The Fernandina Beach High School Foundation has awarded more than 30 grants totaling $26,124 to teachers at Fernandina Beach High School and Fernandina Beach Middle School, funding everything from CPR training equipment and science experiments to student journalism and theater productions.

The all-volunteer nonprofit announced the awards Sept. 23 for the 2026-27 school year, as first reported by the Fernandina Observer.

The grants will pay for classroom technology, science and laboratory materials, physical education equipment, foreign language resources, art and music supplies and hands-on learning activities.

The funding extends beyond the high school to eighth-grade classes at Fernandina Beach Middle School that offer high school credit, giving younger students access to additional educational resources.

Grants support CPR training, language learning and student projects

Carolyn Johnson, a HOPE and physical education teacher at Fernandina Beach Middle School, received funding for CPR mannequins, face shields and batteries to provide hands-on CPR instruction to approximately 380 students.

The equipment will also be shared with HOPE and Certified Nursing Assistant students at Fernandina Beach High School.

Middle school Spanish teacher Katherine Campilongo received funding for 30 sets of headphones and subscriptions to online language-learning modules, allowing students to practice listening and speaking skills.

Other awards will support publication costs for The Pirate Post, the high school student newspaper, along with a saltwater fish tank classroom project and the school's production of "Little Shop of Horrors."

The grants are designed to provide educational materials and experiences that might otherwise fall outside regular school budgets.

Teachers receive support for ninth consecutive year

Two Fernandina Beach High School teachers, Ben Weiser and Heidi Weiser, have received Foundation program grants for nine consecutive years.

This year's awards will support psychology laboratory activities, educational games, digital learning programs, hands-on science projects and resources for a private student study area.

"These funds give my students a hands-on experience that brings concepts to life and helps them understand ideas that might otherwise be difficult to grasp," Heidi Weiser said, according to the Fernandina Observer.

The awards allow teachers to develop classroom activities that go beyond traditional textbooks and instructional materials.

Foundation continues long-term investment in local schools

Established in 1987, the Fernandina Beach High School Foundation is a nonprofit organization supported by private donations, local businesses and community fundraising events.

In 2022, the Foundation committed to providing Fernandina Beach High School with $1 million over 10 years to support educational programs and improvements.

The organization funds classroom projects, professional development, teacher collaboration and schoolwide initiatives intended to enhance students' educational experiences.

The latest awards follow a record fundraising year.

The Foundation's Feb. 7, 2026, Annual Feast raised $140,000, according to earlier Fernandina Observer coverage.

Foundation President Stephanie Lunt said the money raised would "directly support innovative classroom projects and improvements that enrich the student experience."

The organization also distributed $7,700 in back-to-school classroom cash to high school teachers and staff Aug. 3.

In December 2025, the Foundation awarded nine additional grants totaling $6,918 for the 2025-26 school year.

The latest $26,124 round continues that investment, providing teachers at both schools with equipment, supplies and instructional resources intended to expand learning opportunities for students.