The Friends of the Chanute Library is excited to announce that the Barb Keller Educational Grant program is open once again and will award up to $500 in one or more grants. Educators employed by USD 413 and/or ANW Co-op working full-time in USD 413 is welcome to apply. Applications are due Monday, January 5th, 2026, and must be turned into the library or emailed to the director at jlawrence@chanute.org. Applications can be found here or at the library.
“We always look forward to the creative and innovative projects our teachers come up with,” Jeana Lawrence, library director, said. “We know it can often be difficult to get supplies for special classroom projects.”
This program supports special classroom special projects that support reading and writing. It was established in remembrance of Barb Keller, as USD 413 educator who wished to support future educators and students. Previous projects include purchasing classroom sets designed to help low-level readers, Kansas history and writing projects, student writing projects, and more.
Submissions can be from an individual, team, or department. Higher consideration will be given to project-based activities and ongoing projects or that can be implemented multiple times. Materials funded with this grant are to be the property of USD 413 if the applicant leaves the district. The officers of FOCL will act as the selection committee to choose each year’s grant recipient(s) and grant awards will be determined the first part of January 2026.