Nine Lawrence public school district educators with creative teaching ideas will be rewarded today with a slice of nearly $10,000 from Lawrence Schools Foundation.

“Innovation grants help us retain good teachers, support professional development and challenge educators to turn classrooms into real-life learning experiences,” said Mike Maddox, the foundation board’s president.

Presentation of grant awards will be at 5:30 p.m. today at Lawrence Visitors Center, 402 N. Second St.

The foundation received requests totaling $25,000 and selected eight proposals:

• Keri Austin-Janousek and Karen Cochran, West Junior High School, $2,500 for English literature circles.
• Alan Gleue, Lawrence High School, $2,453 for conceptual electricity.
• Janet Reeder, Pinckney School, $2,208 for a research continuum.
• Deena Shipley, Central Junior High School, $1,000 for forensic science.

Presentation of the awards coincides with kickoff of the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s fall fund-raising campaign. For more information, contact the foundation at 832-5000.

• Pam Barnett, LHS, $840 for Math Power.
• Patrick Wedel, Prairie Park School, $500 for Write Time for Kids.
• Jacque Shipstead, Sunflower School, $356 for math literature.
• Carol Alvarez, Deerfield School, $105 for Secrets of the Soil.

Grant announcements follow a survey of teachers and educational staff who indicated additional funding support would be best used for innovative classroom instruction.