cation Foundation has announced its 2016 Teacher Innovation Grant, Principal Innovation Grant and National Teacher Conference recipients. Each school in the district was represented, with awards totaling more than $20,000.Katrina Brown, Baker Elementary, was approved to purchase 121 eBooks for their library collection, which will be maintained by the media center and accessed through iPads. Baker Principal Celeste Diehm received a grant to improve and expand the ‘Equipping Parents Workshops’ and to purchase books, materials and refreshments for those workshops.
Aleisa Licari, Dorr Elementary, was awarded funding to purchase books, classroom and small groups sets and companion research guides.
Lori Howell, Steeby Elementary, received funds to take third grade students on field trips involving science projects.
Susan Boehm and Kelly Boston, Pine Street Elementary, will purchase eight Breakout Kits for the students of Pine Street.
Susan Salhaney, Wayland Union Middle School, was given the opportunity to obtain a membership to the Michigan Association of Student Councils Leadership Workshops. Nikkia Robinson and Laura Schreiber were awarded financing to purchase stage lighting for various middle school productions. Rebecca Patterson, middle school art instructor, will be purchasing five Lix 3D pens and extra filaments for her students. Dana Omness was awarded the purchase of three MacBook Pro laptops to be used by the middle school science teachers, and Principal Carolyn Whyte will use her grant to contract various speakers based on student needs at the middle school.
Tessa Potgeter, Wayland Union High School, will purchase a MacBook Pro laptop and a wireless mouse, and Andrea Brown will use her grant money to purchase a MacBook Mini hard drive, Bluetooth speaker and a microphone.
The Education Foundation offers innovation grants each fall, through an application process. The applications are then reviewed by a select committee, with recommendations presented to the Board of Directors for their approval.
Teachers also have a chance to apply to attend a National Teacher Conference of their choosing. This opportunity is offered in the fall and again in the spring. This fall, the following teachers were granted an opportunity to attend national conferences:
• Robin Sidebotham, Dorr Elementary, will attend the 20th annual National School Social Workers Conference in San Diego, CA.
• Lori Howell, Steeby Elementary and Danielle LaJoye, Dorr Elementary, will attend the National Science Teachers Association National Conference in Los Angeles, CA.
