Education Foundation awards more than $100,000 in grants to Oak Ridge educators

 

The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation awarded more than $101,000 in grants to Oak Ridge teachers on Wednesday, during teacher appreciation week.

“Regrettably, due to COVID-19 concerns, there will not be an awards ceremony again this year,” a press release said.

However, the Education Foundation partnered with Oak Ridge Utility District and Millborne Bakery to deliver cookies for all staff in each school during Teacher Appreciation Week. The Foundation said it wants to honor and recognize the 2021 grant recipients in Oak Ridge Schools as follows:

Glenwood Elementary

• Amelia Bell (Every Day Counts: Flipping the Script on Truancy)
• Amber Ashworth, in partnership with all four elementary school librarians and guidance counselors, and CTE coordinator (Career Cluster Exploration in the Elementary Grades)

Linden Elementary

• Lisa Buckner and Heather Henderlight (Forging Ahead with Making at Linden with a Glowforge Laser Cutter)
• Mike Carvella and Heather Henderlight (Logitech Crayon stylus pilot for Kindergarten and First Grade teachers)

Woodland Elementary

• Mike Carvella (Creation of Woodland Studio)

Jefferson Middle School

• Alex Cantrell (Purchasing New Clarinets and Saxophones)
• Jenifer Laurendine (The HoloLens 2: Opportunity Awaits!)
• Ed Wright, Chris Jaeger, and John Mitchell (Career Exploration through Aviation with the use of flight simulators)

Robertsville Middle School

• Randall Doss (Building and Coding the Robots and Computers of the Future: 5th and 6th Graders at RMS Creating a Better, More Technologic Future)
• Lauren Hawkins, Jamie Petrie, and Bradley Williams (Robertsville Middle School Gym Projector and Screen)

Oak Ridge High School

• Amber Roberts (Career Pathways)
• Joseph Moseley (DSLR Cameras for ORHS Visual Arts Department)
• Abigial Hoshall (Improving Language Reading Comprehension Skills Through Engagement)

Pupil Services

• Marcia Wade (Water for Wellness)
• Madison Branham (Let’s Vaporize Teen Vaping in our Schools!)

The Classroom Grants Program is a key component of the Foundation’s mission to support the highest quality education for all students, the press release said.

“Our Classroom Partnerships program brings to life the ideas and aspirations of teachers from across the district as they strive to provide the best possible learning environment for their students,” says Peter Thornton, chairperson of the Classroom Partnerships Committee. “Each year we see a staggering depth of creativity and passion expressed in the teacher grant proposals, and each year we are inspired by the stories of how previous grants have touched the lives of so many students in classrooms across all age levels and areas of study. We are thankful for and proud of the Oak Ridge community that makes this program possible through its generous and ongoing support.”

According to retired mathematics teacher Benita Albert: “Every year, I am awestruck by the innovative possibilities the ORPSEF teacher grant applications proffer, but never more than during this past year. In the midst of incredible challenges and change due to COVID-19 precautions, our educators have proven to be adaptable, resilient, and committed to the best educational environment for their students. And, while addressing the numerous new instructional demands, teachers have looked to the future by offering their inspiring ideas for enhancing student success in their teacher grant requests. The Foundation trusts that the teacher grants program not only enriches student learning, but that it encourages teachers’ visionary aspirations.”

Including this year’s grants, the Education Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 million in total grant funding. The Foundation’s Board is committed to continue an annual grants campaign moving forward.

For more information about the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation or to make a donation, contact Jessica Steed at (865) 241-3667 or Jessica.steed@orpsef.org or through the website at http://www.orpsef.org/.