Foundation for Lee County Public Schools awards grants to teachers
There are many teachers who want to present lessons in creative and unusual ways. Unfortunately, they do not have the resources from the school system to be able to do that.
On Nov. 30, the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools held a socially distanced classroom and school grants ceremony in which approximately $80,000 in grants were awarded via 44 grants to educators, schools and administrators throughout the School District of Lee County, including multiple West Zone schools.
Educators, administrators, the Found-ation for Lee County Public Schools’ executive board members, selection committee members and sponsors gathered to recognize the recipients for their innovative and creative grant projects that will enhance student learning in the current school year.
Marshall T. Bower, president and CEO of the foundation, said that the program brought into play the business community and community at-large, as well as matching grant money from the state legislature.
“We raise the money and put it out for teachers in specific areas, such as literacy or STEM or the arts,” Bower said. “Teachers apply and they need to show how it impacts the bottom line, which is student achievement.”
A selection committee chooses the best programs.
The program supports teachers and students by funding tools and resources that are normally not included in their budget but are necessary for creating unique learning experiences.
Teachers applied to the foundation for innovative projects that enhance student learning through hands-on activities and unique perspectives on traditional subject areas.
“It gives the teachers the ability to do things outside the box that they may not ordinarily be able to do, and we get all kinds of interesting ones,” Bower said. “We had some submissions for STEM that also touched on other things like hydroponics.”
Among school receiving grants was Gulf Elementary School, which received four.
Jessica Adcock received a grant for a project called “Hands-on Learning for Self-Paced Learners;” Kristina Gale for “Students Who Are Comfortable, Love to Read;” Ashley Pink for “Manipulatives to Engage Reluctant Readers;” and Renae Seguin for “Tell Me About It.”
North Fort Myers High School also received four grants.
Rochelle Heinze received a grant for a project called “Music Techniques, Instruments and Supplies;” Jonathan Krichbaum for “Not Your Grandma’s Embroidery;” and Felipe Maldonado for “Getting Back to Okay.”
The school also received one for a project titled “Alchemy Turning Basic Metals into School Gold.”
Teachers at Skyline Elementary School received two — Jennifer Hall for “Sensory Room” and Colleen Bowman for “Reading Rockstars!”
Other West Zone grant awards included Jamie Ayres, for “We Need Diverse Books!” at Cape Coral High School; Quinn Schnabel, for “Escape the Ordinary,” at Diplomat Middle School and Brittany Faust, for “School Sensory Room” at Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com