Ginger Francia was one of the founding members of the Dysart Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association in July 2022. She was a loving mother and constant cheerleader for her two boys, both of whom receive special education services in the Dysart district. In addition, her husband is an employee at a Dysart school.
Ginger volunteered to serve as our secretary; however, her physical health ultimately kept her from fulfilling that role. We considered her an honorary officer nonetheless, and were sorely grieved when she passed away in December 2022 after a valiant fight against cancer.
In her honor, and to cherish her memory, we have established the Ginger Lee Francia Awards. We are now expanding her legacy into something even more meaningful. We are now launching our New Ginger Lee Francia Classroom Grant. We seek to recognize those who share Ginger’s love of children, her passion for quality special education, and her dedication to making a difference.
- We are accepting applications for Ginger Lee Classrom Grant twice a year, in October and February.
- Contact us with any questions.
About the Grant
Ginger Lee Francia Grant Purpose
The Ginger Lee Francia Classroom Grant, provided by the Dysart Special Education PTSA, is designed to support classroom projects, materials, and experiences that enhance inclusion, accessibility, and meaningful learning opportunities for students receiving special education services.
Grant Scope
This grant is intended to provide classroom assistance with high-use consumable materials that directly support student engagement, sensory regulation, hygiene, communication, and instructional access.
Examples of eligible consumable supplies include, but are not limited to:
Basic Classroom Supplies- Crayons, washable markers, colored pencils, pencils, pens, highlighters, erasers, pencil grips, glue sticks, liquid glue, tape, scissors (including adaptive options), construction paper, printer paper, cardstock, laminating sheets, and sticky notes.
Art and Creative Materials- Play-Doh, finger paints, paint brushes, craft sticks, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, googly eyes, stickers, glitter, and craft glue.
Cleaning and Hygiene Supplies- Disinfecting wipes such as Lysol or Clorox, basic baby wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues, and paper towels.
Snack and Feeding Supplies- Disposable plates, bowls, cups, utensils, napkins, and Ziploc bags. Food specifically used for reinforcements for good work/behavior is acceptable.
Sensory and Therapy Consumables- Kinetic sand, slime, therapy putty, stress balls, fidget items, and bubbles.
Instructional and Activity Consumables- Velcro dots and strips, laminating pouches, file folders, binder dividers, and labels.
Rewards and Motivation Items- Non-food rewards such as stickers, temporary tattoos, and small prize box items.
If you have any questions on what might be covered under this grant, please reach out to president@dysartseptsa.org.
Priority Consideration- Priority will be given to requests that:
- Directly benefit students with disabilities especially STC classrooms
- Are submitted by first-time applicants
- Serve multiple students or classrooms
- Align with PTSA initiatives or district goals
- Promote inclusion or further independent skill acquisition in students
Eligibility- To be eligible for this grant:
- The applicant must be an active member of Dysart Special Education PTSA for the current year
- The applicant must be a Dysart USD teacher, specialist, or certified staff member
- Contract teachers are not eligible to apply
- Resource teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, behavioral coaches, school psychologists and other specialists may apply for their classroom; however, priority will be given to STC classrooms first
- Paraprofessionals-if your classroom does not have a steady teacher/a long term sub but your classroom is still in need of supplies, please reach out to your specialist so they can apply on your classrooms behalf
- Funds must be used for student-centered educational purposes. Materials must remain in the classroom or specialty room for which they were requested and may not be taken home for personal use
- Grant funds may not be used for personal items and are subject to approval
- Maximum award amount: Up to $150 per application
How the Grant Works
Applicants must have a clear plan for the use of the items being requested.
Applicants must include direct website links to the exact items requested, including quantities, as part of their application. All items must be deliverable from within the greater 48 states. No TEMU, SHEIN, or other similar websites will be permitted at this time. Items from reputable sites or from Walmart or Amazon are encouraged.
The total request must not exceed the maximum grant amount of $150, including tax and shipping.
If an application is approved, the Dysart Special Education PTSA will purchase the approved items directly to help ensure accuracy, proper delivery, and item quality.
All approved items will be shipped directly to the PTSA officers and then hand-delivered to the grant recipient at the school or classroom.
To help celebrate and sustain this program, grant recipients must agree to allow a photo of the grant recipient and a PTSA board member to be used in PTSA social media and promotional materials. No students will be photographed or included in this photo.
Once items are delivered to the recipient, they become the property of that classroom or specialty room. Please do not take the items home for personal use unless instructed to by upper management.
Grant Award Timeline & Process
The Ginger Lee Francia Grant will be awarded on biannual cycle during the following months: November and February.
–Application Window: Applications will open on the in the Months of October and February on the 15th and close on the 30th.
–Review Process: Applications will be reviewed and scored by the PTSA board following the close of the application window.
–Award Notifications: Up to three (3) recipients will be selected each month and notified via email the following week.
–Purchasing & Delivery: Approved items will be purchased by the PTSA and hand delivered to recipients, as soon as those items can be procured.
Applicants who are not selected will have the option within the application to roll their submission forward for consideration in the following cycle, eliminating the need to reapply, if desired. These submissions will be deleted at the end of each school year.
This structured timeline is designed to ensure a fair and consistent review process while allowing timely delivery of materials to support classroom needs throughout the school year.
Liability Statement
The Dysart Special Education PTSA provides direct item donation support only and is not responsible for the use, misuse, supervision, storage, or maintenance of awarded materials after delivery. The applicant and school site assume responsibility for ensuring that all items are used appropriately and safely in accordance with school and district policies.
Discrimination Statement
The Dysart Special Education PTSA is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming community for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected status, and we strive to ensure all applicants are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.
Ready to apply?
Submit your application today!
Take a look at the items that we have provided! If you buy these items using our links, we can help further this wonderful program & give back even more.
All links are Amazon Affiliate Links. This means if you purchase these items through our links we will get a percentage of the purchase price. This is one way you can financially support the mission and vision of our organization and the Ginger Lee Franica Classroom Grant Program.
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