AEF Awards more than $80,000 in classroom grants

The Aldine Education Foundation (AEF) awarded 20 Innovative Teaching Grants to educators across Aldine ISD as the AEF “Prize Posse” visited campuses and departments on Wednesday, November 28.

The grants awarded totaled $80,070 and were funded by generous donor-designated gifts, a grant endowment, and monies raised through AEF’s annual Sonny Donaldson Golf Tournament. Since 2013, AEF has given 87 grants totaling $299,479.

The Prize Posse’s bus stops included:
• Donaldson Administration Building to award a $7,476 grant to Dr. Michaelann Kelley to provide more exposure to art students in ceramics/clay in high school. And Dametra Skinner was awarded a $4,236 grant to bring Brain Camp to middle school mathematics classrooms. It is a virtual tool to be utilized with hands-on manipulatives in the classroom.

• Dunn Elementary to award a $3,201 grant to Jeremy Muniz to provide graphic novels to inspire artistic expression and encourage students to share their own stories; Kathryn Gibson was awarded a $5,200 grant to raise reading scores by allowing students to check out a baggie of 6-10 books to take home and read.

• Parker Elementary to award a $7,498 grant to Lynette O’Neal to provide parent workshops in person and using technology to help their children improve reading and writing skills.

• Lewis Middle School to award a $5,980 grant to Machelle Brown to establish a sensory room to assess learning differences, student engagement, and long-term goals by embedding TEKS/objectives and IEP goals into various sensory activities.

• Eckert Elementary to award a $3,967 grant to Mark Herndon to enhance writing skills in grades 1-5 through a newsroom style writing lab.

• Stephens Elementary to award a $1,427 grant to Kim Boquilon to develop a program for students to interact with non-handicapped peers to produce dramatic plays and improve parent engagement.

• MacArthur High School to award a $737 grant to Adam Taylor to improve and sustain growth in student achievement by providing cross-curricular, hands-on learning experiences via raised garden beds. And Dierdra Franklin-Sorrels was awarded a $4,475 grant to adapt the “The Seven Habits” to help students discover their voices, know their purpose, uncover unique gifts, and gain the courage to set heady goals, plan priorities, and take responsibility.

• Grantham Middle School to award a $870 grant to Shaina Glass to establish coding clubs for students to learn Google CS First, Scratch, and physical computing in Makey-Makeys.

• Keeble EC/PK/K to award a $1,487 grant to Gloria Richmond to provide an innovative and interactive music room that allows students to move from traditional music instruction to a unique empowering responsibility for learning music.

• Hoffman Middle School to award a $1,106 grant to Dwanna Callaway to provide opportunities for students to interact with others to problem solve and create using specific materials.

• Eisenhower High School to award a $1,275 grant to Michelle Womack to provide opportunities for students to learn how to speak, sing, and interact with a live audience while honing their future singing and acting techniques.

• Eisenhower Ninth Grade to award a $7,495 grant to Bertha Smith-Ross to provide opportunities for students to explore the use of technology to meet every day practical needs. And Elizabeth Gilbert was awarded a $5,264 grant to change the idea of struggling readers to one of developing readers.

• Conley Elementary to award a $1,376 grant to Stephanie Caesar to get students to value and improve teamwork while applying their academic knowledge and their problem-solving skills.

• Bamberg Resource and Staff Development Center to award three grants: Marissa Gonzalez was awarded a $6,000 grant to provide support for teachers on the importance of building number sense and fluency in the primary years; Chantay Smith was awarded a $6,000 grant to focus on teaching foundational math skills during early elementary years including math fluency, recalling basic facts in all four operations accurately, quickly and effortlessly; and Stephanie Knight was awarded a $5,000 grant to provide professional development for teachers on the importance of building number sense fluency in developmental years of learning.