MISD Education Foundation awards grants
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–The Mabank ISD Education Foundation presented nine innovative teaching grants to faculty in the school district during its annual Grant Giveaway Dec. 15, 2011. A total of $19,005.57 in grants was awarded.
Most grants sought and awarded requested funding for cutting-edge technology, though two grants funded more traditional requests, such as the establishment of a garden and field trips.
A total of nine grant proposals were funded this school year at four campuses.
Central Elementary teachers Bettie Busby, Mary Ann Gregg, Crissie Kovar, Tana Hoelscher and Shirley Miller were awarded a $500 grant titled “Community Stewardship.” Funds will be used to provide early opportunities for kindergarten students to learn about Mabank’s federally-funded services like the Post Office and the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Since data shows that if individuals understand the importance of their community, its resources and the public services available, they will grow up to participate and be good stewards of their community.
Also at Central Elementary, Rachel Stokes and Joanie Mason were awarded a $1,000 grant for a hands-on math lab. The funds will be used to help build a lab that all kindergarten through fourth grade students can visit each week, where grade appropriate games and activities are aligned to the state standards to help build math self-esteem and confidence.
The third grant awarded to Central Elementary in the amount of $1,972.50 went to Nancy Manning, Christine Grasser and Leslie Ward for “Apples for the Students.” IPads will be purchased to teach students how to access information that is at their fingertips.
This creates a movement toward free flowing, global education, teaching our students we must embrace the conveniences and challenges of new technologies.
Mabank Intermediate was the recipient of two grants. Teacher Christopher Evans ,who wrote a grant titled “MIS Information,” was awarded $1,500 to purchase the equipment to establish a small production studio.
This studio will be used to produce various media products to be shared with the campus, district and community.
“Kindle the Flame for the Love of Reading” submitted by Cheryl Pickens, Melissa Smith, Andrea Wallace, Jamie Dozier, Erin York, Julie Sparkman and Candice Lawrence was funded in the amount of $2,494.08. Kindle electronic bookreaders will be purchased to move traditional teaching methods into the age of technology, to reduce our carbon footprint, but most importantly to engage struggling readers and close the gap on reading deficits.
Lakeview Elementary received three grants and also brought in the largest overall grant funds totaling $7,038.99 campus wide. Charity Groom, Kathy Reynolds, Windy Preston, Sue Hutcheson and Karli Sutton were awarded $5,000 for their grant titled “SMART Table Interactive Learning Center.”
The SMART Table provides students with the opportunity to develop problem-solving skills by enabling them to work together face-to-face, to complete the problem solving consensus building activities.
A “Webcasting” proposal was submitted by Windy Preston ,who was awarded $388.99. Webcasting is a wonderfully innovative and effective avenue for exciting students about learning.
This approach to learning involves multiple schools and promotes student engagement and sharing knowledge. Laurie Reeve, Amanda Boss, Julie Levitt, Sandy Chasteen, Michelle Mesa and Sydney Lyndamood were awarded $1,650 for a “Campus-wide Educational Garden.” This hands-on approach to learning promotes the highest level of learning. A campus garden will be a permanent fixture for students to use for many learning activities for years to come.
Mabank High School counselors, Kathy Norman, Patricia Riley and Gaye Stegman were awarded $4,500 for their grant proposal titled “College Visions Program.”
Mabank ISD wants to increase the number of graduates who attend college after high school, particularly first generation college students, who may not have the support or encouragement at home to pursue their college dreams.
While the counseling center provides a full suite of services to assist students, growing class sizes, complicated admission procedures, and perceived financial barriers are some of the stumbling block students face.
This grant would fund campus visits for students and parents, provide for a community mentor program, and supply access to technology that simplifies the college search, applications and funding process for all students.
The Mabank ISD Education Foundation board of directors thanks those who donated funds to help promote innovative learning for Mabank students. “Your continued support will ensure that our students are ready for the future,” board president Andrea Pickens said.
More information about the Foundation and making a donation, may be found at www.mabankisdeducationfoundation.com.