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	Last updated 6.15.05

Innovation Grants: Fall 2006 Recipients

The NEA Foundation's Innovation Grants are funded in part by Staples Recycle for Education.

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AL AR CA FL IN IA KY MD MI MT NM NJ NY NC PA RI SD TN UT WA WV

ALABAMA

Angela Kathleen Bailey, Opelika
Kindergarten to 2nd Grade Physical Education Teacher
Jeter Primary School
Partner: Kimberly Hogan Ray

Ms. Bailey and Ms. Ray implement a program to increase students’ interest in physical activity and to build students’ research, presentation, and technology skills. Each first and second grade student researches the health benefits, skills, equipment, and famous participants of a sport or lifetime physical activity and records the information using a personal word processor. Using this research, students create posters and video presentations about each sport.

ARKANSAS

Ashia D. Jackson, Little Rock
9th Grade Civics Teacher
J.A. Fair Magnet High School
Partners: Sue Nelson, Dora Wallace

To help incoming ninth graders make a more successful transition to high school, Ms. Jackson, Ms. Nelson, and Ms. Wallace create a Freshman Academy. As part of the academy, students develop research and writing skills through the production of a “Person of the Year” magazine. Students select a significant elderly person in their lives, conduct oral history interviews, research the birth year of the interviewees, and write biographies based upon the collected information.

CALIFORNIA

Trista Bernato, Los Angeles
3rd Grade Teacher
Norwood Street Elementary School
Partner: Patricia Birk

Ms. Bernato, Ms. Birk, and their third and fourth grade students create a native California plant garden and butterfly habitat. Students design and construct the garden and raise butterflies from larvae to learn about lifecycles. To understand the scientific process, students conduct inquiry-based experiments with plants, seeds, and bulbs. Building vocabulary skills, students record their work in electronic journals and study Native American uses of plants.

Ira Rosenberg, Palm Springs
9th to 12th Grade Applied Technology Teacher
Palm Springs High School
Partners: Jonathan Liu, Veronica Nicholas, Fern Rudd

To stimulate interest in technical education, promote the use of renewable sources of energy, and stress the importance of science and engineering, Mr. Rosenberg and his partners implement a solar car challenge. Students from three high schools build a solar-powered vehicle to enter in a national competition and study fundraising and budgeting concepts to inform their corporate presentations to raise funds to support the project. To highlight the milestones of the project and document the progress, students collaborate to create a television production.

Ann Tilley Van Patten, Merced
6th to 8th Grade Teacher,
Special Class for Moderate to Severely Disabled Students
Herbert H. Cruickshank Middle School
Partners: Monteen E. Gomes, Shawna Lynn Koehn, Sheree Smith

Ms. Van Patten and her partners supervise their special needs students in the planning and performance of music and songs with forest ecology and environmental themes. To develop environmental understanding, students visit Yosemite National Park, participate in hands-on activities, and create and perform songs about their learning. To further environmental stewardship and disability awareness, a video of the students' production and learning experience is shared with other science classes, teachers at an in-service training session, and community organizations.

FLORIDA

Jacque Lynne Ross, Punta Gorda
9th Grade Reading Coach
Charlotte High School
Partner: Pamela Pedrol-Polito

Ms. Ross and Ms. Pedrol-Polito implement a peer tutoring program to enhance learning, develop positive social behavior, and improve classroom discipline and peer relations. Ninth grade students provide lessons on academics, character, and volunteerism for second and third grade students. Activities include creating a book about famous African Americans and notable women, writing poetry, studying folk tales from around the world, performing the works of Edgar Allen Poe, and sending letters to service men and women.

Bernard Peter Roy, Miami
6th to 7th Grade Science Teacher
Arvida Middle School
Partners: Vivian Espinoza, Maria Antonieta Rodriguez

Dr. Roy, Ms. Espinoza, and Ms. Rodriguez develop students’ notation, computation, and communication skills through hands-on engineering activities. Students who traditionally struggle with standardized tests work with peers to design and construct mousetrap cars, water and engine powered rockets, balsawood bridges, and electrical circuit boards. During the process, students communicate with other classes through internet discussion boards and compete against other student teams.

