From Idea to Impact: How CAPP Grants are Transforming Classrooms

Fourth-grade teacher Alex Crompton gets emotional as she thinks about the new STEM lab at Little Elm Elementary School (formerly Chavez Elementary School).

It’s equipped with a 3-D printer, a beaver cutter, a portable makerspace cart and countless bins full of learning activities and science kits. It’s revolutionary for a school that previously didn’t have a dedicated STEM lab.

“They get to experience this, build and create all on their own with their imagination,” Alex said. “It opens their mind to the fact that they will have a bright future.”

This was made possible by a CoServ Academic Project Partner (CAPP) grant earlier this year. Through this new program, CoServ purchased most of the items for the STEM lab and had them delivered to the campus. The lab served around 450 students this past school year, with many more in the future.

The CAPP program is open to campuses in all 23 school districts we serve. Proposals are reviewed to ensure alignment with program goals, community impact and available resources, said Stephani Mohon, CoServ’s Academic Initiatives Specialist.

“We look forward to partnering with creative educators on fun projects that will benefit students and communities,” said Stephani, a former educator. “They have a lot going on so we can help them by providing the funding and resources, then they can focus their attention on the education of the students.”

All CAPP projects must serve a clear educational or community purpose, be consistent with CoServ’s mission and core values and be reviewed and approved by a CoServ committee.

When teachers have the resources to bring big ideas to life, students gain experiences that can shape future careers in science, engineering, and technology.

Visit CoServ.com/CAPP to learn more about the CAPP program and how to submit your project.