The Watauga Education Foundation announces grant recipients for 2016. WEF is proud to share that a total of $19,911 will be distributed to 22 educators who are employed by Watauga County Schools. The grant funds will go directly into the classrooms.
“Each year, I am amazed with the creativity of Watauga’s educators. This year’s grant requests are very unique and I look forward to seeing the impact on their classrooms,” WEF Board President Charles Crabbe said.
The Watauga Education Foundation raises funds throughout the year to support these grants. Fundraising events include the Flap Jack Flip, held in early December and Shooting Stars, held in the spring.
The Watauga Education Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) made up of a hard-working board of volunteers. We support educators who foster a love of learning and sponsor community-oriented events that sustain students’ wonder, enthusiasm and perseverance. It is our vision to improve and enhance the success of every student in the Watauga County School System, and our mission to enrich student learning for all Watauga County public school students by effectively promoting innovative educational experiences for children that inspire every student to achieve his or her highest potential.
The worthy recipients are:
Kim McAuley, Debbie Norris, and Christy Laws of Cove Creek School received a grant for equipment that will be used to incorporate physical activities into curriculum-based classroom learning.
Courtney B. Smith of Watauga High School received a grant that will allow the classroom to have a membership to Flocabulary and water bottle filling stations. Part of Smith’s Earth Science classroom curriculum is to teach financial and environmental literacy.
John Downs and Patricia Sperry of Mabel School received a grant that will enable them to purchase headphones for their computer lab. This will enhance listening comprehension in math, reading and writing.
Will Selle and Josh Ogle of Watauga High School received a grant that will allow them to purchase leather-bound music folders to protect costly copyrighted sheet music.
Joe Gragg and Errol Shook of Watauga High School received a grant that will allow them to purchase a new Oculus Rift Virtual Reality headset as well as 2 new graphics cards to run it. They teach Video Game Design and Computer Science.
Candice Trexler received a grant that will impact all 8 elementary schools in Watauga County. She will use the grant money to purchase new titles on the elementary and middle school Battle of the Books list.
McKinley Goodnight of Bethel School, pictured here with Maria Norris of the WEF board, received a grant that will allow her to purchase 6 Kindle Fire E-readers that contain an online E-book library.
Heather Martin, Emily Collins, Lindsey Gough, Sandra Ruppert, Brittany Ball, Angela Bland, Mary Fitzgerald and Holly Klein received a district-wide grant award that will allow these teachers and school counselors to produce leadership events for student councils.
Angela Hicks of Cove Creek School received a grant which will allow her to purchase 2 bird feeders that will be used for 2 research-based intervention programs called “Color my Conversation” and “Expanding Expression Too”.
Tom Brown of the Watauga High School Robotics Club received a grant that will allow him to purchase technology and an electronics update to enhance the build and control of the robots. The club will also use the money to participate in competitions.
Tiffany Reece and Patricia Pfister of Cove Creek School received a grant which will allow them to purchase 2 incubators and the necessary supplies to teach the life cycle “From Egg to Chick”.
Jamie Sherrill, Kristina Shableski, and Brianna Swartz of Parkway School received a grant which will allow them to purchase materials such as K’Nex, magnet sets, etc. They will use these sets to incorporate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities in the classroom.
Anne Donadio of Cove Creek School received a grant that will allow her to purchase books about other cultures, holidays and a map rug.
Jay Ishaya of Bethel School received a grant to purchase 5 Ozbots and coding sets to use in her “Coding for Kids” curriculum.
Lori Hill of Watauga High School received a grant that will allow her to purchase 2 digital SLR cameras for art students.
Richard Tidyman, representing Mabel and Bethel Schools, received a grant to purchase a tool kit, bike repair rack and videos to do repairs and routine maintenance on bikes.
Kellia Kidda, Jennifer Wandler, and Zack Greene of Watauga High School received a grant which will allow them to purchase 20 sessions to Mountain Alliance ropes course and team building facilitations for “at risk” students. This is part of the R.I.S.E. program – Reaching on Improved Self through Experimental Education.
Kim Pryor of Parkway School received a grant which will allow her to purchase a grow light that will allow her students to create an indoor garden. The grant also funded a life-sized human skeleton and the “Orbitor”, which replicates the relationship between earth, moon and sun.
Susan Walker and Lara Whiteside of Blowing Rock School received a grant that will allow them to purchase materials for centers that will reinforce writing and language art skills.
Chelsie Eldreth of Blowing Rock School received a grant that will allow her to purchase 20 gingerbread kits to teach the engineering and design process.
Donna Raichle and Grady McKinney of Parkway School received a grant that will allow them to purchase “spots” that students will see – depicting a physical fitness activity- which the students will then perform.
Sherri Hale of Valle Crucis School received a grant that she will use to purchase 3 kits for games that promote teamwork, problem solving, and critical thinking.
Here are pics of a few of the recipients:
Back: Marta Kim McAuley, Christy Laws, Cynthia Townsend, Cove Creek Principal Cone
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