Student Achievement Grants Winter 2009
Student Achievement Grants: Winter 2009 Recipients
Mr. James Springer, Ashville
9th to 12th Grade Mathematics Teacher, Eden Career-Technical Center
Partner: Ms. Mandy James
Grant Total: $5,000
Mr. Springer and Ms. James will implement “EXCELerate,” a computer-assisted, performance based educational program based on course content and designed to help at-risk students graduate. Comprehensive programming in academics, technical skills development, and counseling will enable students to earn a high school diploma.
Ms. Mary Jo Camargo, South Gate
2nd Grade Teacher, San Gabriel Avenue Elementary School
Partner: Ms. Dora Roque
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Comargo and Ms. Roque will conduct an interdisciplinary lesson that will educate second grade students about animal characteristics, habitats, and life cycles. Students will conduct research through multiple visits to the zoo, after which they will write books about their favorite animals.
Ms. Laura Larkin, Redwood City
9th to 12th Grade Math Teacher, Sequoia Union High School District
Partner: Mr. David Lee
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Larkin and a team of mathematics instructors will conduct a pilot program introducing College Preparatory Math (CPM) Algebra Connections to half of their ninth grade students, while the other half of their students will continue to be taught under the existing curriculum. At the conclusion of the program, student work from both groups will be compared to determine the effectiveness of CPM.
Mr. Gregory Neat, LaCrescenta
9th to 12th Grade Mathematics Teacher, Crescenta Valley High School
Partner: Mr. Michael Flower
Grant Amount: $5,000
Through “TechShop,” students will learn to apply knowledge from core math and physics classes to solve real-world engineering problems in a hands-on environment. TechShop will culminate with students designing, building, and testing a hybrid go-kart.
Ms. Holly Rocchetti, Washington
3rd Grade Teacher, Browne-Gibbs-Young Educational Campus
Partner: Mr. Michael Moss
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Rocchetti and a team of educators will team with Turning the Page, a local education foundation, to implement the “Literacy Through Photography” program. Students will be provided with cameras in order to document the people and communities that touch their lives and will use the photos to illustrate written autobiographies.
Ms. Shannon Peck-Janssen, Tampa
9th to 12th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Freedom High School
Partner: Ms. Margaret Barthel
Grant Amount: $5,000
Students in Mrs. Peck-Janssen’s archaeology classes and Dr. Barthel’s Environmental Science classes will conduct a garbology research project to analyze the recycling behaviors of high school students in order to increase effective recycling practices and decrease costs associated with product waste. The students will then develop a comprehensive recycling program for the school using the data collected from the project and present their results at a conference.
Ms. Elizabeth Ouimette, Tampa
Kindergarten Teacher, Essrig Elementary School
Partner: Ms. Debra Gotting
Grant Amount: $5,000
In order to increase students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills, Ms. Ouimette and Ms. Gotting will create a parent resource room. The resource room will provide parents with educational games and materials for use in small group student tutoring sessions during school hours. By initiating the program, Ms. Ouimette and her colleagues wish to increase parent and community involvement to help decrease the educational gap for English Language Learners and economically disadvantage students.
Mrs. Amy Elizabeth Miller, Derby
7th Grade Gifted Teacher, Derby Middle School
Partner: Ms. Tracey Anderson
Grant Amount: $5,000
Seventh and eighth grade gifted students will learn research, writing, editing, and presentation skills while choosing a career, observing a professional at work, and examining college entrance and graduation requirements. Students will then be trained to use technology in order to present their career paths to assemblies of students and parents.
Ms. Autumn Moore, Gaithersburg
8th Grade Science Teacher, Ridgeview Middle School
Partner: Ms. Vorhauer
Grant Amount: $5,000
In order to support student achievement, increase exposure to academic experiences, and support rigor in the middle school science program, Ridgeview Middle School’s science department will partner with the Maryland Science Center to expose students to science experiences that bring physics, biology, and chemistry to life. The partnership will support student inquiry, build and strengthen interest in math and science, and impact the ability of students to relate science to their everyday lives.
Ms. Tiffany Loner-Diemer, Joppa
6th Grade Science Teacher, Magnolia Middle School
Partner: Ms. Susan Recher
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Loner-Diemer will lead a team of educators in an interdisciplinary learning experience using the science fiction novel Life as We Knew It. After reading the novel, students will use the website http://www.learn.org/ to collaborate with students around the world about natural disasters.
Ms. Gretchen Werle, Turner Falls
9th to 12th Grade Health Technology Instructor, Franklin County Technical School
Partner: Ms. Anna Steele
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Werle and Ms. Steele’s ninth and tenth grade health technology students will work with staff and participants at an adult day health program. Students will develop technology-based activity stations and design a “sensory room” for people with sensory deficits.
Ms. Rosalyn Nedry, Remus
9th to 12th Grade English Teacher, Chippewa Hills Mosaic School
Partner: Ms. Jennifer Huffman
Grant Amount: $5,000
In order to increase students’ environmental awareness, Ms. Nedry and Ms. Huffman will guide alternative education students in the creation of an outdoor learning center. The planning, design, implementation, and ongoing monitoring and maintenance of this center will provide a multitude of opportunities to meet and exceed high standards across the curriculum.
