-on living laboratory. The project modernized the agricultural space by upgrading infrastructure, establishing a resilient irrigation system, and creating a safe, productive environment for year-round cultivation.

The Innovation Grant supported the implementation of class sets of pedometers for students in grades 3–8, which were integrated into recess, physical education, and mathematics instruction. Students collected real-world step data that teachers used during math lessons to support the new mathematics framework and its focus on authentic, local data. The grant also provided dedicated collaboration time for staff to design engaging, standards-aligned lessons using student-generated data.

At Ronald Reagan Elementary, the Innovation Grant supported a schoolwide bullying prevention initiative focused on bringing students, families, and the community together to promote kindness and raise awareness about the impact of bullying. With grant support, the event expanded by 25% compared to the previous year, allowing the message to reach a larger audience of students and families.