Hands-On Learning Powered by the Duluth Public Schools Fund

Educators are always finding innovative ways to meet the ever-growing needs of their students by expanding learning beyond the traditional classroom and creating hands-on opportunities for growth, connection, and discovery.

Created in 1984, The Endowment Fund for the Duluth Public Schools represents a community-based effort to provide supplemental funding to enrich the academic, cultural, athletic, and overall experience of students and staff, and to encourage and reward creativity and innovation in the pursuit of excellence in education in the Duluth Public Schools.

The following highlights showcase just a few of the meaningful ways this support is making a difference in classrooms across Duluth.

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Students Growing Together

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At Rockridge Academy, a mental health treatment facility serving students in grades 2–12, growth is measured in more ways than one.

Through a shared commitment to collaboration and accountability, students are encouraged to support one another while working toward positive change—both individually and as a community.

“We want to use the funds to create a garden,” educator Annette Petersmeyer shared.

What began as a simple idea quickly took root. With many hands involved, students transformed an old sandbox into a thriving garden filled with peas, beans, peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini, alongside pollinators that now bring the space to life.

Across age groups, students worked together to build and maintain the garden from seed to harvest. In a setting where social-emotional growth is just as important as academic progress, the project offered something deeper: a chance to focus outward, build trust, and take responsibility for something larger than themselves.

“The students will get to work on a project where they can see the value of working together to achieve a desired outcome. They will learn a life skill that can be applied in their own homes, or in the future.”    - Annette Petersmeyer

The harvest now finds its way into Home Ec classrooms, where students prepare meals using what they’ve grown—turning teamwork into something tangible, nourishing both body and confidence.

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Not Your Typical Math Lesson

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Math doesn’t always spark excitement.  

However, in Tiffany Benoit’s fourth grade classroom at Lowell Elementary, that’s beginning to change.

With support from the Duluth Public Schools Fund, Tiffany is able to continue a hands-on approach that brings math to life: designing and building personalized cribbage boards.

As students measure dimensions, map out designs, paint their boards, and help drill precise holes, math becomes something they can see, touch, and create. What might otherwise feel abstract turns into an engaging experience.

Through the process, students learn how to play cribbage, a game rooted in counting, strategy, and numerical thinking, using boards they made themselves. The excitement doesn’t stop in the classroom. Many students bring their boards home, teaching the game to their families and extending their learning beyond school walls.

By blending creativity with problem-solving, this creative approach helps students build confidence in their math skills while discovering that learning can be both meaningful and fun.

“I’ll be able to use the materials for years to come!” Tiffany shares.

Bringing Art to Every Student

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At Denfeld High School, educator Corrie Conely is expanding access to practice creativity for students who might otherwise miss out on the art classroom.

Through Art Enrichment, Corrie creates space for students with physical and cognitive disabilities to engage in meaningful, developmentally appropriate art experiences. For many students, this may be for the first time.  

With financial support from the Duluth Public Schools Fund, students now have access to high-quality materials like watercolor paper, washable paints, and silicone beads. These tools open the door to creativity while also supporting fine motor development, cognitive growth, and overall mental well-being.

In one classroom, students worked over several days to create winter-inspired pieces—layering watercolor backgrounds, building snowy foregrounds, and crafting fuzzy snow creatures by hand. The pride in their work was radiant.

One student, reluctant to part with her finished piece, didn’t want it displayed in the hallway—she wanted to take it home right away. After some compromise, her artwork was proudly displayed for a day before making its way home, where she believed it belonged.

“This student loves art, and it makes her day better every time we have Art Enrichment together,” Corrie shared.

By bringing creative opportunities directly to students who may not otherwise have access, this program is doing more than making art. It’s building confidence, supporting growth, and creating moments of joy.

Fostering Impactful Education Systems

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Since 1996, the Duluth Public Schools Fund has awarded over $600,000 and supported more than 375 projects across the district, empowering educators to bring creative, student-centered ideas to life.

The three programs highlighted here offer just a glimpse into the thoughtful, innovative work happening every day in Duluth classrooms. Behind each project are educators who are going above and beyond to meet students where they are, creating opportunities for growth, confidence, and connection.

If you have a moment, consider thanking a teacher who has made a difference in your life or your child’s. Their work shapes not only individual students, but the future of our entire community.

Because when we invest in students, as well as the educators who support them, we are building a stronger, more resilient future for all.

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If you are considering making a donation to the Duluth Public Schools Fund, please click here.