09 Mar D51F Distributes 17th Round of Professional Learning Grants
The District 51 Foundation is pleased to announce its 17th round of Professional Learning Grant Award Recipients. A total of more than $10,000 in grants will be awarded from the D51 Foundation to train 48 District 51 staff members. In this round, the foundation received grant requests totaling over $28,000. Since 2018, the D51 Foundation has donated over $180,000 to 638 D51 staff members for professional learning.
Sutton Casey, past D51 Foundation grant recipient and teacher at R5 was able to attend the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) National Conference in Denver last November. Casey stated, “This conference was a spectacular event. I was able to hear Percival Everett, who wrote James, deliver an inspiring and thought-provoking keynote address. I attended many powerfully motivating sessions on teaching and learning strategies that have already impacted my teaching.”
Each year, the D51 Foundation uses proceeds from its White Iced Celebration and other fundraising efforts to fund specific needs in School District 51. This year, fundraising dollars will be used to invest in technology and innovation for students, provide professional learning for D51 staff, and support student and staff wellness. This year’s 14th White Iced Celebration brought together business leaders, D51 staff, parents, and community leaders. It was the D51 Foundation’s largest and most successful event to date increasing overall revenue from the previous year by over 15%. Mark your calendar for next year’s gala taking place on Saturday, February 6, 2027 at the CMU Ballroom.
D51 Physical Therapist Katie Langelier received a grant to attend the APTA Pediatric Annual Conference in the 16th Round of PL Grants. “I appreciate the support of the Foundation and the opportunity to attend this amazing conference,” stated Langelier.
“I have to say the gathering was inspiring as we had a keynote speaker who had worked in research with the NIH for 17 years, Dr Diane Damiano. I also attended sessions designed to support clinical instruction for DPT students, practice topics and networking with other school-based PTs from across the country.”
“The D51 Foundation believes that exceptional professional learning is essential to advancing the academic growth of every D51 student—it’s central to our mission. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, we’re able to make these opportunities possible and continue investing in excellence across our schools,” said Angela Christensen, D51 Foundation Executive Director.