Foundations in Education Announces 2026 Innovation & Leadership Grants
March 2, 2026 | Emily Carriero | Media Mentions News
Foundations in Education Inc is pleased to announce more than $145,000 in innovation grants awarded to educators in Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools for twenty-one projects, with award amounts ranging from $750 to $15,000. Now in its ninth year, this competitive grant program was the first of its kind in the Diocese of Bridgeport to offer innovation and leadership grants to teachers and administrators.
The awards reception, hosted by Foundations in Education (FIE), was held at Sacred Heart University’s Discovery Science Center and Planetarium on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
Addressing this year’s recipients, FIE Grants Committee Chairman Henry Rondon said, “The Innovation and Leadership Grants we recognize tonight represent the very best of what we can bring to our students and schools. This is the definition of what an outstanding Catholic education looks like, and it is what inspires all of us who support this work to keep striving to do more.”
The grant program promotes excellence in Catholic education by supporting teachers’ creative projects, innovative practices, and professional development. Funded initiatives are intended to benefit multiple grade levels and have a lasting impact on student learning.
This year, St. Joseph High School received two grant awards. Principal Nancy DiBuono shared, “Thank you for the two awards that were given last night at the Foundations in Education award reception. We greatly appreciate all your support over the past years and your devotion to Catholic Schools.”
Educators submitted grant proposals between September 15 and October 31, 2025. The Grants Committee of the Board carefully reviewed, evaluated, and ranked each proposal before submitting recommendations to the Foundations’ Board of Trustees for approval. The committee, led by Henry Rondon, includes Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, Fraser Randolph, Paula Summa, FIE Former Executive Director Holly Doherty-Lemoine, and ex-officio member Director of Personalized Learning, Sarah Beck.
The Innovation & Leadership Grants program was the vision of Bishop Frank Caggiano, who believes that supporting educators’ creative ideas fosters innovation across all diocesan schools.
At the awards ceremony in Bridgeport, grant recipients shared their creative visions with Foundations’ Board of Trustees, Grant Committee members, and donors who gathered for the event. The event was sponsored by Milestone C, a Connecticut-based education company dedicated to shaping future STEM leaders.
In addition to celebrating this year’s recipients, a former awardee showcased an exhibit of her 2025-2026 grant project currently being implemented. Jackie Carvalho-Sullivan from St. Joseph High School in Trumbull presented her SJ World Language Podcast project.
Jackie shared, “My students told me they would be waiting for me to tell them all about the reaction of those who had a chance to see our project. The grant from your institution has really helped us create so many more opportunities to enhance our teaching and to help the students grow.”
Thanks to the generosity of donors, Foundations in Education continues its commitment to strengthening and transforming Catholic education throughout Fairfield County.
2026-2027_Innovation & Leadership Grants
- All Saints Catholic School, Norwalk: Digital Stage Design Lab by Maurya Brown and Erin Wallace $15,000
- All Saints Catholic School, Norwalk: Saints in Focus: Student Media Innovation by Beth Cuthbertson and John Mezzacappa $5,000
- Greenwich Catholic School: Bringing SPACE to GCS by Caroline Telesz $750
- Greenwich Catholic School: Building Thinking Classrooms by Vincent Mascola and Laura Moore $3,320
- Greenwich Catholic School: Inquiry and Investigation in Action by Kerry Greenfield, Nicole Howard, and Val Palacio $4,960
- Kolbe Cathedral Preparatory School, Bridgeport: Biology & Forensics DNA Exploration by Jim O’Connell $5,000
- Kolbe Cathedral Preparatory School, Bridgeport: The Self-Study Language Center by Mariana Celeste Moheno Perez $10,000
- St. Catherine of Siena School, Trumbull: Enhancing the Human Classroom Connection with Smart Technology by Jessica Pincheon $11,500
- St. James School, Stratford: Living Garden Project by Becky Newman $5,000
- St. James School, Stratford: Technology in the Classroom by Beth McCormick $7,500
- St. Joseph High School, Trumbull: Eucharistic Renewal and Integration Across Campus Life by Rev. Ferry Galbert and Raymond Kingsbury $15,000
- St. Joseph High School, Trumbull: Innovative Chemistry Learning by Sarah Reed $11,874
- St. Mary School, Bethel: Sensory Overload! by Rebecca Press $1,906
- St. Mary School, Bethel: Teacher Leadership & Professional Development Cohort by Jason Ford $5,200
- St. Peter School, Danbury: Adjustable Basketball Hoops by Richard Romaine $11,000
- St. Peter School, Danbury: Enhancing ESL Students Through Interactive Technology by Valerie Boyle and Mary Moody $8,000
- St. Peter School, Danbury: Innovative Minds by Brian Conyngham $9,974
- St. Rose of Lima School, Newtown: Code, Create, Compete by Gina Quinn $3,600
- St. Thomas Aquinas School, Fairfield: School Broadcasting Station by Paul Piorek $1,454
- St. Thomas Aquinas School, Fairfield: Stories in Motion: Bringing French to Life by Michelle Durkos $4,500
- St. Thomas Aquinas School, Fairfield: Voices of Faith: Enhancing Arts and Worship Through Sound Innovation by Marcelle Morrisey $6,000