The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation will award another $80,000 in grants to Oak Ridge teachers this year, and applications are now being accepted for the 2014 grant cycle.
This year, the Foundation will award $80,000 in grants to teachers, administrative staff, and student groups as part of its ongoing “Making the Critical Difference” campaign. Grant applications are due no later than March 31.
This campaign provides resources and teaching tools over and above those funded with tax dollars, typically in the range of $500 to $5,000, a press release said. The grants are not intended for salaries or to replace items that may have been cut from the schools’ annual budgets. Since the program began in 2004, the Foundation has awarded a total of more than $399,000 to dozens of teachers in every grade. ORPSEF grants may be made for educational programming, professional development, equipment, facilities, travel, conferences, or other purposes that might be approved by the Foundation.
The press release said ORPSEF works to align its grant awards with the current objectives and overall strategy of Oak Ridge Schools. To ensure this happens, the superintendent’s office vets each application and forwards those that are applicable to ORPSEF for final evaluation and selection.
Last year, ORPSEF awarded 13 grants valued at more than $81,000. Selected from dozens of applications, the winning proposals requested funding for materials and equipment in courses such as chemistry, physics, math, geography, welding, music, and special education.
People wishing to donate to the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation may contact Jenna Whitney at (865) 241-3667. For more information about ORPSEF and the grant process, visit the website at www.orpsef.org.
2013-2014 Grant Award Recipients
- Eddie Anderson—chemistry equipment
- Sharon Thomas—digital microscope cameras
- Brian Smith—GPS equipment
- Spence Milligan—symphonic chimes
- Heather Henderlight—iPads and support equipment
- Deni Sobek—Advanced Placement study materials
- Janie Shanafield—FIRST LEGO League equipment
- Emily Sheppeard—speech therapy biofeedback tools
- Matthew Perkins, Betsy Hondorf—thermodynamics laboratory equipment
- Jeff Hankins—welding DVDs
- Angela Leach, Leigh Monger, and Jackie Laney—Special Education ActiviTables
- Linda Dalton, Bevelene Wallen—Math Manipulatives
- Scot Smith—eReaders and eBooks
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