Learning & Leadership Grants Winter 2009
Learning & Leadership Grants: Winter 2009 Recipients
Ms. Nina Ackerberg, Berkeley
7th Grade Math and English Teacher, Willard Middle School
Grant Amount: $2,000
To improve students’ performance on standardized math tests, Ms. Ackerberg will teach middle school math classes using “Making Math Real,” a brain-based system. Students will benefit from an approach that integrates key cognitive development in math instruction.
Ms. Megan Leuthold, Lafayette
Kindergarten to 1st Grade Literacy Teacher, Boulder Valley School District
Partner: Ms. Jennifer Wagner
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Leuthold and colleagues will implement a group lesson study to increase their effectiveness in improving student achievement in reading. Participants will monitor student progress to identify and support students for whom traditional instruction is not effective.
Mr. Joshua Calderon, Orlando
3rd Grade Teacher, Rolling Hills Elementary School
Partner: Ms. Karrie Waller
Grant Amount: $5,000
Staff at Rolling Hills Elementary School will take part in technology-driven professional development as a means to enhance traditional lessons. The year-long, bimonthly trainings will help technology reluctant teachers feel at ease incorporating multimedia software into lessons.
Mr. Thomas Gammon, Miami
Kindergarten to 12th Grade Teacher Coordinator, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Partner: Mr. Gustavo Rivera
Grant Amount: $5,000
To address the influx of English language learners in Miami-Dade County, teachers will implement the professional development program “English Language Learners: Culture, Equity & Language.” Teachers trained in the module will deliver the course to colleagues to help them engage and motivate the English language learners in their classrooms.
Mr. Aaron Hayes, West Chicago
10th to 12th Grade Mathematics Teacher, Community High School
Grant Amount: $2,000
Mr. Hayes will attend the conference “Learning Beyond Boundaries” to gain high quality professional development. Following the conference, Mr. Hayes will conduct in-services at Community High School covering the topics of instructional effectiveness, differentiation, closing achievement gaps, and student engagement.
Ms. Lori Ham, Indianapolis
4th Grade Teacher, Mary Bryan Elementary School
Partner: Mr. Craig Hendrick
Grant Amount: $5,000
To prepare for the upcoming addition of social studies to state standardized tests, Ms. Ham and Mr. Hendrick will begin “This Old Pioneer School.” The program will allow them to work with a master history teacher, partner with a living history museum, and increase student achievement in language arts and social studies.
Dr. Kate Power, Towson
Assistant Professor, Towson University
Partner: Ms. Lindsay Clokey
Grant Amount: $5,000
A study group will administer literacy assessments, videotape classroom interactions, conduct semi-structured interviews, and meet to discuss student work and professional literature in order to understand and improve the performance of struggling students at The Green School in Baltimore. Student improvement will be tracked using leveled literacy benchmark assessments.
Mr. Daryl Boeckers, Buffalo
9th to 12th Grade Spanish Teacher, Buffalo High School
Partner: Mr. Larry Tuura
Grant Amount: $5,000
Through the Minnesota Council on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures, Mr. Boeckers and Mr. Tuura will create the Online World Language (OWL) environment. OWL will result in extension workshops led by Minnesota World Language teachers from around the state to gather best practices, successful ideas, and home pedagogy to be used in classrooms.
Mr. David Chamberlain, North Conway
11th to 12th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Kennett High School
Grant Amount: $2,000
To address students’ need for civil discourse, Mr. Chamberlain will attend an intense five day conference at Philips Exeter. Mr. Chamberlain will be trained in an advanced student centered discussion technique called the “Harkness Method" that will improve teachers’ abilities to lead effective and engaging discussions.
Mrs. Lori Todd, Little Silver
Student Assistance Counselor, Red Bank Regional High School
Partner: Ms. Gail Canning
Grant Amount: $5,000
In an effort to maximize students’ academic success, the Intervention and Referral Services Team will identify and implement strategies for those students exhibiting academic, behavioral, and/or health difficulties. Team members will be provided training in the areas of teaching strategies, action plans, regulations, and federal confidentiality laws regarding substance abuse issues.
Ms. Dania Ghadban, Brooklyn
6th to 7th Grade Language Arts Teacher, Khalil Gibran International Academy
Partner: Mr. John LaCroix
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Ghadban and a team of educators will create “Friday Study Circles,” focusing on differentiated instruction and brain-compatible learning. Study circles will be centered on reading texts that will familiarize staff with best practices, provide data-driven lessons, and teach academically rigorous, research-based lessons.
