Academics
Faculty Innovation Awards
Faculty Innovation Awards
Where does curricular innovation come from? It comes from the minds of creative teachers who are dedicated to their craft and eager to elevate teaching and learning to the next level. Faculty Innovation Awards recognize and support teachers who seek to develop and implement teaching and learning experiences that transcend the normal school curriculum. These grants, awarded to faculty members based on their ability to create a proposal for a teaching experience that transcends the normal school curriculum, offer support for classroom materials and stipends for planning and curriculum development.
We are grateful for an anonymous current family, the Endowment for Faculty Compensation & Teaching Excellence, and the EE Ford Foundation for the funding. This program spans multiple decades at Brimmer, and is an amazing source of curriculum innovation in all three divisions of the School.
Where does curricular innovation come from? It comes from the minds of creative teachers who are dedicated to their craft and eager to elevate teaching and learning to the next level. Faculty Innovation Awards recognize and support teachers who seek to develop and implement teaching and learning experiences that transcend the normal school curriculum. These grants, awarded to faculty members based on their ability to create a proposal for a teaching experience that transcends the normal school curriculum, offer support for classroom materials and stipends for planning and curriculum development.
We are grateful for an anonymous current family, the Endowment for Faculty Compensation & Teaching Excellence, and the EE Ford Foundation for the funding. This program spans multiple decades at Brimmer, and is an amazing source of curriculum innovation in all three divisions of the School.
2026-2027 Innovation Awards
Student-Built AI Lab: Training and Understanding Language Models
Darol Ware
This proposal creates opportunities that extend beyond what is currently possible in the classroom
Darol Ware
This proposal creates opportunities that extend beyond what is currently possible in the classroom
and aligns directly with the goals of the Faculty Innovation Award. Students will deepen their understanding of advanced concepts in computer science by applying them in meaningful ways. They will develop higher-order thinking skills as they analyze the strengths and limitations of their own models. Read More...
VR/AR Integration in Middle School Science
Jack Carroll
This proposal strives to introduce Virtual and Augmented Reality into Middle School Science using ClassVR Xplorer headsets and Eduverse curriculum management platform. Funds contribute to an enhanced student learning experience that makes abstract or complex content more accessible and engaging, builds students’ digital literacy, and advances Brimmer & May’s “Bold Thinking” strategic technology vision. Read More...
Jack Carroll
2025-2026 Innovation Awards
Electronics Prototyping with Voltera V-One
Chris Hardman
Chris proposes to purchase a Voltera V-One for the maker space. The Voltera V-One is a compact desktop PCB prototyping machine designed for rapid electronics development, and with the drill attachment, it can also perform precision drilling for through-hole components, expanding its capabilities beyond standard surface-mount designs. Read more...
Chris proposes to purchase a Voltera V-One for the maker space. The Voltera V-One is a compact desktop PCB prototyping machine designed for rapid electronics development, and with the drill attachment, it can also perform precision drilling for through-hole components, expanding its capabilities beyond standard surface-mount designs. Read more...
MS Book Club Podcast
Caitlin Johnson, Elyse Seltzer, and Andrea Underhill-Curtin
This proposal seeks to establish an innovative middle school book group program that integrates traditional literacy practices with digital media creation through podcasting. The $6,000 classroom funding will transform our approach to literature by empowering students to select their own reading materials and document their literary journeys through collaborative podcast production. Read more...
This proposal seeks to establish an innovative middle school book group program that integrates traditional literacy practices with digital media creation through podcasting. The $6,000 classroom funding will transform our approach to literature by empowering students to select their own reading materials and document their literary journeys through collaborative podcast production. Read more...
2024-2025 Innovation Awards
Inspiring Future Climate Change Leaders
Brian Binkowski & Ina Patel
Brian and Ina's grant will enhance the current Grade 5 Science Program. They plan to completely replace the final unit, cell biology, with a STEAM investigation on renewable energy. The performance outcomes of this curriculum change will be evident in the types of solutions (i.e., projects) the students devise. Read more...
Brian and Ina's grant will enhance the current Grade 5 Science Program. They plan to completely replace the final unit, cell biology, with a STEAM investigation on renewable energy. The performance outcomes of this curriculum change will be evident in the types of solutions (i.e., projects) the students devise. Read more...
Enhancing Team & Community Building Materials in MS
Andrew Beal
Andrew's grant will be used to purchase a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) kit to be used throughout the year in Middle School. The “Ultimate Kit” will be held in Mr. Beal’s office. As Director of Student Life, he will ensure the materials will be used by every student in the Middle School multiple times a year. Read more...
