Garden City Public Schools Foundation Awards Mini-grants To Teachers

USD 457

The Garden City Public Schools Foundation Grant Squad awarded $200 mini-grants to help teachers enhance their classrooms on Monday, November 16.  The Grant Squad presented the checks to the teachers virtually this year to follow the district’s operational level protocols to keep everyone safe.  The virtual presentation can be found on the district’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gckschools/

The grants are awarded to help support learning initiatives in the classrooms and at the schools.  The grants may be used for the classroom, department, or individual staff development for a district employee.  Employees can apply as individuals or teams, and the foundation also accepts school applications.

The Grant Squad presented six mini-grant checks to teachers in the district.  The teachers that received the mini-grants are:

Janna Strecker and Emily Shrimplin at Victor Ornelas Elementary School will use the grant to purchase books for the book vending machine at the school.

Brynne Hamlin, Special Education Teacher at Victor Ornelas Elementary School, will use the grant to purchase materials to help students understand the concept of money and providing correct change and coding skills while using technology.

Matilda Howell, first grade teacher at Jennie Wilson Elementary School, will use the grant to purchase materials to help students in reading achievement, growth, and confidence for beginning readers.

Desiree Cooper, second grade teacher at Jennie Wilson Elementary School, will use the grant to purchase materials to help students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities.

Rebecca Brandt, librarian at Jennie Wilson Elementary School, will use the grant to purchase various leveled, appropriate, high interest books to impact the improvement of reading for students at the school.

Alyson Amos, second grade teacher at Abe Hubert Elementary School, will use the grant to purchase supplies for the Student Assist Team that teachers can check out at the school.  The items would help to improve behaviors and academics of the students.

The Garden City Public Schools Foundation has provided over $31,000 in grants to fund opportunities to enhance the learning environment and increase the effectiveness of instruction across the district. The foundation was founded in 2004 and is a non-profit organization that is committed to effectively generate, manage and distribute funds to stimulate excellence for the preservation and enhancement of exemplary education provided by Garden City Public Schools.  The Foundation functions in alliance with the Western Kansas Community Foundation.