Supporting Educational Initiatives
Innovative Project Grants
On Friday, September 26th, BEF’s annual Paws Patrol celebration made the rounds to Baldwin schools! For the 2025-2026 school year, BEF’s flagship Innovative Project Grant program has awarded 45 grants totaling $37,005.67 in funding for learning opportunities resulting in excellence, innovation, and belonging for students Pre-K through 12th!
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*PRIMARY CENTER PROJECT WINNER
Ready Bodies Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child
KARA ROLAND, DR. REAGAN DODD
*INTERMEDIATE CENTER PROJECT WINNER
Crunching Into Creativity: The Michael Albert Cerealism Project
MICHELLE HARRIS
*JUNIOR HIGH PROJECT WINNER
Echoes of the Past: Bridging Generations and Communities Through Student-Created Historical Museum Exhibits
DR. RANDI DALTON
*HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT WINNER
Alebrijes: A Cultural Collaboration between Art and Spanish
KATIE MARTEN, BERENICE APPLEGATE, BECKY WEAVER
Artists in the Classroom, Monthly Residency Program
JACKIE HOSTETLER
Bringing it All Together: Culminating Activities Through Community Collaboration
ERIN SCOTT, KRISTEN SCHNEIDER, SARAH HARRIS, AMY ANDERSON, SHANAYE MCBRIDE, ERIK BAILEY
Building Math Fluency through Online Games
RYAN COX
Building Strong Writers, One Sentence at a Time
CASEY WRIGHT
Community Based Learning and Application
BARI DEARDORFF
Completing the Circuit with Coding
AMANDA VOTH
Composing an Original: Working with a Local Composer to Debut an Original at State Choir! KATRINA JACOBSEN
Cook Around the World by WorldStrides
CAYLEE TANNAHILL
DeltaMath: A Tool for Student Success
THOMAS BROXTERMAN
Dish it Up! BECCA TODD
Eighth Grade Campout
CRYSTAL ENGEMANN
Empowered Spaces
JENNIFER LEWIS
Empowering 2nd Graders Through Independent Learning
ERIKA BENCH
Enhance the Experience: Building Stronger CDE Teams for Baldwin FFA
MACY HERRENBRUCK
Enhanced Physical Education Equipment
EMILY GREEN
Expanding Minds Through Advanced Reading
BAILEE BONES
Expanding the Robotics Class at BHS
JIM ASCHCRAFT
From Whiteboard to Wipebook: Rethinking Classroom Learning
ERIN SCOTT
Girls Night In
KASEY BOSSARD, CARLEE HOLLOWAY
Girls Night Out
CYDNEY NOVOTNEY, AUTUMN WEISS
Jazz Band BHS Performance Trip
STUART O’NEIL
Kindergarten Science Trip
BECCA TODD, CYBILL COATES, MEGAN DELATORRE, FAYTH LANGE, ANESSA PARKS
Learning Math Means Making Mistakes
LORI LAMPE
Lifelong Healthy Foundational Fitness
JON COLLUM
Light Up The Scene- New Tech For Studio 110
CAITLIN BEETS
Little Taste Testers with Amazing Communication Skills
STEPHANIE SODEN
Lizard Lounge: Mindful Moments Together
ANDIE KNOWLES
New Discoveries—BJHS Field Trip Club
ERIK BAILEY, SARAH JOHNSON
Outfitting the Old to Make it New!
KELLI HAEFFNER
PC Sensory Room
KYLIE FISCHER, KAYLYN STOUT
Playful Pathways to Reading and Math
CATHERINE MAXON
Preschool Backpacks
GINA DEARING
Project S&C Upkeep
JESSE AUSTIN
Rockin’ Readers
JILL BOYLE
Rolling into Math and Science: Hands-On Learning with Sphero Robots
JEREMY DALTON, RANDI DALTON
Sand Casting and Metal Enameling
BECKY WEAVER
Tools for Teaching Reading
DARCI LISHER
Treasure Map to Your Interests
WENDY SWARTZ
Watch us Grow! School Garden
JILL BOYLE
Weight Room Fridge
DAYTON VALENTINE
Wonderful Wonderbooks
TAMARA LAMB
Your dollars in action IN THE CLASSROOM! Innovative Project Grant celebration video: "Pawz Patrol", created by Mr. Matt McCune’s Studio 110 Media Class, led by BEF STEP Ambassador, Sam Rodden.
Impact Report
Fall 2024 Outreach
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A record $38,451.00 given in the 1st quarter for a total of 48 Innovative Project Grants for PreK through 12th!
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$8,000 gifted through the building excellence program
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First time participation in Douglas County Community Foundation's December Giving for Good campaign, resulting in $12,270.00 generated for BEF through gifts to our Innovative Project Grant fund and to BEF's endowment fund!
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Other Outreach: Sponsorship of 348 Employee of the Month and Kansas Teacher of the Year programs.
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NEW INITIATIVES include Paws to Read a Good Book for elementary students, BEF-fest For Dinner cast dinner for Fall Musical, and addition of recognizing top scoring IPG building projects!
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Communication: Weekly updates in The Maple, "TUESDAY IS BEF NEWS DAY" social media posts, and presentations to civic organizations.
Spring 2025 Outreach
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Let's "Taco-Bout" Teachers and NEW EVENT with BCRC! Tacos and Tequila for Teaching Assistance Grants raised $5,206.25 to invest in our district's beginning educators through this new program.
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”Cats and Dogs ‘PAWS’ TO SERVE" event brought Wildcats and Bulldogs of all ages together in service to the community. This partnership with Baker University, USD 348, and the Brenda Shawley Memorial Fund, resulted in a food drive for the BC Community Pantry, writing letters and coloring pictures for deployed troops, making Valentines and May Day baskets for local senior citizens, assembling Kindness Kits for Bert Nash, and preparing treat bags for local First Responders.
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In celebration of Valentine's Day, “We Love our Schools and Community" was a new "BFFs with BEF" staff and student support program held throughout the week.
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1st Annual NEW Spring Fundraising Gala with debut of NEW bef348.org website and launch of NEW BEF Hall of Fame initiative! Proceeds from gala totaled $28,274.63!
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21 scholarships awarded/administered by BEF at annual Senior Awards Ceremony for the Class of 2025! This will result in scholarship funding of approximately $20,000.00!
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Additional Sponsorships: Kansas Teacher of the Year Luncheon, Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Education Award, Lumberyard Arts Center’s Summer Arts Education Apprenticeship, NHS Induction Ceremony reception, Paws to Read this Summer partnership with BC Library, BCRC, and The Maple, Staff Year-End Recognition Breakfast