05/27/2026
The School Foundation Grants to Florence 1 Schools now exceed $2.5 million with latest awards!
Florence, SC – Trisha Caulder, chair of The School Foundation’s grants committee (TSF) announced the foundation will distribute a total of $149,562.71 in grants to Florence 1 Schools (F1S) for the 2026-2027 school year.
The grants committee funded seven grants submitted by F1S educators. $10,317.00 was awarded to Carver Elementary for their "Walls that Teach" grant, which will fund a VariQuest Perfecta 2400STP Plus large-format printer. The project will provide 619 students, including English Language Learners and those with disabilities, with durable anchor charts and visual scaffolding to improve comprehension and retention. It will also be used to professionally publish student work.
$15,600.00 was awarded to Lester Elementary for their “The Independence Incubator” grant which will fund a life-skills laboratory designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world autonomy for autistic students in grades 3–5. Currently, the majority of the school’s 27 autistic students rely on 1:1 adult support for daily tasks, creating a cycle of prompt-dependency that hinders self-esteem and middle school readiness. By transforming a dedicated space into a functional environment equipped with adaptive tools and tactile learning stations, this project moves beyond theoretical worksheets to evidence-based, repetitive practice using the STAR and Unique Learning Systems curricula. This sustainable initiative utilizes existing trained staff and district-funded software to provide a high-impact "bridge" to independence, ultimately gifting students the dignity of self-efficacy and the ability to transfer vital daily living skills from the classroom to the home.
$42,700.00 was awarded to West Florence High School for their “Novice Driving Simulator Systems” grant, which will enhance their program by allowing them to incorporate advanced driving simulation technology to expand student driving experiences and strengthen overall safety education. The simulators will provide valuable training opportunities in areas such as distracted driving awareness, hazard recognition, intersections, defensive driving, rural highway driving, emergency response situations, and adverse weather conditions that cannot always be safely recreated during on-road instruction. This enhancement will increase student engagement, improve decision-making skills, and provide additional driving practice opportunities while supporting their mission of saving lives and producing safer drivers within our community.
$28,124.01 was awarded to West Florence High School for their “Yearbook Makers: Empowering Student Voices Through Yearbook Creation” grant, which aims to modernize the West Florence High School Excalibur Yearbook program using advanced technology and digital tools. By providing new equipment and software, this initiative ensures all students have fair access to key 21st-century skills like photography, design, and media production. The goal is to improve the yearbook's quality, prepare students for careers in communication, and create a strong platform for student voices.
$20,468.24 was awarded to Lester Elementary School for their “The Lester Learning Grove” grant, which is an innovative outdoor classroom initiative designed to expand hands-on, inclusive learning opportunities for students in grades 3–5. This project will create a safe, sensory-friendly outdoor learning environment that supports academic instruction across all subject areas while promoting student engagement, collaboration, environmental awareness, and social-emotional well-being. Rooted in Montessori-inspired teaching practices, the outdoor classroom will provide flexible seating, instructional spaces, and nature-based learning experiences to benefit both the general education and special needs students at Lester. By extending learning beyond traditional classroom walls, the project aims to improve student achievement, increase engagement, and provide lasting educational resources that can be utilized schoolwide for years to come.
$11,081.80 was awarded to Florence 1 Schools for their Mobile STEM Reinvigorated! grant. This grant will provide the necessary resources to expand and enhance their work in growing student interest in STEM and connecting STEM with other areas of interest across all district schools. The new Ozobots feature touchscreens, adding another learning dimension to the coding capabilities that already make Ozobots one of their most popular tools in the Mobile STEM lab. The new drones will combine coding techniques students learn through some of their other technologies with the excitement of flying. The classroom set of drones will allow students to collaborate and compete, stimulating higher achievement. Their 3D printers will enhance learning at each of the four middle schools, allowing a nearly limitless supply of ideas to stretch across all subject areas. This grant will truly reinvigorate the Mobile STEM program, and they enthusiastically await seeing the new technology in action across the district.
$21,271.66 was awarded to Poynor Healthcare Innovation for their Project Exploration! grant. This grant will fund interactive learning tools designed to introduce K-12 students to rewarding healthcare careers, inspiring the next generation of medical professionals through hands-on engagement in robotics, human anatomy, disease pathology, heart health, and geriatric care. In addition to enriching the classroom, the grant provides dynamic resources to engage the local community at health fairs and public events.
“We continue to be amazed with the caliber of applications submitted by F1S educators,” Trisha stated. “Writing a grant takes tremendous time, effort and research, and our students benefit from the innovation and creativity displayed by these educators.” Debbie Hyler, executive director of TSF stated, “We are thrilled by the passion and excitement shown by these educators. F1S is very fortunate to have such dedicated and caring professionals who go the extra mile to enhance the learning experiences of their students.”
To date, TSF has awarded $2,584,404.60 in grants to F1S. This funding would not be possible without the support of the community and their donors.
For additional information, please contact Debbie Hyler, Executive Director, at [email protected] or call (843) 662-9996.
