TechEd Grants Keep Young Minds Turning

Story by Melanie Jones

Peoples understands the importance of investing. The cooperative invests in fiber lines and broadband growth. It invests in its employees. It invests in the community. And, through the Peoples Impact Foundation, it invests in the area’s children, helping ensure their futures are bright.

Thanks to TechEd Grants from the Peoples Impact Foundation, students in some area classrooms have access to tools their teachers otherwise couldn’t afford.

MOUNT VERNON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Stacy Winkle, sixth-grade science teacher at Mount Vernon Middle School, used some of her classroom’s grant money to buy Snap Circuits, hands-on toys that introduce children to the basics of electrical engineering.

Winkle also used the money to buy walkie-talkie kits, which have provided all types of opportunities for learning, including researching the history of walkie-talkies. “We have learned about radio waves, signal transmission and the principles of wireless communication,” she says.

“We have tested how far the sound can travel when using the walkie-talkies, and if obstacles such as trees or walls affect radio signals.”

The grant also paid for fiber optic kits that went to the seventh- and eighth-grade gifted and talented classes. “These kits will allow students an opportunity to learn about the principles of light transmission, total internal reflection and modern data communication,” Winkle says. “Thank you for the wonderful educational opportunities and activities you have provided for our students.”

QUITMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Robin Tanner, math resource officer at Quitman Elementary School, used the grant funding to buy print-to-audio converter pens and Bluetooth-enabled headphones.

“Many of my students work very hard to understand mathematical concepts, but reading challenges can sometimes make it difficult for them to access written problems and instructions independently,” Tanner says. “The print-to-audio converter pens have helped remove that barrier. By allowing students to hear the text read aloud while they follow along, they are able to focus more on the math concepts rather than struggling to decode the words.”

Tanner sees her students gain confidence in their work by using technology. “They are more willing to attempt problems on their own, participate in activities and stay engaged during lessons,” she says. “These pens are not just a piece of equipment. They are a tool that helps level the playing field for students who learn differently.”

In thanking Peoples for the grant, Tanner says she sees the impact the tools have made on her students. “Your generosity is one of the many reasons I love living in a small town,” she says.

HOW TO APPLY

The Peoples Impact Foundation will award up to $5,000 in TechEd Grants in 2026. Applications are due Oct. 1, and this year’s recipients will be announced in November. For more information about TechEd Grants, including eligibility requirements and the application, go to gopeoples.net/teched-grant