BY RILEY WILSON
Students cheered, clapped and screamed for Cathie Klein as the Eudora Schools Foundation Prize Patrol burst into her room Friday to award her with a classroom grant.
“I’m just really excited because this is huge for my students,” Klein said. “The funds are going to help provide another layer to helping them prepare for that next step.”
Each year, teachers across the district apply for a Teacher Excellence Grant by submitting an innovative project to the Eudora Schools Foundation. This year, the foundation awarded over $17,000 to 21 teachers across the district.
The Foundation Prize Patrol awarded all of the winners at their schools Friday morning.
Klein teaches career and life planning at the high school and received a grant for her senior internship class. The class provides high school seniors with the opportunity to intern with a career mentor to discover what the field is like.
Klein’s proposed project will provide students with a new book to help students understand emotional intelligence and a Strength Finders program for students to identify their strengths. Both skills increase their employability, she said.
“It’s a great opportunity, especially for these seniors that have their foot almost out the door,” Klein said.
Seventh grade science teacher Kyle Stadalman received funding for his proposed project during a middle school assembly. Stadalman submitted an idea for a hydroponic garden project that will allow every seventh-grade student the opportunity for hands-on involvement.
A hydroponic garden uses a steady flow of water, nutrients within the water and artificial light to grow plants. This system has 48 pods where a plant can grow.
The goal of the project is to help students gain an understanding of heredity and genetics through plants. Additionally, students will learn alternative ways to grow plants.
“I hope this is something that’s set up throughout the entire year so that all the kids will get a chance to start a plant in a hydroponic pod and then care for the plant,” Stadalman said.
Foundation Executive Director Shanda Hurla said this year is a record high for the amount of money awarded. She said the foundation has been able to award more money each year because of the strong relationship built with the community.
The foundation has awarded over 120 projects since 2006, giving out more than $100,000 in grants. Foundation President Chrissy Mayer said the foundation is always inspired by the teachers’ efforts to provide innovative learning experiences for students.
“The Eudora Schools Foundation continues to be impressed and inspired by the creativity that our teachers bring forward annually to enhance student learning experiences through the Teacher Excellence Grant applications,” Mayer said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize teachers through the generous contributions of our donors.”
Other winners are:
Eudora Early Childhood Program:
Nicole Ramirez and Lauren Blakeborough: Movement Motor Lab – provides preschool and kindergarten students with the opportunity to increase foundational motor development through multiple sensory paths and resources.
Melissa McCauley: Preschool Music Enrichment – allows preschool students the opportunity to explore and experience music by promoting the inclusion of all students of all abilities.
Eudora Elementary School:
Christopher Lounsbury and Jennifer Pate: Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) Trainers – enables two staff members to be professionally trained and serve as LETRS trainers and facilitators to provide all elementary school staff with research-based instruction tools to teach language and literacy skills to every student.
Lynae Soderholm: Kindergarten Science Explorer Lab – provides kindergarten students with real world science explorer lab gear.
Barbie Hartwell and Jill Stutler: Sphero Robots – allows students from kindergarten to eighth grade to experience STEM activities through a fun and engaging method using Sphero robots.
Rebecca Killen and Kendra Temaat: Ukuleles – enables students to learn an easy-to-play, melodic, stringed instrument giving them a richer understanding of beat and chord progressions.
Eudora Middle School:
Kristyn Fish, Jean Bouse, Hillary Brunin and Abbey Vieux-Revell: Cardinal Coffee Crew – provides an opportunity for life-skills students to improve and enhance their social, academic and prevocational skills by opening a coffee cart business.
Melanie McQueen:
Gimkit for Espanol – allows elementary and middle school Spanish language learners the opportunity to use Gimkit to introduce Spanish language concepts and vocabulary.
Spanish Novels – enhances elementary and middle school Spanish language instruction by using comprehension-based novels to help students acquire language faster and better.
Eudora High School:
Nate Robinson: Video Editing Hard Drives – enhances digital media and video students’ ability to shoot 4K by video editing on an external hard drive.
MaryJo Swann: Design Cameo – allows high school mathematics students and teaching pathway students the opportunity to create and produce their own designs and visual aids by using a professional Silhouette Cameo for course application.
Kim Lancaster: Spanish TV Series – enhances high school Spanish language learners’ ability to understand from native speakers in a neutral language through a Spanish TV series.
Scott Lickteig: Parallel Drafting Boards – provides students with better drafting equipment to increase their abilities and success in the classroom.
East Central Kansas Cooperative in Education:
Sheila Vander Tuig: Bridges Candy Creations – allows the special education students in the Bridges Program to expand their business, “Candy Creations,” by providing them with a color copier to enhance their candy bouquets.
Reach reporter Riley Wilson at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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