Salem Education Foundation awards more than $26,500 to teacher grants; students present Young Archaeologist project

Salem — The Salem Education Foundation told the School Committee on May 19 that it awarded 21 teacher‑driven grants this year totaling $26,530.80, and brought students to the meeting to present one of the funded projects.

Steve Bopelant, vice president in charge of grants for the foundation, said the organization raised funds through events including its annual raffle and returned $26,530.80 to classrooms in projects that ranged from math and music to social‑emotional learning. “This money is in turn given back to the students of Salem in the form of teacher driven grants,” Bopelant said.

One recipient, Linda Gutierrez, presented the Young Archaeologist Apprenticeship, a sixth‑grade project that took students to the Ipswich Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. Three sixth‑grade students described how the trips helped them visualize Stone Age tools, Egyptian artifacts and other curriculum connections.

Why it matters: Small, teacher‑driven grants are used to create learning experiences outside the standard district budget, and the foundation said it runs both spring and fall cycles so funds are available at the start of the school year.

Committee members thanked the foundation and the students for demonstrating the grants in action. Member Cruz noted that many students had not previously visited the Museum of Fine Arts or Ipswich Museum and said such trips expand access to cultural institutions.

The foundation announced its spring cycle for next year opens immediately and closes July 1; interested teachers were directed to salemeducationfoundation.org for application details.