The Hambrick Foundation is thrilled to announce a new grant delivered today to The Excellerated Teaching Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida. This grant will fund a transformative upgrade to their sensory room, ensuring students with sensory processing needs receive the personalized support they deserve.
Zoe Vasbinder, a teacher at The Excellerated Teaching Academy, shared the importance of this project. In her application, she wrote, “Enhanced sensory equipment will provide individualized sensory experiences, reducing anxiety and improving focus and learning outcomes.”
With the funds, the academy plans to install state-of-the-art equipment, including interactive light panels, tactile surfaces, and calming auditory devices. These additions will create a space designed to stimulate and calm, enabling students to better regulate emotions and behaviors. The project also includes specialized training for staff, ensuring the tools are used effectively to meet each student's unique needs.
Goals of this project include:
Improving sensory integration
Reducing anxiety
Enhancing focus and learning outcomes
Fostering better social interactions
Success will be measured through observational assessments, tracking behavior changes, and analyzing academic performance. Feedback from students, parents, and staff will play a vital role in refining and improving the room’s resources over time.
This initiative underscores the academy’s commitment to inclusivity.
“Our school and community are dedicated to ensuring all students have access to supportive environments that help them thrive,” Zoe said.
We are proud to partner with The Excellerated Teaching Academy on this meaningful project. Together, we are working toward creating environments where every student can succeed.
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