Learning & Leadership Grants Fall 2008
Learning & Leadership Grants: Fall 2008 Recipients
Mrs. Haley James, Toney
Kindergarten to 5th Grade Math Specialist,
Madison Cross Roads School
Grant Amount: $2,000
The Numeracy Project, developed from thorough research of how students learn numbers, is implemented in all classrooms throughout New Zealand. This action research study will allow Ms. James to receive high quality training from Numeracy Project experts and put learned strategies into motion at Madison Cross Roads Elementary School.
Ms. Daina Rose Flores, Pacifica
Kindergarten to 1st Grade Teacher, Sunset Ridge Elementary School
Partner: Mrs. Debra Ann Lyttle
Grant Amount: $5,000
In response to waning reading comprehension test scores, Ms. Flores and Ms. Lyttle will obtain training on Readers' Workshop. With this training, they will lead the professional development of their fellow staff members in this approach.
Dr. Berta Parrish, San Luis Obispo
Academic Support Instructor, Cuesta College
Partner: Mr. Devon Hodgson
Grant Amount: $5,000
Dr. Parrish and her partner will implement a Faculty Mentorship Program for full time faculty with less than seven years teaching experience. The program will ensure faculty has access to accumulated instructional knowledge and expertise of colleagues to improve student achievement.
Mr. James Jeffrey Reichle, Susanville
9th to 12th Grade Science Teacher, Lassen High School
Grant Amount: $2,000
Mr. Reichle will represent his science department as a Spanish translator for the school's growing ESL population by attending 25 weeks of intensive immersion Spanish instruction in Guatemala.
Ms. Meredith Daniels, Riverside
3rd to 5th Grade Literacy Specialist/Instructional Coach,
Riverside Elementary School
Partner: Jillian Berlinski
Grant Amount: $5,000
To begin the process of implementing myriad technological tools into the curriculum, Ms. Daniels and Ms. Berlinski will implement Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL offers the framework for teachers to work in a Professional Learning Community to break down barriers to student learning.
Mrs. Deborah Rode, Greencastle
Department Chair/Language Arts Teacher,
Greencastle Community School Corporation
Partner: Ms. Denise Meyer
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Rode and Ms. Meyer will implement a collaborative collegial workshop for faculty. The workshop will focus on best practices for adolescent writers and the techniques that actively engage reluctant learners.
Mrs. Karen Sharp, Bogalusa
Technology Facilitator, Bogalusa High School
Partner: Mr. Milton Gholar
Grant Amount: $5,000
The Bogalusa M.A.G.I.C. (Making Achievement Gains In our Community) team will participate in leadership training opportunities through the Search Institute to build a community of leaders with a clear vision dedicated to building developmental assets and fostering educational achievement in the students of Bogalusa, Louisiana.
Ms. Lisa Giacalone, Lynnfield
9th to 12th Grade Spanish Teacher, Lynnfield High School
Grant Amount: $2,000
To prepare for Lynnfield's inclusion of Italian language courses, Ms. Giacalone will participate in a month long intensive culture and language program in Florence, Italy. The knowledge gained will be shared with colleagues at Lynnfield.
<PDr. Ellen Shelton-Richey
Writing Project Director, University of Mississippi
Partner: Dr. Kerry Holmes
Grant Amount: $5,000
The University of Mississippi Writing Project proposes offering a preservice teacher mentoring program with a focus on writing instruction. The workshops will provide an opportunity for preservice teachers to learn current best writing practices in a series of instructional and interactive sessions.
Mrs. Dawn Ferreyra, Omaha
5th to 8th Grade Gifted Facilitator, Morton Magnet Middle School
Grant Amount: $2,000
Project "Diversity in Giftedness" will develop teaching strategies and methods of curriculum differentiation that will promote retention of gifted students from underserved populations, and enhance the learning of diverse gifted students in the regular classroom.
Mrs. Kathleen Hewins, West Milford
8th Grade Mathematics Teacher, Macopin Middle School
Partner: Ms. Melissa Cavagnino
Grant Amount: $5,000
As part of a Character Education Initiative, Mrs. Hewins and a study group will participate in a two-day intensive bullying prevention program. They will use the knowledge gained to implement a whole-school prevention program and train the entire staff.
