Athens nonprofit AthFest Educates, a longtime partner and supporter of CCSD, has awarded more than $66,000 to 19 local educators and individuals and organizations who support arts education for K-12 youth in Clarke County. The 2025-26 grants, 12 of which went directly to CCSD teachers, bring the total of AthFest Educates funds awarded to date to over $750,000.
Funds for the grants come from individual donations and foundation grants to the organization, as well as profits from the annual AthFest Music & Arts Festival and AthHalf Half Marathon & 5K.
See the list of CCSD educators who received grants below and view a full list and descriptions here.
2025-26 grantees
The John & Patricia Whitehead Grant was awarded to Matthew Sines at Hilsman Middle School for the purchase of new instruments to expand participation in the band program.
The Athens Symphony Susan Dinwiddie Music Education Grant was awarded to Mykah Hutton, the music teacher at Bettye H. Holston Elementary, for the purchase of a replacement digital piano for music classes.
Geoffrey Wright, physical education teacher at Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary, received a grant to have a local artist create an interactive mural in the school’s gym, for all students to enjoy.
Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary ESOL teacher Valerie Oxford was awarded a grant for her ESOL students to attend an aerial arts field trip at Canopy Studio.
Rosemary Milsap of Cedar Shoals High School received a grant to support her drama students' attendance at the Georgia Thespian Conference.
Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle orchestra teacher Matthew Rubenstein received a grant to support his students’ travel to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Julie Evans of CCSD's
adapted physical education program received a grant for district special education students to attend aerial arts field trips at Canopy Studio.
Cedar Shoals High School English teachers Tara Stuart and Hannah Doolittle were awarded a grant to add a Delphi Arts Excursion to their summer trip to Greece with their students.
Heather Garland of Clarke Central High School received a grant to purchase and install a hood vent for the second kiln to better serve the school's growing 3D arts classes.
Ashley O’Connor of Whitehead Road Elementary received a grant to pursue Orff training in order to better serve her music students.
Barnett Shoals Elementary art teacher Elizabeth Bush received a grant to attend the National Arts Education Convention in Chicago.