INDIANA

Gary Roberson, Mishawaka
8th Grade Science Teacher
John Young Middle School
Partners: Courtney Bulger, Diana Greenwood

To engage students and meet the needs of diverse learning styles, Mr. Roberson, Ms. Bulger, and Ms. Greenwood create an interdisciplinary, outdoor learning lab. In preparation for the project, students research regional weather patterns, past land use, local Native American culture and food use, conservation policy, and prairie restoration. Students measure and calculate plant growth rates and flower numbers, compute the area of the garden, and determine cost savings for reduced maintenance of the land. Students also prepare the soil, plant native trees, and care for plants.

IOWA

Beth A. Swantz, Kalona
4th Grade Teacher
Kalona Elementary School
Partner: Phyllis Casper  

Ms. Swantz and Ms. Casper implement “News to You” to further integrate technology into the curriculum and to develop students’ writing and oral presentation skills. To prepare for the project, students research print and broadcast journalism and interview the editor of the local paper and the manager of a local radio station. Students prepare broadcast segments that include interviews with school personnel, world news and events, summaries of activities by grade level, and presentations about famous dates. Utilizing iPod technology, students learn to download and podcast their segments.

KENTUCKY

Andrew Gray, Louisville
9th and 10th Grade Mathematics Teacher
Fairdale High School Magnet Career Academy
Partners: Nancy Lacer, Viola Puschaver

Working to close the achievement gaps in their school, Mr. Gray, Ms. Lacer, and Ms. Puschaver collaborate across the curriculum to design an outdoor classroom. Students complete lessons on construction, ecology, history, and mathematics to create a working garden and wildlife habitat. To increase community involvement in the school, students develop outdoor classroom activities for families.

MARYLAND

Elizabeth Rees-Gilbert, Oakland
6th to 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Swan Meadow School
Partners: Kara Rogers Thomas, Robert D. Whetzel

To increase appreciation for regional history and culture, students conduct interviews with members of the local Amish and Mennonite community; the students collect stories, recipes, music poetry, quilting and weaving techniques, farming practices, and Pennsylvania Dutch vocabulary. Using these interviews, Ms. Rees-Gilbert, Dr. Thomas, Mr. Whetzel, and their students create a nonfiction reference book and an educational packet with hands-on activities for the local schools and libraries to teach Garrett County and Maryland histories.

MICHIGAN

Helene A. Barton, Detroit
9th to 12th Grade Science Teacher
Crockett Technical High School
Partners: Christine Burkette, Krystal Davison

Ms. Barton and her partners integrate hands-on, technology-driven projects into the science curriculum to help students prepare to meet the challenges of a global society. Students use technology to analyze wave characteristics, color spectrums, and frequencies and to graph their findings. Students conduct internet research to produce a podcast about technical applications and occupations that involve the use of waves.

Devi Fongers, Grand Rapids
School Social Worker
Covell Elementary School
Partners: Nancy Clements, Sara Kasprzak

To address difficulties that interfere with academic and social success, Ms. Fongers and her partners implement a program for students to use technology to write, read, and publish solution-focused personal narratives. Students develop critical thinking and writing skills by brainstorming and writing about solutions to the problems interfering with their learning. To increase student confidence and parental involvement, students read their completed stories at a reception for family, students, and staff, and present an autographed copy of their story to the school library for future student use.

Richard Sgarlotti, Wilson
9th to 12th Grade Life Skills Teacher
Hannahville Indian School
Partners: Ann Dallman, Jodi Gardner, Donald Meshigaud, Gloria Wandahsega

Mr. Sgarlotti and his partners develop interdisciplinary project-based learning activities in cooperation with the Hannahville Indian Community culture committee. Students help prepare for the opening of a museum by creating exhibits, interactive computer programs, hands-on visitor activities, public relations materials, and advertising campaigns that commemorate the Potawatomi history and culture.

MONTANA

Rachel Christensen, Choteau
4th Grade Teacher
Choteau Elementary School
Partner: Dale Durr

To create and nurture independent, expressive writers, Ms. Christensen and Mr. Durr introduce technology into writing instruction. Students employ the Step Up to Writing approach to improve the organization, word choice, fluency, and presentation of their writing. Ms. Christensen and Mr. Durr use a Smart Board and projector to differentiate instruction and model writing strategies.

NEW MEXICO

Kiva Duckworth-Moulton, Dixon
1st to 2nd Grade Teacher
Dixon Elementary School
Partner: Eugenia Cornelius

To help prepare students for technical and creative jobs, Ms. Duckworth-Moulton and Ms. Cornelius oversee a multi-media yearbook project. Students use technology to document the year’s events, design layouts and storyboards, edit and proofread writing, and assemble a DVD presentation. Students also visit a local publisher and discuss career opportunities with community members working in the graphics and design field.

