Grants in Action | 26/27 School Year
For fourth-grade students at Fort Meigs Elementary, creative writing became more than a classroom assignment—it became an opportunity to become published authors! Thanks to a classroom grant from Perrysburg Schools Foundation, 128 students transformed their original stories into professionally printed books, creating a lasting keepsake of their creativity and hard work.
Led by fourth-grade teacher Rebecca Cotterman, the From Writer to Author project challenged students to write their own “Mountain Survival” adventures. From developing characters and building suspense to incorporating descriptive details and dialogue, students experienced the full writing process. In May 2026, their hard work came to life as their stories and original illustrations were transformed into professionally-bound books they proudly shared with family, friends, and the school community.
“From putting pencil to paper for the very first time to holding a published, hardbound book in their hands, students experienced the true power of the writing process,” shared Cotterman. “The growth I witnessed in their writing skills, along with the pride and confidence they developed, was remarkable. Watching my students present their finished books and share their stories during our publishing party was one of the most rewarding experiences of the year.”
Inspired by the impact of this experience, Cotterman applied for and received a second grant to bring the project to another group of fourth graders. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, classroom grants like this inspire creativity, build confidence, and provide meaningful learning experiences that leave a lasting impression long after the school year ends.
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