The Fernandina Beach High School Foundation closed out the calendar year with another meaningful investment in local classrooms, awarding its second round of Program Grants for the 2025–2026 school year in December. This milestone for the foundation, which saw the distribution of nine grants totaling nearly $7,000 to educators at Fernandina Beach High School (FBHS) and Fernandina Beach Middle School (FBMS), continues the foundation’s commitment to hands-on, student-centered learning.
How does the process work? Teachers apply for funding each year by proposing specific classroom projects, ensuring every dollar directly enriches instruction and expands opportunities for students. This winter’s grants follow an even stronger September award, which funded more than $18,000 for 25 teacher-led initiatives at FBHS.
For FBHS art teacher Joy Keith, the impact is immediate. “These grants have allowed us to do advanced projects that would otherwise be too expensive,” says Keith. “When students can work with professional-quality materials and explore their creativity more deeply, it really increases their confidence.”
The World Languages Department received funding for a Spanish “Escape Room” breakout box kit that reinforces grammar, verbs, and cultural understanding. Together with the interactive Yabla online immersion program that the department received through a previous foundation grant in the fall, these resources will reach more than 300 students.
Spanish teacher Marianne Sanchez-Santiago said the Yabla program has already transformed her classroom. “It’s amazing for the students to see people speaking in native language—from Colombia, from España, from Venezuela, from different Hispanic countries,” says Sanchez-Santiago. “It’s continuously adding to our program. I believe that my students really enjoy it. I’m very grateful for the foundation and everything that they have done for us.”
The Art Department received multiple grants supporting a wide range of creative projects. Students will be able to explore food as symbolism through still-life painting and photography, while ceramics students will create functional dining sets, slab lanterns, salt-and-pepper shakers, and ASL-inspired hand sculptures.
One of the most meaningful projects funded through these awards is a collaborative ceramics initiative between FBHS and Southside Elementary School. Ceramics and Pottery teacher Sarah Altman described how her high school students work with Southside kindergarteners to create Mother’s
Day gifts.
“Some of the money for supplies would come out of my pocket, but now this grant will help,” explains Altman. “It will be great to see this come full circle when those kindergartners become high schoolers and do the same art project with my class.”
Art History students will also benefit from upgraded materials that support cross-disciplinary projects blending literature, historical eras, and artistic techniques. “We are using higher-quality materials to make higher-quality projects,” says art history teacher Julianne French. “This grant will save my students from having to purchase their own supplies, which can be quite expensive.”
The FBMS Algebra 1 Honors class, an advanced course that earns high school credit, received funding for classroom sets of scientific calculators. These tools will support daily instruction and ensure all students have equitable access to the resources needed for rigorous coursework.
Founded in 1987, the Fernandina Beach High School Foundation is an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to providing “The Pirate Advantage” for every student. Through its $1 million, 10-year commitment, the Foundation awards approximately $100,000 annually in classroom, facility, and program support. The Board of Trustees is working to grow the endowment to more than $2 million by 2028, ensuring the long-term sustainability of its mission.
Community support fuels this work, especially through signature events like the annual Foundation Feast. The 2026 celebration is scheduled for Saturday, February 7 at Walker’s Landing and will feature an oyster roast, live auction, and cuisine prepared by students in the FBHS Culinary Arts program. Tickets and additional information are available at fbhsfoundation.org.