NEW JERSEY

Sandra S. Nahmias, Roselle
3rd Grade Bilingual Teacher
Harrison Elementary School
Partner: Ivonne Jimenez

Ms. Nahmias and Ms. Jimenez implement a storytelling unit using visual clues to improve the language acquisition of their third grade English language learners who are new to the United States. Working with a professional storyteller, students learn about the Native American Trail of Tears and visual symbols connected with story-telling traditions. Students also study the connection between quilting and the Underground Railroad, African American folktales and songs, and the history of European migration at the turn of the century. Applying their new knowledge, students research their own families’ journey to the United States through interviews and photographs and learn to retell stories from their native country.

Christine Romano, Hackensack
5th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher
5ive 6ix School at State Street
Partner: Cathy DeVincentis  

To improve students’ writing skills, Ms. Romano and Ms. DeVincentis develop an interdisciplinary project that explores endangered species and the environmental impact of historical change. Students read Carl Hiassen’s environmental novel, Hoot, discuss literary techniques, research endangered species, and write an epilogue to the novel. Using information gained from a guest speaker on fossils, students visit a local forest sold for development and write persuasive essays to convince the owner to reconsider the proposed construction. At the culmination of the project, students write, perform, and film a public service announcement about an endangered species and present their work to the class.

NEW YORK

Denise E. Barkley, Buffalo
4th Grade Teacher
International School #45
Partners: Marilyn Foote-Kragbe, Tom Herr, Ann W. Wright

The second, fourth, and seventh grade students of Ms. Barkley and her partners collaborate on environmental studies projects. Students predict how changes in air quality and deforestation affect the environment, how environmental factors affect the water cycles, and whether an object will sink or float in solutions of various densities, and then design experiments to test their hypotheses. To continue their hands-on exploration of geological and biological sciences, students visit the Buffalo Museum of Science, Penn Dixie, and Tift Nature Preserve.

Jessica Jenkins, New York
9th Grade Biology Teacher
George Washington Educational Campus
High School for Media and Communications
Partners: Elish Sari, Stephen Shearier, Dustin Shutes, Diane Wohland

Ms. Jenkins and her partners develop “The Learning Garden: Gardening Across the Curriculum” to allow students to experience the rewards of outdoor exploration as an extension of their academic life. Students engage in a variety of inquiry-driven projects in a rooftop garden, including wildlife and plant data collection, investigations of vascular plant structures, collection of forensic evidence from a mock crime scene, writing using sensory descriptions, painting, and documentary filmmaking. The garden also serves as a living language laboratory for the school’s large population of English language learners.

Kim S. Minnier, Ashville
Special Education Teacher
Hewes Educational Center
Partner: Megan R. Maisto

To educate their special needs students about ecosystems and the environment, Mr. Minnier and Ms. Maisto expand their classroom aquarium project. Students harvest, raise, and care for the fish, maintain the tanks, conduct environmental impact studies, and explore the relationships between pollutants and the environment. Students also visit a fish hatchery to learn how experts milk trout. At the culmination of the project, students return the fish to their natural environment.

Patricia Mueller, Old Westbury
9th to 12th Grade Physics and Computer Teacher
Westbury High School
Partner: Brumsic Brandon

Working to increase student enrollment in upper-level mathematics and science classes, Ms. Mueller and Mr. Brandon introduce a robotics class in their economically disadvantaged school. Students build robots for both dry land and underwater and learn the computer programming skills necessary to operate the robots. Applying advanced mathematics and physics, students investigate concepts such as speed, acceleration, and wheel size effect. Students program robots to compete in several competitions of dry land and underwater tasks.

NORTH CAROLINA

Larry D. Logan, Charlotte
ACE Academy Coordinator
Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology
Partner: Vincent Mariano

To develop problem solving and statistical analysis and to provide students with marketable skills, Mr. Logan and Mr. Mariano develop a Six Sigma technical training program. Students receive lectures on the Six Sigma methodology, a cutting-edge program favored by innovative companies and valued nationally, and attain first level certification. Applying concepts from the lectures, students participate in catapult, robotics, and bridge building competitions, a school dugout construction project, and internships that investigate engineering improvement opportunities within the school or business community.