Mrs. Mari Beth Plankers, Moorhead
9th to 12th Grade Speech Pathologist, Moorhead Public Schools
Partner: Ms. Margaret Claymore
Grant Amount: $5,000
The Moorhead High School Literacy Committee will collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and community members to create a literature-rich environment that will promote leisure reading. In order to increase fluency and comprehension, this initiative will put the book It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life, by Lance Armstrong, into the hands of 2,000 students, teachers, administrators, and support staff.
Mrs. Monique Agueros, Warrensburg
Instructional Technology Facilitator, Warrensburg R-VI School District
Partner: Ms. Kelly Brooks
Grant Amount: $5,000
Using video cameras, Mrs. Agueros and colleagues will implement “Flip the Classroom!” This unique literacy activity will enable teachers to quickly record an event for projection in class, get input from students on captions and descriptions, and post the video on the district-created KinderBlog website. A themed mini-movie will be created each month.
Mrs. Janette Rozgay-Miller, Henderson
4th Grade Teacher, Nate Mack Elementary School
Partner: Ms. Brynn Songer
Grant Amount: $5,000
Based on real-world experiences, the Nate Mack “Micro Society Project” will focus students’ critical thinking skills through exploring banking, gardening, and postal services. Students will oversee and facilitate a functional bank, garden, and school-wide post office.
Ms. Janice Haraz, Asbury Park
6th to 8th Grade Library Media Specialist, Asbury Park Middle School
Partner: Mr. Sean O’Scanlon
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Haraz and Mr. O’Scanlon will implement “I Think I Can to I Know I Can,” a literacy program targeted at reluctant readers and English Language Learners. Graphic novels, novels in verse, e-books, and educational databases will be purchased to assist students in identifying research topics and evaluate resources more critically.
Mrs. Debra Vertoske, Hamburg
4th to 5th Grade Music Teacher, Hamburg Central School District
Partner: Mr. Patrick Wirth
Grant Amount: $5,000
Using Smartmusic software, students will explore the complex world of rhythm, allowing them to uncover its mathematical complexities. After becoming proficient with various rhythmic ideas and gaining a broad understanding of the role that math plays in music, students will create compositions for their peers to perform in class and at concerts.
Ms. Diane Robbins, Bellaire
5th to 8th Grade Technology Intervention Teacher, Bellaire Middle School
Partner: Mrs. Kellie Cusick
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Robbins, Mrs. Cusick, and Bellaire Middle School special needs teachers will implement “Team Up for Math.” The program will help students to learn math skills required to pass the Ohio Achievement Test. Students will be engaged in problem solving activities and will create their own math skills book.
Mrs. Nichole Deutsch, Cincinnati
4th Grade Teacher, Bevis Elementary School
Partner: Ms. Dawn Backus
Grant Amount: $5,000
Mrs. Deutsch and Ms. Backus will conduct a multidisciplinary lesson that will stress the importance of regularly participating in physical activity. Students will also study the geometry of their favorite sports and create a PowerPoint presentation to share with other students.
Ms. Cindy Johnson, Checotah
9th to 12th Grade Math Teacher, Checotah High School
Partner: Ms. Jennifer Campbell
Grant Amount: $5,000
Ms. Johnson and Ms. Campbell will create a research-based curriculum that will include activities, projects, and games to encourage students to think critically and solve problems. The curriculum will provide students with varied methods of teaching and practice and will encourage them to develop a deeper understanding of geometry.
Mr. Jacob Gerig, Albany
Kindergarten to 5th Grade Physical Education Teacher, Oak Elementary School
Partner: Mr. Max Nazarian
Grant Amount: $5,000
Mr. Gerig and Mr. Nazarian will implement the “Climbing For Success” rock climbing program in physical education classes. Combating childhood obesity with the integration of math and science, the physical aspect of rock climbing will focus on four main components of fitness: muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, and flexibility.
Dr. Sally Catoe, Columbia
2nd Grade Teacher, North Springs Elementary School
Partner: Ms. Merrie Duggan
Grant Amount: $5,000
In order to improve student achievement in writing and help students gain a genuine pride in their written work, second graders will explore the world of authors in a unit titled “I’m an Author!” Each class will produce a book on a theme to be given to the school media center, and each student will create his or her own book for publication.
Ms. LaTonya Taylor, Memphis
9th to 12th Grade Library Media Specialist, Manassas High School
Partner: Ms. Ledra Pegues
Grant Amount: $5,000
Eleventh grade English students will research issues relevant to slavery and create presentations as they read Day of Tears by Julius Lester. The unit will culminate with a trip to Auction Street and Slavehaven, a house that was part of the Underground Railroad.
Ms. Patricia Franco, El Paso
Kindergarten to 3rd Grade Teacher, Constance Hulbert Elementary School
Partner: Ms. Laura Diaz
Grant Amount: $5,000
In an effort to raise state assessment scores among minority students in the area of science, Ms. Franco and partners will collaborate with teachers on a weekly basis to assist them in aligning their instructions to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. Students will be engaged in critical thinking and problem solving skills to enhance their science experiences and academic knowledge.