By Rod Blackburn
Partners In Education Foundation’s PIE Patrol distributed over $20,500 by funding twenty grants to the district’s schools on February 19th. This is the second of two grant award cycles for the school year, PIE distributed over $5,500 last Fall. Earlier this school year PIE also facilitated over $9,400 in annual program awards to various departments from over twenty endowed funds designed to specifically benefit a program or department. This brings the total classroom impact to over $35,000 this school
year!
Starting off at Skelly Elementary School, Cathie Rollings: “ZAP IT!”, Tailor Kelty: “Classroom Management”, Tonja Morgan: “Sand Table Surprise Phase II”, Jordon Tullis: “Social-Emotional Learning and Sensory Support”, & “Playground Pathways”.
At Blackmore Elementary School, Hannah Cline: “Classroom Ukuleles”, Katie Youngers: “Sound It Out & See It”.
Grandview Elementary, Sidnie Russell: “Friendly Banjos”, Misty Currier: “Big Light Table”, Trinity Thomas: “Calm, Ready to Learn SPED Room”, Julianna Neely: “Transforming Early Reading Through Evidence‑Based Phonemic Awareness & Phonics Instruction”, Cristin Hubbard: “Included in Comfort”.
El Dorado Middle School, Lindsey Baker: “Bambu A1 3D Printer and Filament”, Lindsay Cooper: “Fitness Fun with Tidal Tanks”, Lynn Clark: “Building a Better Art Program”, Sarah Windholz: “Closing Gaps With Small-Group Instruction”.
El Dorado High School, Ali Hill: “Behind the Backdrop”, Pete Cisneros: “Beds for Needy”, Melissa Wade: “Reset from Stress & Anxiety”, Becca Soper: “3D Printer – Vocational”.
These awards were made possibly by a grant from Commerce Bank and using PIE’s endowed fund allocation model for the twenty-five endowed funds designed to encourage teachers, librarians, and others to try new and innovative classroom ideas. Or awards can be used to replenish outdated supplies or equipment to improve the classroom. Plus some of our funds are designed specifically for Special Education needs.
Partners In Education Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation established in 1989 to enhance educational opportunities for the students of USD 490. For more information contact Rod Blackburn, Development Director at rod.blackburn@pie490.org, 316.322.4800. Or visit our website: www.pie490.org.