Bringing Big Ideas to Life: Local Schools Receive $11,000 in Depoali Memorial Grants

What happens when you give passionate teachers the resources to bring their best ideas to life? In Washoe County, five schools are about to find out, thanks to over $11,000 in grants from the Kendyl Ruth Williams Depoali Memorial Fund.

This year, five local schools are turning creative teaching ideas into reality with over $11,000 in funding. Imagine walking into Mt. Rose K-8 School of Languages and finding students producing their own news broadcasts, or visiting Lena Juniper Elementary's music room where kids are building with Legos to explore rhythm and composition. These aren't just fun activities - they're innovative ways to engage students and spark their curiosity.

The grants are touching every level of learning. Kindergarteners at Rollan Melton Elementary will get their hands on new iPads to boost their reading and math skills. Lincoln Park Elementary teachers will stock their shelves with fresh novels and reading materials. And over at Incline Middle School, students will dive into broadcast journalism, learning everything from writing to production.

This kind of creative, hands-on learning is exactly what Kendyl Depoali championed throughout her remarkable 33-year career in Washoe County schools. Starting at Clayton Middle School in 1974, she went on to teach nearly every subject imaginable - from German to geography, art to economics. She eventually became principal of her own alma mater, Sparks High School, but never lost that teacher's touch for inspiring students to reach higher.

Today, these grants keep Kendyl's spirit alive in our classrooms. Whether it's funding innovative projects, supporting teacher development, or providing essential classroom tools, each grant helps teachers do what they do best - inspire our kids to learn and grow.

Congratulations to each of the teachers and schools who are receiving these grants to benefit children in Washoe County!