The Bedford Education Foundation (BEF) is proud to announce the funding of six grants in our November 2014 grant cycle. Congratulations to all of our grant recipients! To date, the BEF has funded $140,000 towards creative and innovative projects and materials in the Bedford Public Schools.

At Davis School, first grade teacher Mrs. Jill Beers was awarded a $2,500 grant for a classroom set of 25 Hokki stools. The HOKKI is an ergonomic stool with a convex base that allows movement – rocking, twisting and turning – which increases students’ attention spans and concentration.

At Lane School, Special Education teachers Elizabeth Larrabee and Christine Shaw were awarded a $3,400 grant for 14 Forte portable word processors to replace outdated AlphaSmarts. The Forte is an assistive technology tool to help students who have difficulty with the writing process. The Forte is loaded with programs and features designed by teachers and specialists specifically to assist and support student writing.

Lane School Technology Integration Specialist Matt Hall was awarded a $1200 grant for
20 Sphero robotic balls and educational packs. A Sphero connects wirelessly and can carry out orders more than 50 feet away from the iPad used to control it.

At JGMS, English teacher Kelsey Little was awarded a $245 grant to create a comfy
reading lounge in her 8^th grade classroom as a way to encourage reluctant readers.

JGMS teacher Libbey Beinert Hunnewell was awarded a $200 grant for Project Adventure books and games. In addition to using these resources in her own life skills classes, she plans to share these resources with all of JGMS’s teachers with the goal of incorporating Project Adventure activities and experiential learning aspects into every classroom at JGMS.

Bedford High School Robotics and Tech Ed. Teacher John O’Connor was awarded a $620 grant for an ION Air Pro Camera and equipment to mount the camera to the robots that the classes build. His students will be able to see what their robots “see” and use the video in reports of the robots’ performance in different challenges.