BLOOMINGTON —Beyond the Books Educational Foundation (BTBEF) announced Monday its annual grant winners for the Unit 5 and District 87 school districts. This year, BTBEF will award $75,000 - funding 36 grants to be implemented during the 2026-2027 school year.    
 
Since 1992, BTBEF has invited educators from both school districts to submit proposals for
innovative educational projects, in core academic areas, arts and humanities, sciences, and
technology.
 
The grant winners were announced at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4, via a Facebook video and will later be congratulated in person at their respective schools. This year’s grant proposals ranged widely, from using hydroponic gardens to create meaningful Mother’s Day gifts, to teaching simple machines via remote-control vehicles, to purchasing livestreaming equipment to build communication skills.
 
There are three levels of grants – mini (max $800), standard (max $5,000), and Beyond the Box (max $10,000). For the 2026-2027 season: 
 

• 16 mini grants were awarded, totaling $10,066
• 19 standard grants were awarded, totaling $54,936
• 1 Beyond the Box grant was awarded, totaling $10,000

This year’s Beyond the Box grant winner is PE teacher Dawn O’Dell from Kingsley Junior High School. Along with collaborators Terry Lillge, Ritchie Thompson, Kim Johnson, and Breanna Schwarz, the grant envisioned a project called Wellness in Motion, a movement-based wellness space, using technology and strength tools to build emotional regulation and brain function, as well as elevate mood and attention. It will impact 800 students at Kingsley.

“What we loved about this grant is how it teaches students to use their physical body to help them reset their mental and emotional state,” said David Anderson, president of Beyond the Books. “The teachers and counselors who collaborated on this project are following a trending evidence-based approach to education. We love the innovation!”

BTBEF funds grants thanks to donations from individuals, businesses, and other community organizations. Among the larger donations: The Shirk Family Foundation; the Ingold family, in memory of Jack and Ann Ingold; and Rivian Automotive, Inc.
 
A list of grant winners for the 2026-2027 school year is posted on BTBEF’s website at www.beyondthebooksbn.com in the Grants menu.
 
Contact: David Anderson, BTBEF Board President, 309.824.6194(c), [email protected].