2009 Grant Awards

Educational Foundation Awards Over $36,000 in Teacher Grants

The Educational Foundation, as well as the businesses and individuals who support it, believes that innovative and creative approaches to teaching can benefit our students. To this end, the Foundation developed the Grants-To-Teachers Program. This program, with its emphasis on innovative projects and creative teaching approaches, provides funding, not otherwise available, up to $3,000 for projects which have a potential to enhance student learning. This year, the Educational Foundation awarded $36,786.80 in grants to teachers.

Ready, Set, Compete – TLC – Shawn and Nafisa Bhagat Teacher Grant - 6-8th grade – UIL Academics - $2993.48
This money will be used to assist those students participating in UIL Academics in all 6 middle schools. Maps, Charts, Graphs, Middle School dictionaries, Art Smart packs, Music Memory programs, etc.
Patty Parker

Specials for Special Education – Country Place – Plano Office Supply/Al Ruschhaupt Teacher Grant – age 3 – 5th grade – Art, Occupational Therapy, Fine Motor, Math, Group Activities - $2962.82
The teachers want to purchase a variety of materials to use in the special education classroom. Geoboards, Art Activities, Twist and Sort, Sign Language Match, Dizzy Disc, Dizzy Disc Balance Board and more.
Tonya Schwartz

Whetting Their Appetite: A Marketing Approach to Reading - Newman Smith High School– Designated Donations for Teacher Grants via EGC -10th-12 grades – Principles of Marketing - $2984.96
This grant would purchase a variety of book titles in multiple sets. Students would read the same book each semester and this would become the “anchor” text in which students would be introduced to concepts relevant to an aspect of the business world. Book titles include The World Is Flat, Everything I Know About Business I Learned in Kindergarten, Plugged In: The Generation Y Guide to Thriving At Work and more.
Kathy Holdge

Mat, Music, Action: Keeping up with the Kinesthetic Learner – McCoy Elementary – K-5-Music - $1000.00
The money will be used to purchase a large music mat that incorporates a multifaceted music manipulative to enable all music students to read, write, create and perform standard musical notation.
Kathy Draves

iPod Nano Reading Development For Bilingual and ESL 1st Grade –Carrollton Elementary – Nancy Strickland Endowment and First Grade Teacher Grant Bea Clodfetter - Bilingual First Grade – Reading and Vocabulary - $2980.00
This grant will be used to purchase iPod Nanos as a resource for helping bilingual students visualize and hear correct letter sounds and blends, increased vocabulary and fluency at home. It will also increase reading skills, such as letter sounds, concepts of print, decoding and vocabulary development as well as develop fluency in the English language. It will also heighten their motivation to learn.
Hollie Hamilton

Communication Technology – Marie Huie – age 3- 5th grade – Autism - $3000.00
This group grant would be used to purchase 7 DVD players, 4 wireless listening centers, 7 writing tablets and 1 sign and say cards. Movies can motivate autistic students to complete tasks. These teachers have very specific goals for the students using this equipment in multiple schools.
Shonna Ammann

Canya Conga Around the World – Kent Elementary – K-5 – Music - $933.00
This music teacher wants to purchase 5 graduated conga drums to help students learn the concept of “steady beat” and rhythm.
Connie Miller

Building Confidence in At-Risk Students Through Science - Long Middle School – Valwood Improvement Authority Teacher Grant - 8th grade – Science - $953.93
The purpose of this grant is to purchase an SRA Science Lab to enhance the skill builder science class the teacher already has in use.
Christi Watson

iPods For Learning Literacy –La Vallita Elementary – Alice Z. Holloway Teacher Grant- Kindergarten – All Subjects - $3000.00
iPods, tune talks (attachable microphones), headphones will be purchased to help K students to hear and participate in literacy activities. Non-to limited reading Kindergarteners will listen to interact with stories. K’s who already read will use them to make their own podcasts.
Jami Shields

The First Elementary Video News Program in CFB –Rainwater Elementary – Theresa Salerno Memorial Library Grant - 5th grade- Technology - $996.64
Students will write, script, direct, edit and produce news stories for an elementary video news program. Field trips, special speakers, interviews with community helpers, book reviews are some of the monthly program. This will be part of an enrichment class done during daily tutoring time.
Amber McElveen

Sensory Socialization Initiative – McCoy – K-5- Social Skills - $582.45
This is a social skills program that will be purchased (Time for School, Time for a Playdate, Model Me Conversation Cues, Model Me Friendship, Model Me Tips and Tricks).
Michele Markee

CPR, A Life Skill In Action – RL Turner High School – Carl “Catfish” & Kay Montgomery Endowment - 9-12 grades, Health Science Technology - $2990.15
CPR skills are mandated by the state and also required by the health professional community in order for students to be placed in their clinical settings. This grant would purchase the “Annie” practice doll, trainer defibrillators and instructor tools.
Jacque Tindel

Reading Rocks – Country Place – age 3 to 5th grade - Autism - $981.84
Materials such as Eric Carle set, Predictable patterns, Classic rhymes, story book and tapes, favorite author sets, felt story boards (Little Engine that Could, Wheels on the Bus, Caterpillar Story, Brown Bear Brown Bear) would be purchased to introduce literacy.
Laura Rogers

Practice Makes Perfect! Reinforcing Math Concepts with Versa-tiles – Freeman Elementary – Kindergarten-5th grade – Science - $2992.00
This grant will provide five Versa-tile Labs in the area of science for grades K-5. Students practice key scientific concepts, vocabulary and critical thinking skills by reading engaging text passages, studying pictures, graphs and diagrams and answering challenging content questions.
Lisa Anderson

Lights! Camera! Action! Increasing Student Achievement in Math and Science Through Reader’s Theater – Freeman Elementary – K-5th grade – Math, Science, Literacy - $3000.00
The funds provided for this grant will go to purchase literary materials focusing on math and science concepts such as multiplication, geometry, ecosystems and planets. Multiple copies of the reader’s theater scripts along with teacher’s guides are included.
Eddie Reed

Bridging the Gap in Reading with Reading Milestones – Rosemeade Elementary – Kacie Brekhus Memorial Teacher Grant- 1st-5th grades – Special Education - $2049.28
Reading Milestones is a language controlled reading program that is designed to help students who have learning difficulties learn how to read using alternative language. This reading program can help students who have learning difficulties associated with mental retardation, learning differences, autism, or other health impaired disabilities.
Venus Thomas

Robotics Club – Sheffield Intermediate – 3rd-5th grades – Math, Science and Technology - $2386.25
Sheffield Intermediate currently has a robotics club but it has grown so popular they don’t have enough equipment to accommodate the students. This would purchase additional materials for their club.
Linda Mahony