March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 45 F

Grants 4 Teachers Help Students Grow

community foundationOver the next semester, thirty two teachers in Anne Arundel County schools will be able to stretch their students’ imaginations and skill sets thanks to funds from the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County’s Grants 4 Teachers funds. Projects touch 24 different schools in all parts of the County and were each funded in amounts from $200-500 for a total of $14,756.00..

Some the funded projects are:

  • The Canvas Painting Project at Benfield Elementary School, under the guidance of teacher Tracy Edwards, is an engaging, hands-on experience that will allow 5th grade students to create a painting on canvas that shows their understanding of Georgia O’Keefe and Romero Britto’s painting styles.
  • Teacher Jessica DeRidder’s grant for North County High School funds text books, supplies and transportation for the Science Olympiad team’s appearance in the regional (and hopefully state) competitions. Now in its second year, the team has doubled in size, now serving 28 students most from the premiere STEM program.
  • Students enrolled in Southern High School’s agricultural science program will now be able to better learn equine science thanks to the grant purchasing a horse learning lab kit for the school. Teacher, Dr. Joshua Rice, says that the kit will also be used to train the FFA horse judging team that represents Southern High while competing at events throughout the US.
  • Mr. Walker’s students at Marley Middle School will now be able to provide a healthy habitat for frogs (and maybe even salamanders!) in their local Marley Creek. The school has done extensive reforestation projects and the frog pond is an extension of this hands-on outdoor learning experience.
  • Robots, mazes, coffee cans and computer programs, oh my! Teacher Brad Wray will be working with his Psychology students at Arundel High School to build a set of robots and imbue them with artificial intelligence.    “Each will have a unique personality and be run through mazes and other unique situations.”

Other funded projects support trips to Philadelphia and the National Postal Museum; purchase musical instruments, reading materials, iPads, camcorders and other technology; and National Geographic class kits among others.

The Grants 4 Teachers fund was established by Joe Van Deuren and Balanced Life Skills under the auspices of the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County to provide Anne Arundel County Public School teachers with classroom tools to better engage and inspire their students.

Since the Fall of 2009 when Grants 4 Teachers was launched, the Community Foundation has  funded 122 proposals for a total of $53,404.

CFAAC Executive Director, Bess Langbein says “Thanks to the generosity of local donors we have been able to grow this small but effective grant program and support creative and worthwhile projects at schools across the county.” Many generous individuals, companies and organizations support Grants 4 Teachers fund including Joe Van Deuren and Balanced Life Skills, Severn Savings Bank, Whole Foods Market, Regal Cinemas, the Rotary Club of South Anne Arundel County and the following funds at CFAAC: The Sunshine Fund, Frank’s Fund, The Baum Jackson Investment Group Charitable Foundation, and the Kramer-Schaefer Fund.

For more information, visit the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County website at www.cfaac.org or contact the office at 410-280-1102.

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