Education and innovation go hand in hand. That’s why the NJEA Frederick L. Hipp Foundation for Excellence in Education has awarded 17 grants for the 2026-27 school year, including three continuation grants, to support creative projects by public school educators totaling $100,954. This total is possible thanks to an additional $10,000 from Visions Federal Credit Union.
Continuation grants are additional grants for programs that had previously received funding within the previous 24 months.
In 2021, Visions Federal Credit Union committed $1 million to NJEA initiatives that support educators and students. As part of that donation, $10,000 is earmarked annually for a Hipp grant that focuses on social justice.
Established in 1993, the Hipp Foundation is dedicated to supporting projects that will enhance and improve the learning environment in schools. Since its creation, more than $2.76 million dollars has been awarded by the foundation in support of 504 innovative educational projects that represent a bold, fresh approach by public school employees.
You can learn more about the history of the Hipp program at njea.org/hipp-history.
2026-27 Frederick L. Hipp Grants
Bergen
A Work in Progress – $4,500
Catherine Slutzky, Margaret Hurley, Robyn Ivey and Adriana Munoz
Northern Valley Education Association
Growing Together – $3,500
Catherine Slutzky, Brianna Gehen, Mark Lampert and Leeann St. Laurent
Northern Valley Education Association
Camden County
Empty Bowls: Rolling Our Art to Celebrate Culture and Fight Hunger – $6,000
Jaime Cream
Cherry Hill Education Association
Gloucester County
Beyond the Bell: Access, Engagement & Belonging – $9,955
Vanessa Poggioli, Jessica Parto and Erica Quiles
Glassboro Education Association
Sensory-Optimized Science Learning Environment – $766
Tara Pridy
Clearview Education Association
Hudson County
Learning with Joy, Leading with Purpose, Lifting with Kindness – $10,000
Joseph Vitale, III
Union City Education Association
Hunterdon County
Growing Forward: Expanding Hydroponics to Aquaponics – II – $10,000
Sharon Ernst
East Amwell Education Association
Reducing School Waste: Biological and Technological Solutions in Action – $6,884
Sharon Ernst
East Amwell Education Association
Mercer County
Pollinator Literature Garden – $5,702
Angela Castaneda, Rachel Cunningham, Jessica Myers and Mora Pattik
East Windsor Education Association
Morris County
Camp Calm Revamped and Recharged – II – $5,000
Rebecca Baskinger
Kinnelon Education Association
Pawsitive Pathways: A School Pet Therapy Initiative – $2,500
Stacey Van Seggern
Parsippany Troy-Hills Education Association
Ocean County
Eco Explorers – $4,500
Kristine LaPorte and Susan Morgan
Manchester Township Education Association
Passaic County
Full STEAM Ahead Into the Future: Building Together – $8,090
Alyssa Bitar and Gemmerton Reyes
Manchester Regional Education Association
Somerset County
The Courtyard Garden: A Four-Season Greenhouse Initiative – $10,000
Jennifer Caprari, Amanda Bonnell, Anthony Gagliardi, Maureen Kelly, Sarah Ostrobod, Michael
Reynolds, Kevin Schauer, Mark Snowden and Jarret Stagaard
Watchung Hills Regional Education Association
Sussex County
Building Curiosity of STEAM Education Through Coding – $5,628
Christopher Cook and Jessica Bishel
Vernon Township Education Association
Expand and Sustain the Holocaust and Genocide Research Center – II – $6,513
*Visions Grant for Social Justice
Mary Houghtaling
Kittatinny Education Association
Union County
The Builder’s Club: Building Businesses, Shaping Futures – $1,416
Dr. Jenel Anderson
Rahway Education Association