Projects and Grants in Teacher Education

Patton College of Education Outreach Grant
Brent Goff

In communities where the nearest library can be over 20 miles away, access to books shouldn't be a barrier and Ohio University students are doing something about it. The Bobcat Ohio Little Free Library (LFL) Project is an experiential learning project embedded in teacher education coursework that engages students in designing, building, installing, and maintaining five Little Free Libraries across Appalachian Ohio counties underserved by traditional library infrastructure.

Working in collaborative teams, students in Introduction to Secondary Language Arts Methods (EDSE 3520) conduct community needs assessments, develop curated book collections, and partner with local stewards to identify meaningful placement sites. From carpentry workshops on campus to installation trips in the field, students apply skills rooted in education, design thinking, community literacy, and community organizing while reflecting deeply on rural communities and the role educators play within them.

Running spring through fall 2026, the project connects Ohio University to the communities it serves, creating permanent library infrastructure while giving future teachers firsthand experience in community-centered education. Each Little Free Library is estimated to provide access to 40 books annually, a small structure with a lasting impact.

Ohio Department of Education & Workforce: EmpowerVetEd Program, 2024-2027
Danielle Dani (PI), Mathew Felton-Koestler (co-PI)

With funding from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Ohio University (OHIO) Patton Empower Veteran Education program is currently offering non-tuition scholarships for eligible undergraduate and graduate veteran education students (VetEds).

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NSF Project #2101456 & #2101463, 2021-2026
Courtney Koestler (PI), Mathew Felton-Koestler (co-PI)

This project is focused on collaborating with teachers to make elementary mathematics meaningful and applicable inside and outside the classroom by connecting math to real-world topics, including current events and societal issues that are relevant to students’ lives.

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Completed

NSF Project #1758484, 2018-2024
Allyson Hallman-Thrasher (PI), Danielle Dani (Co-PI), Courtney Koestler (co-PI)

Robert Noyce Track II project that supported two cohorts of fellows in becoming middle or secondary school mathematics or science teachers through a one-year master's program and four years of follow-up support.