Awarded by Friends of Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (FOCRLS), Faculty Innovation Grants fund projects created by staff members to energize learning and expand services for students. Grantees have included teachers, club advisors, counselors, librarians, liaisons, social workers, and administrators across departments and programs of Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (CRLS), the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA), and the High School Extension Program (HSEP). Since 2007, we have had 286 grantees (as of 2026) who’ve received grants up to $1,000 for individually led projects and collaborations. The experiences, equipment, materials, improvements, and resources Faculty Innovation Grants have funded ─ including the founding of Falcon’s Market, the School Store, and the Bike Repair Shop ─ have over the years so far benefited an estimated number of students exceeding 10,000!
Congratulations to our 2026 Faculty Innovation Grantees!:
Elizabeth Bendler, Physics Teacher and Paige Graves, Instructional Technology Specialist — “Increasing Visibility in the Classroom with Collaborative Lab Spaces” to add monitors to every lab bench where students, via their Chromebooks, will be able to mirror the BenQ board
Dr. Sunny Gupta, Teacher and Hiking Club Advisor — “White Mountains Hiking Trip” to transport a diverse group of students to New Hampshire for a 2-day, 2-night hiking and outdoor nature experience on Mount Washington
AnnJilla Rogers-Jensen, Visual Arts Teacher & Lead Teacher at H.S.E.P. — “School of Rock at H.S.E.P. Empowering Student Voice Through Music” to purchase essential music equipment (an electric guitar, electronic drums, and amps or a small PA system) to transform our art space into a creative music lab
Julian Salazar, Math Teacher and Lauren Schneider, Health Teacher — “CRLS Trivia Club Start-Up Funds” to increase CRLS’s competitive edge in Quiz Bowl tournaments, both locally and regionally
Amy Dolan, Math Teacher — “Graphing Calcs in non AP Senior Math Classes!” to purchase TI84 Plus color graphing calculators to narrow the achievement gap between AP and non AP math students
Emma Doyle, SEI History Teacher, MLE Department and Ellen Lee, SEI Mathematics Teacher, MLE Department — “CRLS MLE Ambassador Program Launch & Induction Celebration” to purchase customized jackets for ambassadors as well as food and supplies for a launch party
Janani Nathan, Guidance Counselor — “One CRLS: Celebrating Our Global Community” to purchase food from area restaurants representing the cultural regions being celebrated at a series of lunchtime events
Jennifer Sloan Green, RSTA-Business Educator and DECA-Business Club Advisor — “ CRLS 3rd Annual Credit for Life Financial Literacy Fair” to purchase decorations, signage, prizes, favors, swag, and snacks
Dr. Norbert Hootsmans, Math Teacher and MUN Club Advisor — “ CRLS Model UN’s BridgeMUN Conference, now with Cambridge partners” to fund a guest speaker, provide discounts and snacks for delegates, and purchase supplies including customized award gavels
Vera Duarte (not pictured), Lead Teacher, International Center — “Bringing the Prom Experience to Immigrant Youth” to provide half-price prom tickets to financially and acamically eligible international students