Eight local educators have been awarded grants through the “Teacher Creativity Grant” initiative through The Wells County Foundation, Inc. In total, $14,252 has been approved for distribution to the public school corporations for use by the teachers.
Teachers from the three public school corporations were invited to submit a grant proposal for creative projects or programming which they feel are important to the education of their students, yet fall outside the budget of their school corporation.
“This grant program was designed to promote creativity and inspire classroom climates that motivate students and produce atmospheres for learning that are both engaging and exciting” said Tammy Slater, CEO of the Wells County Foundation.
Highlights of the grant proposals are:
• Approximately 120 kindergarten students at Bluffton-Harrison Elementary school will be reading fiction and non-fiction books specifically correlated with their reading levels. Students will be assessed to determine the appropriate reading level. They will then select readers which correlate with their reading level which will facilitate strengthening fluency and comprehension skills. Students will develop a love of reading and become lifelong readers through reading at their customized levels rather than struggling to decode unknown words. Instructors: Lori Williamson and Joyce Evans
• Twelve students with varying ranges of disabilities at Bluffton-Harrison Middle School will be challenged to learn 21st century skills of teamwork, collaboration and critical thinking through the ADVANCE (adolescent, developmental, vocational, aptitude, needs, curriculum and experience) Program. ADVANCE is an innovative approach to bridge the gaps in the curriculum of special needs learners. The program will enable learners to develop applicable job skills that transfer into post-secondary education, leading to future employment opportunities. Instructor: Lauriean Poindexter
• Approximately 20 marketing and entrepreneurship students in grades 10 through 12 at Bluffton High School will collaborate with the Bluffton NOW! project in developing a strategic marketing and public relations plan. Bluffton NOW! is an initiative to improve the Bluffton community and revitalize downtown. Students will develop ideas, promotions, public relations strategies and presentations for various events associated with Bluffton NOW. Instructors: Karl Grau and Kevin Powell
• With the purchase of an iMac desktop, a digital camcorder and iPad holders, students in digital design, independent study art and student council will produce a weekly blog that will highlight current happenings at Bluffton High School. Students will make use of various digital platforms to creatively enhance videos to include in the blog. Instructor: Vicki VanMatre
• Kindergarten and third grade students at Ossian Elementary School will be investigating the possibilities of incorporating robotics in the classrooms through use of a classroom set of Sphero 2.0 robotic programmable balls. Research demonstrates that robotics is an effective tool for improving students’ 21st century skills. In addition to curricular subjects; creativity, collaboration, self-direction and communication skills are developed through the use of robotics in the classroom. The Sphero program will provide all students with an innovative and research based way to fuse science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics with all aspects of the learning environment. Instructors: Kellyn Atkins and Meghann Powers
• High school biology students at Southern Wells Junior-Senior High School will experience increased enthusiasm and higher levels of engagement through the use of manipulatives including skull bones, nerve tissue and animal specimens. The materials purchased through this grant (replicas, instruments and mounts) will facilitate a profound sense of realism and intrigue that will bring students to higher levels of achievement in their studies of biology. Instructor: David Butler
• Through the acquisition of Adruino microcontrollers and related pieces, Southern Wells High School engineering and technology students will experience an entirely new dimension to the designing and implementation of their projects synthesizing electronics, programming and 3D design. The Adruino electronics hardware when used with the existing 3D printer will open new avenues of student-inspired work. Instructor: Douglas Hunt
• Through the installation of an electronic weather station, students, administrators and patrons of Southern Wells Community Schools will have access to current and archived weather conditions. Students will utilize the weather station to analyze weather trends as a dynamic science rather than the results of hit or miss measurements. The station will add value to the Earth Science, Agriculture and AP Environmental Science classes as well as Science 7 and 8 curricula where weather is studied. Instructors: John Fouts and Pete Oleson
“We were pleased with the quality of the proposals received for this initiative,” Slater said. “We are confident that learning will be enhanced for many local students through these grants, and the efforts of the educators who will fulfill the programming.”
Funds for the Teacher Creativity Grants were taken from the Elizabeth Patton Unrestricted Endowment Fund. As a beneficiary of Ms. Patton’s estate, the Wells County Foundation received a generous gift to establish this fund.
“We believe utilizing income from Ms. Patton’s fund to provide for the Teacher Creativity Grant initiative is a fitting honor and tribute to her 41-year teaching history,” Slater said.
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