Ledyard Education Advancement Foundation
Awarded Grants
2020 - 2022
Teacher Grants
Fall 2020 update
Ledyard High School
Zach Thomas: “Ledyard Music Mallet Station”
“The MalletStation is a piece of equipment that vastly expands what our percussionists are able
to do, as we are able to mimic the sounds of just about any instrument out there. We can also layer
multiple instruments so one musician can sound like multiple musicians. So far, the MalletStation has
been used by our jazz band aux percussionist. It was used in our concert at La Grua Center in December,
2022. It was also used throughout the marching band season in our front ensemble. Currently, it is
located on stage, as one of our student musicians/cast members will be playing it live during The
SpongeBob Musical, happening March 23-25 th , 2023. This is an awesome piece of equipment, and our students
are lucky to have the opportunities to learn how something like it works." - Zach Thomas
Fall 2021 Grants
Ledyard Middle School
Sarah Ferguson: “CPR/AED/First Aid Skills”
In the seventh-grade health curriculum, there is a unit on safety and injury prevention. Ms.
Ferguson requested tools for students to practice first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and
automated electrical defibrillator usage with lifelike models and practice equipment. This training will
get students ready for real-life emergency situations, and perhaps inspire a few to go into healthcare!
Bonnie Vangieri: “Turning Reading Into A Reward”
When you enter the lobby of the middle school, you are greeted by a beautiful book vending
machine. Thanks to Ms. Vangieri and LEAF, students can cash in their good behavior “Own It” cards on a
brand new book.
Ledyard High School
David Bednarz: “FIFISH V6 Underwater ROV”
High school science has many possibilities, including the UConn ECE and Marine Science classes.
This grant funded a roving underwater camera for direct observation. We can’t wait to see the pictures
and experiments performed with this amazing tool.
Melanie Cometa and Zach Thomas: “Wireless Microphones for All”
Ledyard is known for many musical and theatrical performances, but there was a gap in
equipment. Initial funding only provided for one color wireless microphones, but our diverse student
population has many beautiful skin tones. This project funded the microphones in various colors, so
that all students can blend with their microphones and focus on their performance and vocals. These
are now used in many different types of performances.
“This grant allowed us to purchase 8 new wireless mic systems to be used across our
music/drama programs. Two of these microphones were used throughout the 2022 marching band
season to mic our two main characters/vocalists on the field. They were also used during musical
theater and other music department events since being purchased. They are currently wired up to be
used for The SpongeBob Musical in addition to the new sound gear in the auditorium.” -Zach Thomas
Spring 2022 Grants
Ledyard Middle School
Ryan Earley “Neurodivergent Student Pods”
The nook huddle pod is now available in the middle school for usage by students needing a safe
working space for sensory decompression. It is portable and can be used by the high needs program,
counseling program, and social emotional learning program. Our students with high functioning ASD
can now have multiple options for completing schoolwork in a supportive environment.
Ledyard High School
Samantha Cregger “Increased Personalized Feedback and Production of Review Materials”
This creative grant helped bridge the gap between digital and handwritten feedback. When
students turn in their assignments by paper, it is easy for a teacher to handwrite feedback. However,
with digital assignments, it was only possible to write comments about the work. Now, with the iPad,
apple pencil, and explain everything app, the teachers can write onto the assignments for more
personalized and effective feedback. In Chemistry class, teachers can write in chemical equations and
embed diagrams, which helps the students understand complex scientific content.
Fall 2022 grants
Gallup Hill School
Brittany Robinson “Rock climbing wall”
The physical education curriculum at GHS is quite robust but was lacking a rock-climbing wall. In
the sense of equity, LEAF was able to fund this piece of equipment that was enjoyed by the students at
Gales Ferry School on the other side of town.
Ledyard Middle School
Aric Wellman “Cultivating Minds”
In the environmental science curriculum, students started growing microgreens. This is a
student-led project that is utilized by 125 students every 4-6 weeks. These were then harvested and
eaten, with great feedback from teachers and students. However, they learned that a few more items
were needed to make the project more successful. LEAF was able to fund the growth and humidity
tents, which were requested to help with improved growth and data collection.
Ledyard High School
Kathy Flax “Math intervention and enrichment”
This grant funded an innovative tool to help teachers give real-time interactive feedback to
math students in the classroom. The iPad technology helps with photomath for checking, colors and
highlighting for diagrams, creating word bank lists, scaffold questions, and uploads photos/real-life
examples. The teacher can then use the mounted projectors to share ideas with the entire class in
mirror mode. This tool helps to share the individual instruction to the entire class, helping the students
understand more challenging aspects of instruction.
Zach Thomas “Marching Colonels Wireless Audio”
The Ledyard Colonel Marching Band continues to improve every year and is now able to
compete in the regional competitions. However, without this wireless microphone, the soloists would
have to move and come up to a microphone, making the “music effect” less impactful. Now, the visual
effects can be more easily choreographed as the soloists do not need to be limited by the position of the
microphone on the field.
“This grant allowed us to purchase 8 new wireless mic systems to be used across our
music/drama programs. Two of these microphones were used throughout the 2022 marching band
season to mic our two main characters/vocalists on the field. They were also used during musical
theater and other music department events since being purchased. They are currently wired up to be
used for The SpongeBob Musical in addition to the new sound gear in the auditorium." - Zach Thomas