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Seventeen District Educators Awarded 2023 SRNS Innovative Teaching Mini-Grants

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – OCSD educators were awarded more than $10,500 in Innovative Teaching Mini Grants from Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC. The Innovative Teaching Mini-Grants Program, a competitive program, recognizes and celebrates innovative teaching methods by providing funds to enhance elementary, middle, and high school curricula.

Public and private school educators in Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Edgefield, Orangeburg, Columbia, and Richmond counties were invited to submit a $500, $750, or $1000 mini-grant application. In OCSD, 17 educators received a grant, and will be celebrated on May 18, 2023, at Newberry Hall in Aiken, South Carolina. 

The awarded grant projects show usefulness over periods of time, benefit large numbers of students, provide unique and/or higher concept learning, address curriculum standards, and are appropriate for the grade level along with other criteria.

“OCSD teachers responded to this opportunity with tremendous enthusiasm and were awarded a significant portion of the funds made available to our region, in support of special projects in their classrooms, across grade levels, or throughout their schools, shared Dr. Shawn D. Foster, OCSD Superintendent. “ I am proud of our educators, and I look forward to celebrating them on May 18," he continued.

Orangeburg County School District Teacher

Project Title

OCSD School

Amount Awarded

Abhilash Deva Rajan

To develop practical abilities in Chemistry

Branchville High School

$500

Kelly Hayden

Beta Club Robotics and Engineering

Branchville High School

$750

Lacole Raysor

Cooking with S.T.E.A.M.

Brookdale Elementary School

$500

Delorise Childs

Technology in S.T.E.A.M.

Brookdale Elementary School

$1000

Kavitha Rathinam

“X”ING OUT THE gap

Carver Edisto Middle

$500

Adrienne Wood

Operation Dracula: “I Want Your Blood”

Cope Area Career Center

$1000

Starlette Jean

R.A.P> Time with Mrs. Jean

Edisto Elementary School

$500

Rajananthini Velummylum

Enhancing the Teaching and Learning and Mathematics

Edisto High School

$500

Travis Ard

Classroom Plants: Multiple Benefits!

Edisto High School

$750

Shauntae Archie

SEL at EPS

Edisto Primary School

$500

Shannon Williams

An Exceptional Garden for Academic Scholars

Edisto Primary School

$500

Tamu NiiLampti

Full STEAM ahead-bulldogs Robotics Team

Holly Hill Elementary School

$1000

Shevelle Bogle

‘Our Hydroponic Garden.’ Soil-less growth

Holly Hill Roberts Middle School

$500

Rosy Chinnam

Tools For Student Success

Hunter Kinard Tyler High School

$500

Joyce Smith

Relief in the Print

Lake Marion High School

$500

Sandra Tarazona Ruiz

Making Spanish Fun

North Middle High School

$500

Kendrea Hodges

Creating Well-Rounded Musicians / Piano Skills

Robert E. Howard Middle School

$500