Expanding Horizons: How DoDEA Grant Funding is Powering Elective Enrichment in Our Schools
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Thanks to a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) grant, the school district is investing in dynamic elective opportunities that align with key educational goals. These enrichment classes span from STEM-based innovation to physical fitness and creativity, providing students with unique hands-on experiences that enhance traditional learning. Our dedicated staff works diligently to find alternative ways to fund extracurricular and enrichment opportunities, and the DoDEA grant has been instrumental in supporting their efforts to bring engaging, meaningful programs to students across the district. Through carefully selected resources and passionate educators, students are engaging in exciting new ways to learn, explore, and grow.
Board Game Design Brings STEM to Life at Rio Seco
At Rio Seco, teacher Marc Robbins is transforming traditional play into powerful learning with his “Introduction to Board Games & Design” elective. This class allows students to dive into a wide selection of board games, analyzing rules, strategies, and gameplay dynamics. They then take that understanding to the next level by designing their own games—complete with original rules and artwork. Students explore both cooperative and competitive game formats, gaining insights into game theory, systems thinking, and creative problem-solving.
Robotics and Tech Take Center Stage at Carlton Oaks
Jill Schmitt’s Robotics & Technology elective at Carlton Oaks is another example of the grant in action. Using LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime sets, students engage in hands-on engineering challenges that promote coding, design thinking, and teamwork. This program helps students develop foundational skills in robotics and technology while sparking curiosity and innovation.
Meanwhile, Celina Register’s Yearbook & Journaling elective supports students in learning essential digital design and media skills. With the purchase of three new laptops, students are gaining experience using advanced tools to craft yearbook pages and enhance their journaling projects—learning the differences between laptop-based and iPad-based interfaces.
Combining STEM and Culinary Arts
Also at Carlton Oaks, Jennifer La Cross is leading a Cooking elective that blends science and creativity. This class teaches students basic cooking skills, but the learning doesn’t stop there. Partnering with fellow educator, Josef Gulick, the team has introduced a digital arts component where students film and edit cooking videos—gaining valuable skills in multimedia production, video editing, and storytelling.
Hands-On Science Enhanced by Digital Tools
Back at Rio Seco, 8th grade science teacher Sierra Duggan is using grant funds to bring interactive science simulations to her classroom. She’s implementing the Gizmos app, a platform that supports hands-on STEAM learning through virtual labs and simulations. This resource enhances students' understanding of complex science concepts and supports critical thinking—further advancing the district’s STEM objectives.
Fitness and Fun: PE Gets a Boost at Carlton Hills
Physical fitness also plays a key role in the district’s enrichment strategy. At Carlton Hills, teacher Chris Stanley is using grant funding to purchase new hockey equipment, soccer nets, and Berg Karts. These additions bring excitement and variety to PE class, encouraging active participation and helping students build lifelong healthy habits through engaging, movement-based learning.
DoDEA Funding Supports ELP Programming
Thanks to DoDEA grant funding, our Expanded Learning Program (ELP) has been able to offer exciting, hands-on opportunities that extend learning beyond the classroom—especially in the areas of STEM and physical activity.
- STEM Enrichment with KiwiCo Science Kits: Students in grades 5–8 at all DoDEA-supported sites received weekly science kits from KiwiCo for eight weeks. These engaging activities allowed students to explore science concepts through fun, hands-on experiments that sparked curiosity and critical thinking.
- Mad Science Clubs: Rio Seco, Carlton Hills, and Carlton Oaks hosted a 6-week Mad Science Club as part of their ELP offerings. Each one-hour session provided exciting, interactive science workshops that made learning feel like play for our 5th–8th grade students.
- Basketball League Fun: In addition to academic enrichment, DoDEA funding also supported a basketball league at Rio Seco, Carlton Oaks, Hill Creek, and PRIDE Academy ELP sites. These opportunities promoted teamwork, physical wellness, and school spirit among our upper-grade students.
A Grant Making a Difference
Our district is proud to be a recipient of a DoDEA grant, awarded to school districts with a high percentage of military-connected students and families. This grant supports the academic, social, emotional, and physical growth of military-connected students and their peers.
The current grant will fund and expand these programs through May 2026, and we remain committed to applying for future DoDEA grants to continue supporting the approximately 15% of students in our district who come from military families.
But this grant is more than just financial support—it’s an investment in student engagement, creativity, and future readiness. From robotics and board games to culinary arts and physical education, these dynamic elective offerings show how strategic funding can ignite a love of learning and help students develop essential 21st-century skills.