PENNSYLVANIA

Pat Kuhn, Coatesville
6th to 8th Grade Library Media Specialist
South Brandywine Middle School
Partners: Lisa Doan-Harley, Susan Poskitt

Ms. Kuhn, Ms. Doan-Harley, and Ms. Poskitt develop “Fever: 1793,” an in-depth study of American culture during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in and around Philadelphia. Expanding on a previous study of period medical practices, games, and clothing, students explore the influence of the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic on the development of their own community. To examine primary documents and artifacts, students visit local historical societies and the archives of Swathmore College. Students share their research through a student generated website and a video documentary of Coatesville’s history.

RHODE ISLAND

Tonya Ann LeCour, West Greenwich
9th to 12th Grade Mathematics Teacher
Exeter-West Greenwich Regional Senior High School
Partners: Anita G. Iannuccilli, Jean Murano, Louise A. Oliveira, Ronald Rounds

To allow students to identify an area of personal interest, apply knowledge in real world settings, and improve research, writing, and presentation skills, Ms. LeCour and her partners implement a senior project as a graduation requirement in their rural high school. Students produce a research paper from a chosen field of interest, create a related demonstrable product developed with an expert mentor in the field, document the learning process in a portfolio, and present their research and product to a panel of judges. In preparation for the senior project, students in ninth to eleventh grades use technology to compile a skills catalogue that documents mastery of the proficiencies necessary for the senior project.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Jessica Jean Wheeler, Philip
2nd Grade Teacher
Philip Elementary School
Partner: Marie Slovek

Ms. Wheeler and Ms. Slovek develop a classroom website to improve students’ technology and writing skills. Students learn to create and maintain a website to which they post writing examples, learning logs, art work, and photographs. At the culmination of the project, students use an interactive white board to present to parents, administration, and the school board what they have accomplished during the year.

TENNESSEE

Cynthia Gingold, Memphis
2nd Grade Teacher
South Park Elementary School
Partner: Pam Lawson

Through “Blooming Geniuses” Dr. Gingold and Ms. Lawson integrate arts, reading, and writing into the science curriculum. Students use nonfiction texts to learn about plants and develop a readers’ theater presentation for parents. Applying this knowledge, students create visual representations of plants with paper mache and read and write poetry about plant growth. In addition to visiting nature centers and botanical gardens, students use a greenhouse in the classroom to explore plant growth and the scientific process.

 UTAH

Karre Nevarez, Alpine
6th Grade Teacher
Westfield Elementary School
Partners: Lindsay Hadfield, Lana Jacob, Doug Jolley

To motivate and challenge students, Ms. Nevarez and her partners create investigation teams for sixth grade students to teach science concepts such as microorganisms and space to third graders. Sixth grade students master a concept and create an appropriate experiment, activity, or demonstration to teach the third grade students during weekly rotating science centers. The older students also assist with accurate data recording, science vocabulary, observations, descriptions, and presentations of findings using technology.

WASHINGTON

Henry R. Palmer, Marysville
5th Grade Teacher
Quil Ceda Elementary School
Partners: Coleen Carpenter, Tim Granger, Jason Rounds

Mr. Palmer and his partners implement “Science Takes a Dive” in which students build remote controlled submarines to explore the underwater world and learn about density, buoyancy, thrust, drag, gravity, and a host of other science concepts. Students develop literacy skills and learn the design and history of submarines by reading and writing about Jules Vern’s Twenty ThousandLeagues Under the Sea and U.S.N. Commander William R. Anderson’s Nautilus 90 North. Using tubs and weights, students explore buoyancy and metric measures and build simple submarines with neutral buoyancy. After visiting the Bangor Submarine Base Underwater Warfare Museum and touring Russian diesel submarine moored in Seattle, students master fractions and ratios to construct remote controlled submarines. Using algebraic concepts, students also predict collisions and plot the intercept of a torpedo.

WEST VIRGINIA

Kelly Rae Underwood, Hambleton
6th Grade Reading and Health Teacher
Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School
Partners: Sara Kovach, Eileen Poling

To engage students in reading and improve literacy through differentiation, Ms. Underwood and her partners develop literature centers. Students read books and magazines at their diverse reading levels and complete activity folders to demonstrate learning. Using an assessment program, students explore mysteries, biographies, theater, and poetry.