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Sara Hughes, director of federal programs and grant writing for the Oglethorpe County School System, moved into the role last August, resulting in more than $1.1 million in grants in the 23-24 school year. -
Sara Hughes, who taught agriculture for 15 years, moved into a new position as the federal programs coordinator and grant writer with the Oglethorpe County School System last year. As a result, the school system has received $1.1 million in grants since the start of the school year.
Oglethorpe County School System has received more than $1.1 million in grants this school year — surpassing last year’s total.
The funds are thanks to Sara Hughes, director of federal programs and grant writing, who is in a new position with the school system.
“We have applied for way more grants this year than we have ever applied for, that is for sure,” said Paul Thiel, director of operations.
Although Hughes takes on much of the responsibility of grant writing, she said she works in tandem with staff to apply for grants as she captures “visions” from staff members for their goals.
“It still takes a whole village,” Hughes said. “It is definitely not a one-person job. I am sort of the head wrangler maybe, but it definitely takes a lot of people to help pull this off.”
Hughes was an Oglethorpe County Middle School agriculture education teacher prior to her current role. Before Hughes, grant applications were spread across the staff.
“I’m really thankful for an opportunity like this to broaden my impact,” she said. “I feel like in this role, the things I am getting to be involved in can have a wider impact on even more students in the community.”
Hughes said applying to grants can have a 10-30% success rate, nationally. Grant applications sometimes require letters of support or partnerships with community organizations to assist in the process.
Each of the grants received this year were considered competitive grants, meaning the school system applies alongside other schools with no guarantee of being chosen. Hughes’ new role puts focus on getting these competitive grants that can range from tuition for paraprofessionals to new lab equipment.
“Beverley (Levine) and the board basically saw value in the position,” Thiel said. “For them to actually make the position, it makes us more competitive because we can actually devote some time and resources to actually attempting to get grants rather than just trying to fit it into the rest of our day.”
Thiel works closely with previously awarded grants to ensure the development goes smoothly for each one received, including the CARES act grants received during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thiel has seen advancements in the application process throughout the school year.
A majority of the money, $999,000, is from a grant awarded for the renovation and staffing of a planned school-based health center scheduled to be ready by 2025.
Oglethorpe County is considered a “low-wealth district” in Georgia with the free or reduced lunch rate in the school system being around 68%, Hughes said. Through grant writing, Hughes aims to work on projects and improve students’ education one project at a time.
“Anything that we can do to help break that cycle of poverty and provide new and meaningful educational opportunities for students, that is our goal,” Hughes said. “It takes resources to make that happen, so I believe that is one way that writing grants can help.”