News & Events

In February 2025, over $40,000 was awarded to teachers for 21 Innovative Learning Grant classroom projects. These grants, usually distributed on Valentine’s Day with a “spread the love” theme, aim to enrich teaching, inspire learning, and maximize innovative opportunities for students.

The funding originates from donors who support Williamsburg-James City County public school teachers and students. The various projects include instructional materials, parent involvement programs, cutting edge technologies, and initiatives to promote academic achievement.

Once a year in the fall, educators submit grant applications through the WJCC Schools Foundation website and the Schools Foundation uses a double blind review process so volunteer reviewers are unaware of which teacher or from which school the request is generated. A grant committee of local retired educators and community members review the grants based on criteria such as innovation, broad application, and the potential impact on student learning.

The Innovative Learning Grant has been compared to Research and Development for public schools allowing teachers to act on their intuition and experience to achieve student success. Many of the projects are repeated and some are transferred to other classrooms or even other schools, sometimes being incorporated into a part of the school budget. The grants projects have been actualized across all schools in the division and foster a culture of innovation and excellence in education.