The Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment has announced more than 100 grants to educators at K-12 schools in Indiana, enabling the educators to pursue projects that will provide them personal renewal and intellectual revitalization.

Awarded through the Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program, grants of up to $15,000 will fund renewal projects designed to restore a commitment to the education profession and stimulate creativity, which in turn will enhance the educational experiences of their students. This year’s fellows include classroom teachers, principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, school counselors, librarians, and media specialists.

Influenced by various factors that take an emotional and physical toll on educators, many fellows proposed projects to establish healthy habits through exercise, journaling, or meditation, while other projects are focused on intellectual pursuits, such as studying wildlife conservation, learning new languages, and exploring the interplay between faith and scientific discovery. For example, some 2024 fellows will explore national parks across the United States, learn to pilot a single-engine plane, or practice astrophotography at various “dark sky” parks. Since 1987, more than 3,650 Indiana educators have received awards through the program.

“Indiana’s K-12 schools employ talented and dedicated educators who work tirelessly to support the success of Hoosier students each day,” said Lilly Endowment vice president for education Ted Maple. “The renewal projects of this year’s fellows are compelling, and we believe their experiences will rejuvenate them and further strengthen the extraordinary contributions they make to the lives of their students and communities.”

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