We are thrilled to share some fantastic news that highlights the exceptional dedication of our educators! Please join us in congratulating Stephanie Vang, Sabrina Legace, and Lisa Panzarella for being among this year’s recipients of Classroom Grants from Champions For Learning! These remarkable teachers submitted proposals for innovative items that will enhance teaching and learning in their classrooms, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements.

We had the pleasure of welcoming Barbara Evans, President and CEO of Champions For Learning, and Dani Henderson, Director of Educator Programs, for a surprise visit to the Doris Frey Campus, where they hand-delivered each grant award, creating a moment of joy and recognition for our teachers. Mrs. Evans expressed her enthusiasm, stating,

“We are thrilled to be able to support the educators at Educational Pathways Academy with Classroom Grants. Our educators are the backbone of the learning experience and their profession is the profession that creates all other professions, and as the Education Foundation of Collier County, we are proud to empower educators through our Classroom Grants program so they can achieve success.”

This marks the first time EPA has applied for Classroom Grants, and we are truly grateful that three of our requests were fully funded! Principal Kristy DeRienzo shared her excitement, saying,

“Champions For Learning is an amazing organization that seeks to support educators and empower students. We are thrilled for this partnership and can not be more grateful for this opportunity that will inevitably have an impact on the students at EPA!”

Out of over 700 submissions from teachers across Collier County, our teachers’ proposals stood out. What an honor to earn the recognition and support of Champions For Learning. We can’t wait to share how the innovative resources provided by these grants were used to enrich our classrooms and inspire even more meaningful learning experiences!

Grant Awards

Sabrina Legace

Grant Purpose: The grant funds will be used to acquire a social-emotional toolkit designed to support the development of essential skills that will benefit students in the classroom and beyond.

"I am so grateful to Champions For Learning for blessing my classroom with a social-emotional learning curriculum that can be implemented throughout our entire school. My students will learn to identify and understand their feelings and emotions better, giving them a set of tools to work through conflict in their lives. When students with language-based learning disabilities gain a better understanding of their emotions, we see a significant improvement in their academics. Thank you again, Champions For Learning, you are a true blessing to our school!" - Mrs. Legace

Lisa Panzarella

Grant Purpose: The grant funds will be used to invest in projection equipment for math instruction.

"I am so grateful for the generosity of Champions For Learning. This grant will give my students greater access to information and the ability to learn. The use of a document camera will allow me to demonstrate the use of hands-on manipulatives in order to enhance the learning in my math classes." - Mrs. Panzarella

Stephanie Vang

Grant Purpose: The grant funds will be utilized to purchase Cell Cycle Kits, which will provide students with a real-life multi-sensory learning experience.

"Being awarded the Champions For Learning grant means so much for science classes at EPA. Students will get to enjoy learning about plant and animal cells in fun, meaningful and interactive ways thanks to the cell kits the grant will supply." - Mrs. Vang