A seat at history’s table and a thoughtful start to the day at SBAI
Becoming a delegate to the First Continental Congress. Working through a puzzle before the school day begins. At Spring Branch Academic Institute, two projects receiving 2026 J. Landon Short Mini Grants for Educators will give students meaningful opportunities to think, connect and explore.
Congratulations to the following grant recipients:
Grant recipient | Project |
|---|---|
Catherine Wood-Sponsel | A Dinner of Historic Proportions |
Teresa Dolan | Building Thinking Before the Bell |
Wood-Sponsel’s A Dinner of Historic Proportions invites students to take a seat at history’s table. During the Historic Dinner Party, students “become” a figure from the First Continental Congress and participate in a robust discussion from that person’s perspective.
The experience challenges students to move beyond recalling historical facts. Representing a figure’s views requires understanding the person’s beliefs, considering the context of the time and responding thoughtfully to others.
The meal adds another connection to the past and a partnership across SBISD. Guthrie Center students prepare food with a nod to the historical period, bringing their culinary learning to an experience that helps SBAI students explore history.
Dolan’s Building Thinking Before the Bell creates opportunities for students who arrive early to begin their day calmly and engage their minds without a screen. The grant will fund puzzles, blocks and other hands-on materials, grouped by activity for students to explore.
These activities offer students an inviting way to think creatively, work through challenges and settle into the school day. Whether tackling a puzzle or building with manipulatives, students can start the morning with curiosity and purpose.
Together, these projects show how educators’ ideas can enrich both classroom learning and the everyday experiences that help students feel ready to learn.
Made possible through generous community support, the J. Landon Short Mini Grants for Educators help turn creative ideas into meaningful classroom experiences. It’s #CollectiveGreatness in action.
You can help make great things happen for kids, too. Visit SBISD’s Engage page to learn how to support students, classrooms and schools.