The White House Area Chamber of Commerce is once again opening the door to innovation in the classroom through its annual Education Initiative—a grant program now in its fifth year that empowers teachers to bring creative and engaging educational experiences to life. Since launching in 2020, the Chamber has awarded over $25,000 in funding to local educators, directly impacting students in both public and private K–12 schools throughout the White House area.

“The White House Area Chamber of Commerce’s Education Initiative is a directive that exists to encourage, promote, and support innovative and creative education opportunities and to enhance workforce development within the school systems in the White House Area,” states the Chamber in a recent release.

One of the program’s core components is the Educator Innovation and Enhancement Grant, which allows teachers to apply for funds to implement special classroom projects or school-sponsored club activities. From immersive classroom redesigns to entrepreneurship programs, the initiative celebrates the creativity and passion of local educators who are thinking outside the box.

At White House Middle School, last year’s grants brought two dynamic projects to life. The first, Go for the Glow, transformed a traditional classroom into a glow-in-the-dark learning environment featuring black lights, programmable LEDs, and interactive lighting systems. Designed as a reward space and a flexible teaching tool, the Glow Room helps sixth graders engage with material in a whole new way.

Another project, the Greenhouse Project, was inspired by student surveys showing that most middle schoolers spend less than 20 minutes a day outdoors. The Chamber’s grant helped create a functioning school garden where students explore plant life cycles, ecosystems, and sustainable agriculture practices. “Students will be growing salsa ingredients to enjoy when we return to school in the fall,” says 6th-grade teacher Katie Bynum. “They will also learn how to maintain plants in a greenhouse environment over the winter months.”  

Katie’s team teacher Tammy Scheel adds, “Students have been able to experience what people in early civilizations experienced–the beginnings of agriculture. Working with their hands, and problem-solving ways to improve what they’re doing. They have garnered real life experience that has been as memorable as it has been beneficial.”

At White House Heritage High School, librarian Christa Cordrey received a grant for Making Inventors, a hands-on learning experience where students become inventors, engineers, and entrepreneurs. After designing and 3D-printing their own product models, students pitch their creations to a panel in a “shark tank”-style showcase.

Educators interested in applying for the 2025 grant cycle must submit proposals by May 20, 2025, at 4 PM. Applications require principal approval and must earn a score of 80 or higher on the scoring rubric to be considered. Teachers who received grants in the 2023–2024 or the 2024-2025 school years are not eligible to reapply this year.

Finalists will be notified no later than June 20, 2025, and may be invited to present their projects at a Chamber function later in the year.

For more information or to apply, educators can contact the White House Area Chamber of Commerce at mandy@whitehousechamber.org or 615-672-3937.

Online applications can be submitted here.

Cover photo: 2024 White House High School 6th Grade Teachers at the check presentation.