AEF awards more than $54,000 in teacher grants

The Aldine Education Foundation (AEF) awarded 18 teacher grants to educators throughout the district as the AEF “Prize Posse” surprised them by visiting their respective campuses on Thursday, November 17.

Hoffman Middle School teacher Ashley Schlafly, center, and principal Rosalyn Sweat. Pictured with the two are AEF Board Members.

The grants announced totaled $54,329. Over the last five years, AEF has awarded 53 teaching grants totaling $159,139.98.

The “Prize Posse’s” first stop was to Lane School where teachers Robin Schwerin, Corinna Andrews, Alisa Shahan, Courtney Clouse and Vandealyn French were awarded a $3,532 grant to fund their “Access for All” program.

The next stop was at Grantham Academy where teachers Denise Gaudiano, Eric King, Jermel Viltz and Bobby Scott received a $4,999 grant to fund their “Robotics Club” project.

The “Prize Posse’s” next visit was to Worsham Elementary School where teachers Amanda Torres-Palacios and Tyler Vaassen were awarded a $2,604 grant to fund their “A Book A Day” project.

Next up was a stop at Mendel Elementary School where teachers Ruby Lopez and Jessica Salinas were awarded $4,865 grant to fund their “STEM Girls Club” project.

Also at Mendel, teacher Sandra Solis received a $991 grant to fund her “Lego Story Tellers” project.

The next stop was at Cypresswood Elementary School where teachers Susan Wold, Kristi Carreon and Misty Cartwright received a $5,000 grant to fund their “School-Home Reading Connection” project.

The “Prize Posse’s” next stop was at Dunn Elementary School where teachers Ana Marie Hernandez, Irene Tria, Kathryn Gibson, Kimberly Terry and Deborah McCarthy were awarded a $4,809 grant to fund their “Camping for a Good Book” project.

Next up was a visit to Parker Intermediate School where teacher Lynette O’Neal was awarded a $991 grant to fund her “Balancing Literacy with Balance Balls” project.

The next stop was at Davis High School where technical specialist Brad Kaplan and teachers Allison Messenger, Jalisa Skipworth and Nicholas Williamson were awarded a $2,885 grant to fund their “Print is Dead, Can We Do Video” project.
The “Prize Posse’s” next stop was at Kujawa Elementary School where teachers Michelle Martin, Debra Lindner, Carmen Vigers, Linda Baker and Gina Heard were awarded a $4,960 grant to fund their “Groundwork Literacy” project.

The next stop was at Eisenhower High School where teacher Kaileigh Rosplohowski was awarded a $964 grant to fund her “Community Growth through Service” project.

The “Prize Posse” then paid a visit to Smith Academy where teachers David Niedzwiecki and Monica Donaldson were awarded a $3,893 grant to fund their “Genius Hour” project.

The next stop was at Hoffman Middle School where teachers Ashley Craft and Sharonda Brown were awarded a $2,540 grant to fund their “Family Learning Environment” project.

Hoffman Middle School teacher Ashley Schlafly received a $1,000 grant to fund her “Stories from the Nest” project.
The “Prize Posse’s” next stop was at Bethune Academy were teacher Wauna Johnson was awarded a $999 grant to fund her “Game Salad App” project.

The next stop was at Keeble EC/Pre-K Center where teacher Sarah Perez was awarded a $991 grant to fund her “Room on a Shelf” project.

Odom Elementary School teacher Ashley Read, pictured with her is AEF Board Member Sidney Brewer.

The “Prize Posse’s” final stop was at Odom Elementary School where teachers Ashley Read, Britnee Vaughn, Alejandro DelaPena and Rhonda Moore were awarded a $4,969 grant to fund their “Sensory Integration Tools” project.

Michaelann Kelly, the district’s program director of fine arts, was awarded a $4,969 grant to fund her “Taking Art History Out of the Dark Ages” project. She was not present during the Nov. 17 event.

Representing AEF on the “Prize Posse” were AEF Board Members Nadine Kujawa, Marine Jones, David Smith, Stacey Smith, Dr. Charlotte Davis, Rose Avalos, Jeff Hartmann, Sidney Brewer, Bill Ginder, and Richard Cantu. Ann Hartmann, one of the grant reviewers, also took part in the “Prize Posse.”