Ms. Cecily Gottling, Mahwah
Mathematics Improvement Teacher, George Washington School
Partner: Ms. Kathy Tanis
Grant Amount: $5,000
Two teams of teacher-researchers will engage in Lesson Study, a professional learning model, also known in Japan as "Jugyokenkyu." Teams will identify math content and instruction in need of improvement for students in Kindergarten through Grade Three.
Mrs. Laura Kump, Staten Island
Literacy Coach, The S.S. Columbia School
Partner: Mrs. Nancy Mulligan
Grant Amount: $5,000
Mrs. Kump and Mrs. Mulligan will establish collaborative study groups seeking to improve literacy instruction for all students through the study of research based strategies and best practices.
Mr. Glenn Alvarez, Bronx
3rd Grade Bilingual Teacher, PS 109
Partner: Ms. Yvonne Yiu
Grant Amount: $5,000
A group of eleven teachers, studying strategies to successfully help English Language Learners in their classrooms, will bring Dr. Myriam Met, a national ELL consultant, to PS 109 in order to learn research strategies and best practices to enhance instruction.
Ms. Robin Brawer, Staten Island
2nd Grade Teacher, PS 6
Grant Amount: $2,000
Through a year-long Teacher Leader/Coach course offered by Mathematics in the City at CCNY, Ms. Brawer will further her understanding of how to most effectively plan and implement effective mathematics instruction.
Mrs. Misti Dawn Vogle, Richardton
Kindergarten to 12th Grade Fine & Commercial Art Teacher,
Richardton-Taylor High School
Grant Amount: $2,000
Mrs. Vogle will attend a three-day session training program sponsored by MogoMedia. The session will enhance student technology learning at both Richardton High School and Dickinson State University.
Ms. Jennifer Spero, The Plains
Kindergarten to 2nd Grade Teacher, The Plains Elementary
Grant Amount: $2,000
Ms. Spero will attend Responsive Classroom II training, a program that stresses that how children learn is as important as what they learn. The approach will be learned to address the social-emotional needs of students.
Mrs. Erica Hershberger, Magnolia
2nd Grade Teacher, Magnolia Elementary
Partner: Mrs. Kristen Woods
Grant Amount: $5,000
To increase student achievement in all subject areas and to improve annual yearly progress, Mrs. Hershberger and Mrs. Woods will lead a project designated to facilitate and allow teacher to teacher training on the specific techniques and benefits of utilizing differentiation within the elementary classroom.
Mrs. Anne M. Ortiz, Stillwater
4th Grade Teacher, Skyline Elementary School
Partner: Ms. Janet Anderson
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Ortiz and partners will conduct action research by studying the literacy of boys. The circle of literacy will be expanded to include nonfiction texts, graphic novels, and cartooning.
Dr. Andrew Smith, Charlottesville
Associate Professor of English, Piedmont Virginia Community College
Grant Amount: $2,000
Dr. Smith, the faculty advisor of the student-run newspaper, The Forum, will attend the Associated Collegiate Press Association's National Collegiate Newspaper Convention. Upon returning to campus, Dr. Smith will share the newly acquired information, skills, and experiences to mentor students who are interested in newspaper writing, photography, layout design, and web publishing.
Mr. James Maxlow, Newport News
Technology Curriculum Integration Specialist, Riverside Elementary School
Partner: Ms. Jennifer Shoff
Grant Amount: $5,000
Mr. Maxlow and Ms. Shoff will conduct a study to determine the effect of virtual manipulatives used during instruction on 4th grade student mathematical achievement assessment results.
Dr. Jessica Thompson, Seattle
Research Associate, University of Washington
Partner: Ms. Amy Baeder
Grant Amount: $5,000
Dr. Thompson and Ms. Baeder will conduct a one year pilot professional development project to build capacity for secondary science education in the Puget Sound region. The grantees will facilitate a network of teachers interested in increasing student science achievement in high needs schools.
Mrs. Beth Smith, Kenosha
1st Grade Teacher, Frank Elementary School
Partner: Ms. Julie Schuler
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Smith and partners will engage in collegial study opportunities related to reading and language arts curriculum. Teachers will engage in grade level group work to focus on individual student learning goals as well as developing curriculum materials focused on reading and language arts instruction.