Who we are
For more than 60 years, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation has awarded more than $170 million in grants to Ohio’s non-religious, public PK-12 school programs for a wide variety of projects and initiatives that foster DEEP LEARNING and EXCELLENT TEACHING. Begun in 1959 as a joint effort of Martha Holden Jennings and her nephew, Arthur S. Holden, the Foundation has sought to support the highest quality teaching, and teachers, across Ohio.
Use the button below for a link to a downloadable copy of our Martha Holden Jennings Foundation logo.
We are pleased to announce that our Board of Directors approved $459,084 in grants on March 26, 2024
The following Impact Partners received grants for their programs:
Anthony Wayne Local Schools - $17,000 - Continuing SEL and Behavior Needs
ARTFUL Ohio Inc. - $10,000 - Batrachomyomachia-A Tiny Homeric Epic
Arts Commission of Greater Toledo Inc. - $18,000 - Young Artists at Work (YAAW)
Cleveland Public Theatre Inc. - $15,000 - Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP)
Columbus City Schools - $9,408 - Community Garden and Outdoor Learning
Columbus Council on World Affairs - $15,000 - Global Fluency Training
Crestwood Local Schools - $8,000 - Inchy Bookworm Vending Machine
ESC of Lake Erie West - $5,700 - Aspiring Teacher Internship 2024
Fairfield City Schools - $15,000 - The Grid Method: Mastery Learning
Invent Now Inc. - $14,520 - 2024 Camp Invention Program
Kent State University Foundation - $25,360 - Becoming a Brave Teacher
Lake Erie Ink-A Writing Space for Youth - $9,896 - Audio Storytelling Workshop
Licking Heights Local Schools - $11,200 - Eureka Project
Marlington Local Schools - $15,000 - Farewell to Old, Hello to New Ways
Muse Machine Inc. - $15,000 - Summer Institute & Extended Activities
Ottawa Hills Local Schools - $14,500 - Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
The City Club of Cleveland - $25,500 - City Club Educational Engagement
VH1 Save the Music Foundation - $35,000 - Columbus Music Saves
Western Reserve Historical Society - $15,000 - Youth Entrepreneurship Education
Wooster City Schools - $15,000 - Metacognition in Mathematics Part 2
Cleveland State University Foundation - $25,000 - Teacher Licensure for CS Education
ESC of the Western Reserve - $35,000 - Three Signature Tutoring Programs
Partnerships for Authentic Learning and Leadership - $30,000 - System of Support: Next Steps
Teach for America, Inc. - $35,000 - Targeted Support of Ohio Teachers
University of Cincinnati Foundation - $25,000 - GCSC Makers in Education Intensive
An additional $13,504 was awarded to individual teachers as part of our Grants-to-Educators Program
Grants-to-Educators
Jennifer Buckler - Western Local Schools - $3,000 - Chick Embryology
Erin Courlas - Pickerington Local Schools - $2,991 - Literacy and Justice for All
Michael Edom - Cleveland Metropolitan Schools - $3,000 - Earth Day Comes Alive
Dr. Brian Friedt - Cuyahoga Heights Schools - $2,800 - Community Greenhouse and Gardens
Michael Starr - Akron Public Schools - $1,713 - Women Making an Impression
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Appoints New Executive Director
The Board of Directors of the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation has appointed Dr. Renée T. Willis as the Foundation's new Executive Director. Dr. Willis will begin her tenure on January 8, 2024. "Dr. Willis is a transformational leader," said Anne Juster, MHJF's Board Chair. "Her intelligence, judgment, and vision will significantly improve the quality of K-12 education throughout the state. She is a skilled communicator who will excel as the face and spokesperson of the Foundation."
When accepting the position, Dr. Willis remarked, “I am humbled to have been chosen to lead the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation. As an Ohio public school product, teacher, and administrator, I look forward to continuing the vision that Martha Holden Jennings had for supporting Ohio’s PK-12 public school students and educators.”
A Cleveland native and a graduate of Cleveland Public Schools, Dr. Willis earned a Doctorate in Urban Education from Cleveland State University, a Masters in Educational Leadership from Baldwin-Wallace College, and B.S. in Mathematics from Spelman College. She served as the Superintendent of Richmond Heights Local Schools for the past 10 years. Her career in public education began over 30 years ago as a teacher, and later, as a principal in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District. Prior to her work in Richmond Heights, Dr. Willis served in senior leadership roles with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, with the last position being Chief Strategic Implementation Officer.
We look forward to introducing this talented leader to Ohio educators as well as our educational partners throughout the state in upcoming weeks. Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue our work as a thought leader, connector, and avid supporter of deep learning and excellent teaching in Ohio.
Dr. Willis has been highlighted in Crain’s Cleveland Business New Faces in New Places issue and was interviewed on Ashland University’s Take the Lead Podcast - click links below to read and listen.
Renee T. Willis | New Faces in New Places 2023 | Crain's Cleveland Business
crainscleveland.com
Take The Lead - Dr. Renee Willis, Executive Director, Martha Holden Jennings Foundation by Take The Lead: An Ashland University Professional Learning Podcast
“Through my Jennings grant, my students practice language arts skills in the context of science. We read about topics and conduct hands-on experiments. Instead of me giving them all the information, they investigate and become leaders of their own learning.”
“Did we do a little good today?”
— Arthur S. Holden, Jr.
How we work
We believe the capacity to foster the development young people to the maximum possible extent in Ohio’s PK-12 public schools. Ohio’s students is primarily built by the teaching profession and partners that are committed to deep learning and excellent teaching.
It is our aim to support teachers, school leaders, and their partners in providing enriching learning environments so that students become empowered to learn and think deeply, enabling them to develop their passions, direct their lives, become responsible and contributing individuals, and achieve sustained, personal success.
Our activities focus on three specific areas
we feel have the greatest impact:
Provide leadership as a thought partner connecting educators, institutions and experts across disciplines.
Invest in grant projects that show thoughtful planning and the potential for lasting impact on students’ growth and learning.
Recognize the excellence of Ohio’s teachers and leaders who have demonstrated outstanding work.
Grantees in action
Follow us to hear the latest from all across Ohio:
“The Foundation gives us hope...(and) provides us with opportunities
to think big.”
-Jack Hatert, Assistant Principal
Yellow Springs, OH
Highlights of students experiencing
deep
learning:
actively and deeply drawn in to learning
engaged in multi-step learning
conducting multi-faceted analysis
inspiring new thinking and behaviors
encouraged to be self-directed, critical thinkers
collaborating with peers, debating and discussing
expressing creativity and connections across disciplines
experiencing self-satisfaction and intellectual curiosity
Highlights of a teacher demonstrating
excellent
teaching:
presents an intellectually challenging and globally-aware curriculum
is thoughtful, creative and caring, ensuring access for every student
inspires a life-long love of learning
connects concepts with personal experience
uses technology as a tool to further learning
collaborates and communicates with colleagues and parents
assumes responsibility for his/her professional growth and development using thoughtful and deliberate improvement cycles.
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