The Beyond the Books Educational Foundation (BTBEF) announced its annual grant recipients on Monday, May 4, for Unit 5 and District 87.
BTBEF will award $75,000, funding 36 grants to be implemented during the 2026-2027 school year. Of that, 30 grants totaling $62,112 were awarded to Unit 5 staff to support their work in schools.
Since 1992, BTBEF has invited educators from both school districts to submit proposals for innovative educational projects in core academic areas, arts and humanities, sciences, and technology.
The grant winners were announced via a Facebook video and will later be congratulated in person at their respective schools.
This year’s Beyond the Box grant winner is PE teacher Dawn O’Dell from Kingsley Junior High School. Along with collaborators Terry Lillge, Ritchie Thompson, Kim Johnson, and Breanna Schwarz, the grant envisioned a project called Wellness in Motion, a movement-based wellness space, using technology and strength tools to build emotional regulation and brain function, as well as elevate mood and attention. It will impact 800 students at Kingsley.
“What we loved about this grant is how it teaches students to use their physical body to help them reset their mental and emotional state,” said David Anderson, president of Beyond the Books. “The teachers and counselors who collaborated on this project are following a trending evidence-based approach to education. We love the innovation!”
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McLean County Unit District 5
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