OKEECHOBEE — The Education Foundation of Okeechobee is proud to announce that Classroom Grants for the 2025–2026 school year are officially open. This year, more than $42,000 in grant funding is available for teachers of Okeechobee County Schools to bring innovative, creative learning experiences to their students.

Last year, Classroom Grants impacted over 4,500 students across Okeechobee, supporting hands-on STEM activities, flexible seating, and other engaging projects that went beyond what school budgets could cover.

Teachers shared how transformative the program has been.

Ms. Zapata reflected, “The mini-grant program has truly made a difference in my classroom. The smiles on my kids’ faces are unmatched, especially during science time. Watching their curiosity and excitement grow has been incredible.”

For Ms. Gagliano, the experience was both professional and emotional. “The mini-grant program has been an incredible experience for me. I felt so proud of myself when I was able to see my project come to life, and I won’t lie, I even cried a little. It was a reminder that hard work and dedication really do pay off. The support from the program helped turn my vision into something real, and I’m incredibly grateful for that!”

“Teachers have the best ideas for how to reach and inspire their students, but too often they don’t have the resources to make those ideas a reality,” said Alaina Barron, Executive Director of the Education Foundation of Okeechobee. “Classroom Grants bridge that gap, showing our community what’s possible when we invest in teachers.”

These grants are made possible by generous community sponsors and the State of Florida’s School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program, which provides a 1:1 match, doubling the impact of every donation.

This year’s Classroom Grants are proudly supported by: SouthState Bank, Doris Entry, Rotary Club of Okeechobee, Okeechobee Battlefield Friends, Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee, Jill Holcomb, Glades Electric Cooperative Inc., Gay Carlton, Delta Kappa Gamma Beta Nu Chapter, Okeechobee Community Theatre, Okeechobee County Cattlewomen Association, Altobello Family Donor Advised Fund, Brennan Eye Care, Dr. Christine Bishop, Family Dentistry of Okeechobee, Sumner Engineering & Consulting, Inc., Ken Kenworthy, Leslie Lundy, Seacoast Bank, Daughters of the American Revolution, Okeechobee County Farm Bureau, Sherri Branstetter, and the Okeechobee Historical Society.

Teachers interested in applying can view this year’s grant opportunities at:
https://educationfoundationofokeechobee.com/classroom-grants/