Andrew's grant will be used to purchase a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) kit to be used throughout the year in Middle School. The “Ultimate Kit” will be held in Mr. Beal’s office. As Director of Student Life, he will ensure the materials will be used by every student in the Middle School multiple times a year. Read more...
Making Augmented Reality a Brimmer Reality
Kathryn Lee
Kathryn's grant will be used to purchase two Apple Vision Pro headsets for use in the Upper School. Exposure to this cutting-edge technology will position our students for success in Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) content creation and programming. Read more...
Kathryn's grant will be used to purchase two Apple Vision Pro headsets for use in the Upper School. Exposure to this cutting-edge technology will position our students for success in Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) content creation and programming. Read more...
2023-2024 Innovation Awards
MiniOne PCR/Gel Electrophoresis Systems
Cecelia Pan
Cecelia's grant was used to purchase a MiniOne BioScience Classroom Kit. This relatively inexpensive kit contains both PCR and Electrophoresis systems for teaching hands-on biotechnology labs in the classroom. Read More...
Cecelia Pan
Cecelia's grant was used to purchase a MiniOne BioScience Classroom Kit. This relatively inexpensive kit contains both PCR and Electrophoresis systems for teaching hands-on biotechnology labs in the classroom. Read More...
The Spellbinding Power of Bookbinding
Will Arndt & Christine DeNizio
Will and Christine's grant was used to fund the summer workshop at Mass Art on “Handmade Books.” In addition it funded the purchase of supplies needed for a capstone interdisciplinary project for 7th grade English and Art. Students created hardcover notebooks in October and spent the rest of the year filling their pages. Read More...
Will Arndt & Christine DeNizio
Will and Christine's grant was used to fund the summer workshop at Mass Art on “Handmade Books.” In addition it funded the purchase of supplies needed for a capstone interdisciplinary project for 7th grade English and Art. Students created hardcover notebooks in October and spent the rest of the year filling their pages. Read More...
2022-2023 Innovation Awards
Lower School Library Audio Solutions
Stephanie Golas
Ms. Golas used her grant to purchase a variety of audio solutions for the Lower School Library. These books and devices are used in the library, for teachers to borrow for classroom use, and for student borrowing. Most of these tools are already being deployed in public libraries and have been well tested for reliability and quality. Read More...
Stephanie Golas
Ms. Golas used her grant to purchase a variety of audio solutions for the Lower School Library. These books and devices are used in the library, for teachers to borrow for classroom use, and for student borrowing. Most of these tools are already being deployed in public libraries and have been well tested for reliability and quality. Read More...
Fluency Readers in World Language
Nicole Rudolph
Ms. Rudolph's grant was used to purchase fluency readers for several classes – specifically, for all Mandarin levels, Spanish I and 2, and French I and 2. She worked with each teacher in the department to carefully select readers of their choices, as well as books for a library collection, that will be used by students to increase their comprehensible input skills in reading fluency. Read More...
Nicole Rudolph
Ms. Rudolph's grant was used to purchase fluency readers for several classes – specifically, for all Mandarin levels, Spanish I and 2, and French I and 2. She worked with each teacher in the department to carefully select readers of their choices, as well as books for a library collection, that will be used by students to increase their comprehensible input skills in reading fluency. Read More...
