Nominations now open for MPS MELA grants for creative classroom projects
As the nonprofit foundation for Minneapolis Public Schools, Achieve Twin Cities partners with the John & Denise Graves Foundation to administer the Minneapolis Educator Leadership Awards (MELA), which recognize MPS educators who work regularly with students in Title I schools.
Now in its eleventh year, MELA provides grants of up to $10,000 for MPS educators who are creating innovative projects that impact student achievement, go above and beyond to better the lives of students outside the classroom, and improve our school communities.
Educators can be nominated by colleagues, community members and even students. Nominees are then invited to submit proposals, with winning proposals selected by a committee of teachers and staff who are actively working in MPS and have received the award in the past. We're proud to have a process that is entirely educator-focused and led, from nominations to proposals.
2025 MELA grant recipients and projects include:
- Jill Amble, Northeast Middle School
- Inclusion Recreation and Leisure Exploration
- Ronald Buck, Lucy Craft Laney Elementary
- Wrestling Team Start-Up Funding
- Joe Burgoyne, Loring Nicollet Alternative High School
- Environmental Sustainability and Responsibility with Aquaponics & Vermicomposting
- Nicolas Collard, Seward Montessori Elementary
- Circus Arts & Physical Literacy in the Gym
- Julia Gartzke, Ella Baker Global Studies & Humanities Magnet
- Urban Phenology Field Trips
- Jason Miller, Anishinabe Academy
- Let's Play and Learn Outside
- Jacob Nielsen, Transitions Plus
- T+ Shop Classes
- Anwar Mohamed, Sullivan STEAM School
- Culturally Responsive Learning: Somali Books, Technology, and Hands-On Games for Language Development
- Paul Pacheco, Takota Prep
- Indigenous Land-Based Learning in South Minneapolis: Fencing and a Medicine Garden
- Solomon Parham, Olson Middle School
- The Beat Team, Digital Music & Recording Arts
- Ryan Terpening, Edison High School
- Growing Beyond the Classroom: Developing Lifelong Sustainability
- Lauren Tolbert, Longfellow Alternative High School
- Let's Play and Learn Outside
- Dana Williams, Anderson United Middle School
- Inclusion through Experiential Team Building
Nominations for 2026 MELA grants are due on January 10. For more information, visit the Graves Foundation website or contact mpsgrants@achievetwincities.org.
Find out why Lisa Moy from the Graves Foundation loves supporting educators through MELA.