By Makalie Farmer
Twelve teachers were awarded grants of up to $1000 each by the Abilene Education Foundation’s Prize Patrol on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Chemistry teacher Amy Sparks received a $526.94 STAR teacher grant that she will use to supply her students with fun educational games.
“I think when students enjoy learning it flows to other parts of the school,” Sparks said.
Communities in School counselor Erica Hansley received a $428.89 grant to supply her students with games and incentives to help them learn financial literacy.
“It became evident that many of our seniors were in need of the basic fundamentals that are required in making wise financial decisions,” Hansley said. “I will be purchasing financial learning games, rewards, and incentives, so the students can be engaged in learning, while having fun.”
Band director Jonathan Kraemer won a $500 grant to use to better prepare his band students and make up for the loss of summer band camp due to COVID.
“The end goal is to increase the number of students in our program that participate in the All-Region Audition Process,” Kraemer said. “Thus making the band program stronger, and hopefully, increasing the number of students that make the Region Band.”
Robert Taylor, theater teacher, received a $999.50 grant to improve the theater department’s inventory of props, costumes, and scenic displays.
“This will improve the school by keeping our department more neat and organized,” Taylor said. “It’s very easy for things to get messy and it’s very refreshing to have a clean house or room, so why not go above and beyond and have everything in order?”
Robert Davidson, JROTC Colonel, received $840 to purchase a flight simulator to help further the students’ skills.
“I applied for the grant in order to get tablets for our classroom and to get a better desk to place our flight simulator controls,” Davidson said.
Amber Via, Journalism teacher and sponsor of the Battery and Flashlight publications, received $858 to purchase iPads for her students to use while working on projects.
“Last summer we were required to return our district-issued iPads to be replaced with the new Chromebooks,” Via said. “Unfortunately, the publications classes routinely used the iPads each day in the classroom. Because the Chromebooks are being used to video the class for our remote learners, we no longer had portable devices to use.”
FFA sponsor and agriculture teacher Sucinda Easley will be use her grant to help her students be more successful in the classroom.
“I am always looking for ways to improve my students’ learning or their learning environment,” Easley said. “I plan on using the grant to purchase a gantry system for my metal shop which will make it easier and safer to move heavy objects and materials.”
Mary Timpner, English 1 teacher, plans to use her grant to buy Chromebooks for her students.
“I plan for the students to use their Chromebooks in class for book projects each six weeks,” Timpner said. “I know that the school will improve because the students will be engaged and creating online, as well as reading novels they are interested in.”
Other teachers who received a grant this year are Rachel Perkins, Jennifer Jordan, Lisa Dews, and Jessica Atwood.
