From Cheers to Classrooms: 10 Grants Made Possible by Teacher Toasts

MFEE is celebrating Montclair Public Schools educators during our annual Toast to the Teachers, a community tradition going back more than 30 years. Hosted by local families and supporters – now through June 28 – these gatherings honor teachers, staff, or administrators, while also raising critical funds for MFEE educator grants that boost student learning. 

Here are 10 cool grants that Teacher Toasts helped make possible in 2026: 

1. Hands-on Science at Montclair High School 

MHS students enrolled in Anatomy & Physiology Honors benefitted from a high-impact learning experience funded by MFEE that connected classroom content to real-world pathways. The dissection unit helped students understand organ systems, structure–function relationships, and how body systems work together. In her proposal, teacher Rania Hassan outlined how the grant would give students “a realistic look at anatomy study and build foundational skills used in medicine, nursing, physical therapy,” and more.  

2. Cosmic Bowling at Bradford 

Bradford physical education teacher Joseph Acuña is known for his creative classroom activities. This year, with an assist from an MFEE grant, he introduced his students to “Cosmic Bowling,” which teaches skills of the game using various blacklight/glow night lighting and equipment. “When it comes to teaching, I believe true learning is tied with great experiences that promote content retention through associations with positive experiences,” he said. Looks pretty memorable to us!  

3. Growing Hearts, Growing Minds 

MFEE supported the Mini Mounties Universal Pre-K program by funding books, lesson plans, and professional development to boost social-emotional learning! "This will help us create predictable, nurturing environments across all 29 classrooms so every child receives the strong social-emotional foundation needed for long-term success," said Pre-K teacher Marisa Sheji in her grant proposal.

4. Uniting Civics and Art at Buzz 

Buzz Aldrin Middle School art teacher Deborah Guzmán Meyer and social studies teacher Jessica Eden received an IdeaLab grant for an innovative project that blends civics, architecture, and printmaking. Students in grades 6 - 8 learned about the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights in social studies class, and then turned that knowledge into works of art during architecture class. The kids worked in teams to choose an Amendment they believed was important, researched its impact, and designed a monument that symbolizes its ideals through architectural form. Then they carved their designs to make prints!

5. Native Plants Garden at Hillside 

Science teacher Susan Bartol was awarded funds to create a native plants garden! With the help of grant co-writer and Master Gardener Sally Solo, Hillside repurposed an unused grassy area on Hillside Avenue for the garden, where science, social studies, language arts, and art classes can meet for hands-on lessons. "The garden will be a concrete microcosm of what a healthy ecosystem in this part of the world is: a place where flora and fauna that evolved together grow, inviting butterflies and birds (and people!) to come and thrive as well as to fulfill their natural ecosystem services such as carbon and nutrient cycling," Bartol and Solo said in their proposal.

6. Students Take the Mic at Glenfield

Technology teacher Howard Weinrib received a grant to create a podcasting studio. Students are involved in every aspect of the show, “The Glenfield Pod,” conducting research, serving as hosts, learning technical production, and writing original theme music. They are practicing discussion skills by engaging thoughtfully with issues and respecting diverse perspectives, as well as gaining knowledge about technology, storytelling, public speaking, and media literacy. 

7. These Boots Were Made for Learning

Thanks to an MFEE grant, MHS biology teacher William Mellman received new rubber boots so students can explore the stream running through Rand Park by the George Inness Annex. Now, more students can test depth, pH, flow rate, temperature, and more—without worrying about soggy socks or slippery rocks. (We love to see the kids rocking their new boots!) 

8. Neurodiversity Lending Library

Thanks to an MFEE grant, Bradford staff have access to a new Neurodiversity Lending Library. It’s stocked with books that provide teachable moments about inclusion through literacy, specifically about neurodiverse learners. The collection includes dozens of titles both written by and featuring neurodiverse individuals with grade-level appropriate themes and vocabulary. Teacher Laura Giasone paired each book with an activity that teachers can use in their classrooms at any point in the year. 

9. Feel the Beat, See the Sync! 

MHS science teacher Daniel Kaplan was awarded an MFEE grant for his project that created a dynamic, multisensory way for students to explore oscillations and synchronization—core ideas that link mechanics, waves, and modern physics. “By introducing a classroom set of identical mechanical metronomes, students will move beyond equations on a page to directly observe how interacting systems exchange energy and achieve harmony through coupling,” he wrote in his proposal.

10. Bringing Civics to Life Through Art 

Students who are part of the Center for Social Justice (CSJ), a small learning community at MHS, enjoyed a performance of "What The Constitution Means to Me," at Montclair's Vanguard Theater earlier this spring. The trip was made possible by an MFEE grant awarded to CSJ teacher Sabrina Conti, and it was part of a deeper learning experience. Before and after the show, students engaged in discussion about who wrote the Constitution, who it protects, and how it is implemented in today’s society. "CSJ students were excited to apply what they learned from the play in their social justice classes," she said.

Visit our “Toast to the Teachers” page to attend or host a party, or choose Praise Loudly, Give Proudly to recognize a favorite educator with a donation. Every gift helps sustain MFEE’s educator grants and fuels creativity in Montclair schools.

Raise a glass. Raise the bar. Toast a teacher.