Ms. Wendy Wright, Lansing
2nd to 4th Grade Special Education Teacher, R.C. Buckley Elementary School
Grant Amount: $2,000
Ms. Wright will attend the Space Discovery Institute, a two-week program sponsored by the United States Space Foundation. The immersion program will integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics principles into course work that connects robotics, satellites, planetary geology, and ecology with methods of classroom instruction.
Ms. Jenifer Circle-Potter, Chillicothe
10th Grade Biology Teacher, Unioto High School
Grant Amount: $2,000
Ms. Circle-Potter will participate in “Earth Expeditions,” a global conservation program that focuses on inquiry-driven, community-based learning to promote student achievement and global understanding. Upon returning to school, Ms. Circle-Potter will develop an inquiry action plan with her students.
Mrs. Lisa Seay, Sand Springs
6th Grade Teacher, Clyde Boyd Middle School
Grant Amount: $2,000
Mrs. Seay will attend the Space Exploration Educators Conference in February 2009, where she will learn hands-on, inquiry-based techniques for teaching cross-curricular aspects of space exploration. After the conference, Mrs. Seay will offer a mini space camp to all teachers within the district, spearheading a district-wide emphasis on math, science, and technology in the classroom.
Ms. Lynn Conrad, Glen Rock
Kindergarten to 6th Grade Librarian, Southern Elementary School
Grant Amount: $2,000
Ms. Conrad will attend the Mazza Institute Conference where renowned children’s illustrators will speak about their work. Attending the conference will enable Ms. Conrad to understand better visual literacy as it applies to elementary-aged students.
Mrs. Joyce Cannone, Sharpsville
6th to 7th Grade Mathematics Teacher, Sharpsville Area School District
Grant Amount: $2,000
Mrs. Cannone will attend a professional development academy to experience the potential of three-dimensional interactive graphic organizers, dynamic and efficient classroom organization, and effective research based teaching practices to improve students’ mathematics skills. Mrs. Cannone will then hold a workshop for teachers in her district, as well as a regional math conference demonstrating methods in cross-curricular lessons integrating math.
Dr. Joann Lisberger, Kingston
Director of the Women’s Study Program, University of Rhode Island
Partner: Dr. Donna Hughes
Grant Amount: $5,000
Dr. Lisberger will form a study group that will allow 12 women’s studies faculty to develop the skills, learn the best practices, discuss the pedagogical ramifications, and share with other faculty the knowledge and experiential wisdom they gain from teaching online courses. Faculty will learn the computer skills, organization, and innovation that make online courses successful.
Dr. Nadine Kalin, Denton
Assistant Professor, University of North Texas
Partner: Ms. Laura Lee McCartney
Grant Amount: $5,000
A study group will conduct a review of literature, survey of students, and analysis of best practices within other doctoral programs in order to develop and implement a pilot orientation course to meet the needs of doctoral students as they prepare to become higher education faculty. The study group will share results with other faculty and post activities on the department website.
Ms. Joetta Sieglock, Cheney
Adaptive Technology and Retention Specialist, Eastern Washington University
Partner: Mr. Joe Novo
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Sieglock will increase her knowledge of best practices and state-of-the-art adaptive technology through workshops and vendor presentations at the 2009 Technology & Disabilities Conference. She will use the workshop and vendor information to provide professional development for Eastern Washington University’s Adaptive Technology Committee.
Mrs. Megan Castillo, Wenatchee
Kindergarten to 5th Grade Teacher, Lewis and Clark Elementary
Grant Amount: $2,000
Mrs. Castillo will attend a workshop at the Lindamood Bell organization which specializes in teacher/clinician training in the areas of diagnostic assessment and intervention. Upon completion of the workshop, Mrs. Castillo will be able to accurately diagnose a child’s strengths and weaknesses, and provide interventions that meet specific disabilities or needs.
Ms. Susan Mildren, Milwaukee
Special Education Teacher, Browning Elementary School
Partner: Ms. Sarah Wellinghoff
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Mildren and a team of colleagues will work collaboratively to create literacy rich activities using leveled text and literacy-based software. The project will help students with special needs access and meaningfully participate in the curriculum through adaptable books and software-based extension activities.
Ms. Jayne Jaskolski, Milwaukee
Speech Language Pathologist, Milwaukee Public Schools
Partner: Dr. Christine Anderson
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Jaskolski and Dr. Anderson will implement an action research fellowship to introduce teachers to the power of systematic reflection on their practice. The fellowship will focus on commitment, design, sense of experience, creation of new questions, and improving practice.