Spark Grants

Spark Grants Back Teachers’ Great Ideas

Teachers dream. We ignite the spark that makes those ideas a reality. Spark Grants offer a unique way to back new ideas within our district. By working directly with educators and staff, we can be nimble in support of new approaches and set in motion exciting new learning opportunities that engage, enhance, and energize students and staff.

We rely on great proposals from Hopkins teachers and staff to enable us to make a difference in Hopkins Public Schools. And we want yours to be successful.

Applications for spring grants are closed.

“The gift of an HEF grant, as a teacher trying to serve 300 students, allows me to do more and serve more students. It is also empowering knowing that part of the greater Hopkins community believes in the work that I am doing and wants to support it. I have received several HEF Spark grants and with each one I am able to serve a specific population of students to a greater degree and it directly impacts the depth and growth of all students in my program.”
— Nora Tycast, Hopkins High School band teacher

Past Spark Grants

Join us in celebrating our past Spark Grant recipients. Teachers, take inspiration from these past grants and learn what kind of projects you might be able to bring to your classroom. Application information and due dates can be found here.

Spring 2025 Grants - $20,400

  • Sustainable 3D Printing through Recycling - $7,500

    North Middle School eighth graders can learn about sustainable energy systems through hands-on projects where they design and test models created with a 3D printer. Up to now, the class was sending their failed water wheels and turbine blades off-site to be recycled for a fee. With this grant to fund an in-house filament recycler, NMS will reduce its eco footprint and costs, as well as become a 3D recycling nexus for the district.

    North Middle School – Patrick Gallivan

  • Royals Test Prep Academy - $10,000

    HHS is committed to setting students up for a lifetime of learning by improving ACT college admission test scores. This will help more students get into the college of their choice and qualify for scholarships. Building on the success of HHS’s test prep academy for 11th graders, this grant will expand the program to include 9th and 10th graders. By integrating ACT prep early, HHS is setting high expectations and equipping scholars with the tools to meet them, as well as teaching them the value of consistent study skills.

    Hopkins High School – Dr. Michelle Kuhl

  • Cutting Boards for Health Code Compliance - $700

    There’s more to culinary training than learning how to cook. There’s also health code compliance. Now, students in HHS’s culinary program will have industry-standard color-coded cutting boards to help them learn the ins and outs of avoiding cross contamination in the kitchen. This will also allow the students to cook for ticketed events and stage a mock restaurant as part of their hospitality education. 

    Hopkins High School – Jennifer Brandabur

  • Orchestra Music by Women & Underrepresented Composers - $500

    The world of orchestral music is dominated by white male composers. In addition to teaching classics like Beethoven, there’s a value in diversifying the kinds of music students play. Works by women and composers of color are becoming readily available as music publishers respond to popular demand. HHS’s orchestra will use this grant to purchase 7-8 such pieces, enriching the program with a broader range of music. [Award presented during school trip to Cuba!]

    Hopkins High School – Alison Swiggum

  • Chinese Immersion Implementation Support - $1,500

    Eisenhower Elementary is transitioning into an International Baccalaureate school, including the XinXing Chinese immersion academy. The catch? Materials that go with the IB curriculum are in English. XinXing teachers will use this grant to partner with a third party to produce high quality materials in Chinese, authored by native speakers. This will foster bilingual fluency, and global citizenship. 

    XinXing Eisenhower Elementary School –Lin Niu, Yuqi Li, and Rong Zhan

  • Physical and Social Skills for Special Education Students - $200

    Hopkins’ Transition Plus program helps special education students launch into life after high school, focusing on physical, social, and emotional development. This grant will fund recreational equipment suited for people who may struggle with fine motor skills or have limited mobility. Through games like giant Jenga, corn-hole, and oversized Connect Four, students will build social skills and confidence. 

    Transition Plus – Kathy Causton