Equity Grants Fuel a Vital Innovation Engine in Berkeley Public Schools

On the eve of opening our equity grant application to BUSD educators for the ‘25-26 school year, we reflect on the powerful ways our grants have made a lasting difference for equity in our local schools. 

For years, Schools Fund Equity Grants have played a unique and vital role in the public school ecosystem: our equity grants invest in emerging teacher-leaders and take chances on promising and locally-sourced innovations. They seed-fund young projects through their start-up years and then, as projects settle into success, effectively transition their ownership back to schools or other sustaining sources.

One such example is how Special Education teacher Nichelle Pete of Cragmont Elementary transformed her classroom with the simple addition of kid-friendly snacks and turned it into a “reset room” available to students across grades who needed a pause in their day. After a quick snack of their choosing and some skillful coaching from Pete, students are able to return to class in a clearer state. The reset room has been especially powerful for many students of color who feel an extra affinity with Pete.

After two years of initial investment from the Schools Fund, Cragmont Principal Candy Cannon was so enthusiastic about the impact of Pete’s reset room that she committed to working with the Cragmont PTA to fully fund the project moving forward. “Should this continue?” asked Cannon.

“I say a big yes! I believe there are more students and families in need that we don’t know about. It serves kids and families in a big way.”

And there are many other examples of initial Schools Fund investments taking root at school sites.

  • Powered by aSchools Fund equity grant, Malcolm X’s Kathryn Mapps led a multi-grade Poetry Residency program for three years before the residency was formally adopted by the Malcolm X PTA

 

  • At Berkeley Arts Magnet (BAM), Family Engagement Specialist Nabatah Ahmed enjoyed three years of grant support for her Arab American Affinity Group. This project has now become so well established that it’s slated to be fully adopted by Principal Rene Molina and the BAM PTA next year. 

 

  • Powered by three years of start-up funding from a Schools Fund equity grant, Longfellow Restorative Justice Counselor Aaron Lechuga launched both the 120-student strong affinity club Raza Youth Consilio and the intervention-focused Young MENtors group. After proving impact with both programs, Lechuga’s work is now being funded by a 4-year Youth Equity Partnership grant from the City of Berkeley. 

As an innovation start-up engine and a mechanism for supporting local ideas from emerging teacher-leaders, Schools Fund equity grants continue to play a unique and vital role in Berkeley’s public school ecosystem. 


Learn more about Schools Fund grantmaking and the projects we are supporting this year

Committed to promoting innovation in Berkeley public schools? We welcome your partnership!

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