Lee County Schools details $2.1 million Golden Leaf grant for two middle schools

The Lee County Board of Education heard a detailed presentation on a Golden Leaf Foundation grant awarded to two district middle schools that will provide coaching, curriculum materials, professional development and employee stipends over five years.

Dr. Natalie Kelly, who led the presentation, told the board she was “super excited to give you a little high level overview of the Golden Leaf grant.” The district received the grant “for a little over $2,100,000,” the superintendent told the board when introducing the topic.

The grant divides participating schools into two cohorts with different support levels. Kelly said Wesley Middle was selected for the more intensive Transformative cohort and Sandley (referred to in materials as Sandley/San Lee) was selected for the Personalized Competency-Based Education (PCBE) cohort. The Transformative cohort provides more intensive coaching and additional math resources; the PCBE cohort focuses on competency-based instructional supports.

Kelly described five core components the grant funds: access to Marzano high-reliability school resources and coaching; leveled leadership and math coaching (Transformative cohort only); adoption and materials for the Open Up math curriculum (Transformative cohort); career-development resources to be introduced in year two; and travel/stipends for professional development and substitutes. She said the first year emphasizes strategic planning and heavy coaching, with some supports tapering in later years while travel/stipends continue throughout the five-year period.

District staff gave a financial breakdown the board could review: Wesley is slated to receive roughly $1.8 million over five years, including about $213,000 for incentives and travel/stipends and the remainder for coaching, professional development and curriculum resources. Sandley was listed as receiving about $390,000 over five years, with roughly $175,000 for incentives and travel/stipends and the balance for coaching and resources.

Board members asked how the grant work would align with the district’s recently adopted strategic plan and with the district’s existing math curriculum. Kelly said the grant was written to align with the district’s strategic plan and not replace it. She confirmed that Open Up math curriculum materials will be used at Wesley alongside the district’s existing HMH curriculum; Wesley staff had attended two days of training on the Open Up materials prior to the meeting.

Board members also asked whether professional development funded by the grant could be provided districtwide. Kelly said vendors and coaches will provide some school-based training but that curriculum specialists and central-office staff will attend so effective practices can be scaled to other schools.

The presentation noted allowable uses are specific to the Golden Leaf model, and that career-development elements will not begin until year two to align with state career-planning requirements. District staff said they will monitor outcomes and consider broader rollouts if evidence shows benefit.

The board did not vote on any action tied to the grant during the meeting; staff presented the grant overview for information and to answer questions. The superintendent and district staff said they will return with additional implementation details and timelines as the work begins.

For more detail, the board packet includes the full Golden Leaf grant overview and the district’s five-year implementation chart, and staff offered to provide additional breakdowns on request.