New Grants Fuel Innovation in Civics, Arts, Science, and Beyond

An innovative project that unites architecture, printmaking, and civics is among the first educator grants awarded by the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence for the 2025-26 school year.

The interdisciplinary project, dreamed up by Buzz Aldrin Middle School art teacher Deborah Guzman Meyer, in collaboration with social studies teacher Jessica Eden-Mintz, will help more than 120 middle school students engage deeply with the Bill of Rights and the Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. 

In the first phase of the project, students will explore the meaning and significance of Amendments, examining how they shape our freedoms and responsibilities as citizens, Guzman Meyer explained in her grant proposal. Then, students will work in groups to select an Amendment they believe is important, research its impact, and design a monument that symbolizes its ideals through architectural form. 

Next, students will carve the monument designs onto blocks and turn them into illustrations that convey the Amendment’s message, which will then be printed on postcards and distributed to families, the local community, and civic leaders. 

“This project combines hands-on creative learning with civics education, inspiring students to understand and actively participate in the principles and processes of democracy,” Guzman Meyer said. “By blending design, history, and art, students become informed, responsible, and empowered citizens—now and for the future.” 

The “Designing Democracy” project was awarded as part of MFEE’s IdeaLab Grants, which this year focus on civics in our schools. 

“We introduced a civics focus for the IdeaLab Grants this year to tap into the need and enthusiasm for projects that strengthen civics education and community-building initiatives,” said Sarah Hudson-Plush, MFEE’s incoming deputy director and chair of the grants committee. “It’s been really inspiring to see teachers’ ideas for empowering students to understand their role in our democracy. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next.”

This year, teacher applicants can opt to apply for an IdeaLab grant, or in one of three other categories: classroom innovation, social-emotional learning, and professional development. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until March 5, or until funds are allocated.

MFEE annually awards $60,000 in grants to educators across the Montclair Public Schools. It’s been funding teachers’ big ideas for 35 years, and the grant-making program continues to be a core part of the organization’s mission.  

Other grants that have been awarded this cycle include: 

• Bradford teacher Kristen Freeh is hosting Book Chat groups and inviting parents into her 2nd grade classroom to help lead discussions about literature that reflects a wide range of experiences and perspectives. “I am extremely passionate about children's books!” Freeh said. “During my many years at Bradford, I've made it my mission to find a book for every child to turn them into readers.” 

• Glenfield technology teacher Howard Weinrib was awarded funds to create a podcasting studio where students can create, produce, and share original podcasts centered on civics, government, and community engagement. “By blending technology with civic education, we aim to cultivate informed, empowered, and articulate young citizens who actively contribute to their school, local community, and beyond,” he wrote in his proposal. 

• Montclair High School English teachers Katelynn Costello and Elizabeth Voltman received new books to incorporate more Indigenous women’s voices into their classrooms. “Engaging with the works of Indigenous author, Zitkala-Sa's American Indian Stories, will enhance [students’] critical thinking skills as they analyze complex themes of identity, culture, and American history,” Costello said.

• And MHS science teacher Daniel Kaplan was awarded a grant for his project that will create 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. 

Last year, MFEE awarded more than 70 grants across the Montclair Public Schools. Stay tuned for coming announcements and stories about the impact of these grants in Montclair classrooms. And if you’d like to support more work like this, please consider a gift to MFEE’s Annual Appeal.