10-04-2025
$30K in mini-grants awarded to Sullivan County teachers
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL)—Sullivan County Schools was awarded $30,400 in mini-grants to fund teacher purchase requests.
The Teaching and Learning mini-grants will allow teachers to enhance learning in their classrooms.
The director of Sullivan County Schools asked Utrust, a Tennessee education organization, to allow teachers to apply for things on their wish lists that cost no more than $3,040. According to the school system, 50 applications were received.
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The following projects were approved for funding on a competitive basis by a team of evaluators provided by Utrust:
'We believe that each of these projects will make a big difference to students and staff in Sullivan County Schools,' Utrust administrator Dan Tollett said in a release. 'Every one of the 50 applications we received were worthy of funding and we are so very sorry that we could not fund every one of them.'
Tollett said each proposal was evaluated on potential for teaching and learning, number of students benefiting, recurring benefit, and innovation.
'We hope the Sullivan County Commission or other organizations who have an interest in Sullivan County Schools providing the very best learning opportunities for students will fund these much-needed requests for equipment and teaching materials,' Tollett said of the proposals that were not awarded funding.
Director of Schools Chuck Carter expressed appreciation for Utrust and thanked the teachers who submitted proposals.
'So many of the grant applications that were selected have a direct connection to STEM related educational experiences which is a major focus for schools in Sullivan County,' Carter said. 'We are proud to have a great partnership with Utrust and believe the investment will pay huge dividends for our students and our community.'
The school system previously received Utrust Appreciation and Culture grants totaling $9,600. Sullivan East High School received $3,100, Holston Elementary got $2,400, Mary Hughes Elementary received $1,600, and Sullivan Heights Middle got $2,500.
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