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Fauquier Education Foundation Awards Record $22,151 in Grants to 15 Local Educators

EducationHuman InterestCommunityGeneral News ArticlePress Release

 

Warrenton, VA— The Fauquier Education Foundation (FEF) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Educator Professional Development Grants, marking a historic milestone for the organization. This year’s cycle represents the largest number of awardees and the highest total funding distributed in a single year in the Foundation’s history.

A total of $22,151 was awarded to 14 teachers and one principal across seven Fauquier County Public Schools. These grants empower educators to seek advanced training in literacy, cybersecurity, art, leadership, and more, bringing cutting-edge instructional strategies directly back to local classrooms.

Greenville Elementary’s Gina Denomy, Melissa Scotti, and Lauren Tierney will attend the Innovative Schools Summit in Nashville. They aim to shift the classroom dynamic from “teacher-led” to “student-led” by mastering active engagement models and tech integration.

At Brumfield Elementary, Jess Beach, Sarah Moehl, Ashley Osburn, and Genna Warren are heading to the Ron Clark House Mania Conference in Atlanta. They plan to revitalize the school’s “House System” to foster stronger relationships and improve school-wide behavior and academic performance.

Shawn Morton, principal of Coleman Elementary, will attend the ASCD Annual Conference to focus on student motivation and skill mastery, while Victoria Schell, reading specialist at Miller Elementary, will use her grant for her attendance at the Virginia State Literacy Association’s conference. She was both a presenter and learner, returning with fresh, fun reading resources for her students.

Karla Kolb, Auburn Middle art teacher, also received funds for her participation in the National Art Education Conference, where she was a presenter as well as being named the Southeastern Middle Level Art Educator of the Year. In addition, Cary Poe, ITRT at Marshall Middle, will travel to CYBER.ORG EdCon 2026 to deepen her expertise in K-12 cybersecurity and digital safety.

Four Fauquier High School educators received funding for diverse initiatives:
  • Michelle Green (ITRT) will attend the VSTE Annual Conference to focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and inclusive instruction.
  • Jon Kraut (Environmental Studies Academy) will participate in the “Becoming an Outdoor Teacher” program to better connect classroom content with local natural resources.
  • Johanna Scott and Mikaela Stinson (counselors) will attend the Virginia School Counselor Association’s conference to enhance mental health and academic support programs.
“By investing in our educators, we are investing in the future of every student they reach,” said FEF Executive Director Nancy Griffin-Bonnaire. “This record-breaking year reflects both the incredible drive of our teachers to grow and the unwavering support of our community.”

The Fauquier Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to initiating, magnifying, and sustaining unique educational opportunities within Fauquier County Public Schools. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible as allowed by law. To support local educators or learn more, visit fauquiereducationfoundation.org.
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Fauquier Education Foundation Awards Record $22,151 in Grants to 15 Local Educators