Archive
2021-2022
Horticultural Garden - Andrew Beal, MS Math Teacher & MS Dean of Students, Matt Gallon, MS Science Teacher, and Jared Smith, MS Math & Science Teacher
Flat Bed UV Printer - Chris Hardman, Science Teacher & Director of STEAM Program
Amazon Freshwater Ecosystem - Matt Gallon, MS Science Teacher
Budding Builders Program - Sarah Wylie, Kindergarten Teacher & LS SEL and Global Education Coordinator, and Rachael Rabinovitz, LS Teacher
2020-2021
Yoga, Pilates, Mindfulness Program - Andrew Beal, MS Math Teacher & MS Dean of Students, and Julia Jennings, MS Math & Science Teacher
Digital Pianos, Keyboards, and Software - Luca Antonucci, MS & US Band Director
2019-2020
iPads for Technology Classes - Jen Kunkel, Director of Instructional Technology
Middle School Tech Literacy Software - Matt Gallon, MS Science Teacher, and Kathryn Lee, Director of Innovation and Design and MS & US Arts Teacher
2018-2019
AP Literature Podcast Equipment - Kenley Smith, US English Teacher
Tower Garden Systems - Megan Dolan,Director of Library, and Bethany Shannon, MS Science Teacher
1st Grade Outdoor STEAM Programs - Sara Murray, Grade 1 Teacher
2017-2018
Hastings Media Lab - Christian Kiley, Media Arts Teacher
2021-2022
Horticultural Garden - Andrew Beal, MS Math Teacher & MS Dean of Students, Matt Gallon, MS Science Teacher, and Jared Smith, MS Math & Science Teacher
Flat Bed UV Printer - Chris Hardman, Science Teacher & Director of STEAM Program
Amazon Freshwater Ecosystem - Matt Gallon, MS Science Teacher
Budding Builders Program - Sarah Wylie, Kindergarten Teacher & LS SEL and Global Education Coordinator, and Rachael Rabinovitz, LS Teacher
2020-2021
Yoga, Pilates, Mindfulness Program - Andrew Beal, MS Math Teacher & MS Dean of Students, and Julia Jennings, MS Math & Science Teacher
Digital Pianos, Keyboards, and Software - Luca Antonucci, MS & US Band Director
2019-2020
iPads for Technology Classes - Jen Kunkel, Director of Instructional Technology
Middle School Tech Literacy Software - Matt Gallon, MS Science Teacher, and Kathryn Lee, Director of Innovation and Design and MS & US Arts Teacher
2018-2019
AP Literature Podcast Equipment - Kenley Smith, US English Teacher
Tower Garden Systems - Megan Dolan,Director of Library, and Bethany Shannon, MS Science Teacher
1st Grade Outdoor STEAM Programs - Sara Murray, Grade 1 Teacher
2017-2018
Hastings Media Lab - Christian Kiley, Media Arts Teacher
STEAM Design - Matt Gallon, MS Science Teacher
2016-2017
Lower School Garden Classroom - Andrew Stattel, Grade 2 Teacher and LS Science Coordinator
Apple Visual Arts Enhancements - Kathryn Lee, Director of Innovation and Design and MS & US Arts Teacher
2015-2016
Music Studio - Frank Van Atta, Director of MS & US Music
Design Lab - Ina Patel, LS Director of Teaching and Learning
2014-2015
PK Simple Machines - Elizabeth Hickey, PK Teacher, and Alina DeKay, PK Teacher
Visual Arts Maker Space - Kathryn Lee, Director of Innovation and Design and MS & US Arts Teacher, and Jason Bock, Director of Technology Infrastructure
1st Grade STEAM Lab - Sara Murray, Grade 1 Teacher, and Molly Serventi-Gleeson, LS Teacher
2013-2014
LabQuest 2 - Cecelia Pan, Director of Hiring & Educational Initiatives and Science Department Chair
Mobile Maker Lab - Chris Hardman, Science Teacher & Director of STEAM Program
2012-2013
AppleTV for Music - Elizabeth Wooster, LS Music Teacher
iPads and Pleco Mandarin Software - Yuhong Xu, Mandarin Teacher
2016-2017
Lower School Garden Classroom - Andrew Stattel, Grade 2 Teacher and LS Science Coordinator
Apple Visual Arts Enhancements - Kathryn Lee, Director of Innovation and Design and MS & US Arts Teacher
2015-2016
Music Studio - Frank Van Atta, Director of MS & US Music
Design Lab - Ina Patel, LS Director of Teaching and Learning
2014-2015
PK Simple Machines - Elizabeth Hickey, PK Teacher, and Alina DeKay, PK Teacher
Visual Arts Maker Space - Kathryn Lee, Director of Innovation and Design and MS & US Arts Teacher, and Jason Bock, Director of Technology Infrastructure
1st Grade STEAM Lab - Sara Murray, Grade 1 Teacher, and Molly Serventi-Gleeson, LS Teacher
2013-2014
LabQuest 2 - Cecelia Pan, Director of Hiring & Educational Initiatives and Science Department Chair
Mobile Maker Lab - Chris Hardman, Science Teacher & Director of STEAM Program
2012-2013
AppleTV for Music - Elizabeth Wooster, LS Music Teacher
iPads and Pleco Mandarin Software - Yuhong Xu, Mandarin Teacher
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Brimmer and May School
69 Middlesex Road
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
As an inclusive private school community, Brimmer welcomes students who will increase the diversity of our school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or any other characteristic protected from discrimination under state or federal law, in the administration of our educational policies, admissions practices, financial aid decisions, and athletic and other school-administered programs.