Grants
INVESTING IN HIGHLAND’S EDUCATION
Our teacher grants contribute to the advancement and growth of Highland students. Each spring and fall The Foundation solicits grant ideas from Highland Local Schools staff that encourage creative teaching practices, explore new, imaginative curriculum ideas, engage students and affect classroom experiences.
“To have my creativity financially supported though The Highland Foundation offers me the ability to nurture and inspire creativity in my students. I have had the opportunity to aim high and have bold lesson ideas for my students – to ultimately make a lesson spark and ignite their interests.” – Mrs. Masaro
In the 2022-23 School year, these grants will develop a steel drum band, reestablish international exchange with our sister schools in France and Spain, and will celebrate theater and literacy through a shared theater performance and book celebration at all three elementary buildings, and more.

Literacy Grants
Elementary Theater & Literacy Grant
Fall 2022 ($18,827)
All three elementary buildings will celebrate theater and literacy in May 2023 through a shared theater performance and book celebration.
The Highland Buzz Network
Spring 2022 ($5,252)
This grant evolves the high school’s Digital Media Production class and its capabilities to efficiently produce quality video/audio media projects that highlight achievements of Highland students and staff. (Watch the video)
Highland Buzz Junior
Spring 2022 ($1,500)
Beginning with Mrs. Yu’s third grade class, Sharon Elementary students will learn to plan, write, and produce a weekly recorded announcement to highlight students, staff, and events in their school.
One District One Book
Spring 2022 ($14,260)
Copies of the book Summer According to Humphrey were distributed to every elementary student and staff member for a shared reading experience engaging parents and students through a number of activities.
Fine Arts Grants
Steel Drum Expansion
Fall 2022 ($6,750)
A new set of bass pans and another cello will be commissioned to provide more opportunities for kids to play in the popular new Highland High School Steel Drum Band.
Island Sounds with The University of Akron
Spring 2022 ($3,525)
Fourth, fifth and K-5 intensive needs students at Granger Elementary are submerged in the diverse culture of island music, learning instruments and playing techniques with the University if Akron Steel Drum Alumni Ensemble.
Art As Therapy
Spring 2022 ($1,614)
This grant provides students Social Emotional Learning opportunities through small group art projects, an A.L.L. small group speaker series, and two, whole-school, interactive art installations, the first one titled “I Matter Because.”
Highland Steel Drum Band
Spring 2022 ($10,000)
Assists the music program with the development of a steel drum band at Highland. Students will learn a different range of rhythms and music literacy, increase hand-to-eye coordination and memorization skills
Community Enrichment Grants
"Who Gets In and Why"
Spring 2022 ($12,000)
Highland High School welcomed New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo for a free parent session offering insights into the college admissions process from his latest book. Selingo also spoke to HHS Counselors and to students on assessing their strengths and matching with their best schools.
College Now Greater Cleveland
Spring 2022 ($6,750)
The Baker Family funded this initiative, now in its ninth year of increasing college attainment through college access and success advising, financial aid counseling and scholarship services with appointments at the high school for students and parents.
Where Everyone Belongs (WEB) Program
2021 Implementation ($9,500)
With WEB, students help students succeed. Members of the 8th grade class are extensively trained as WEB Leaders to be positive role models and motivators who guide 6th graders to discover what it takes to be successful in middle school.
S.T.E.M Studies Grants
Swerve Wheel Modules for Robotics Program
Spring 2022 ($4,700)
These wheels provide cutting edge technology and mechanisms for our robotics members to use in STEM-oriented tasks and include modern sensors which will allow our team to sense position and travel, program automatic movements without human input, and will provide a complex and limitless source of projects, experience, and creative outlets in engineering tasks.
STEM Club
Spring 2022 ($1,400)
Useful and effective tools like Arduino electronic development boards, their parts and sensors as well as the 3D printer and its parts cover all the basics needed for a new STEM Club to helps expand students’ interests by building projects that start with the basics and end with complex builds.
Putting the “A” in STEAM
2021 Implementation ($915)
Adding copper tape, mini motors and other specialty markers and materials to the art room challenged students to design and construct their very own art-creating machines.
Intercultural Studies Grants
Highland Intercultural Program
Spring 2022 ($6,000)
Students from our sister schools in France and Spain visited our school district and spent time sharing their cultures by living with families in our community. These guests engaged with students from each of our buildings through a series of visits, field trips and academic programs.
Need-Based Travel Assistance
Spring 2022 ($7,600)
Funding is provided to Highland students who need financial assistance with travel expenses. To date, more than 200 Highland students and staff have had the opportunity to travel abroad through the Intercultural Program.
Special Education Grants
Due to Highland’s Inclusive Special Education program, grant funding allocated for this area was through the arts and literacy.