200 Grants Awarded to Sarasota Teachers

A total of $170,000 worth of classroom grants were handed out this week by the Education Foundation of Sarasota to teachers from 49 public schools.

Teachers, sponsors, volunteers and school district leaders attended a special celebration of the grant awards at the Chelsea Center, where Dr. Carlotta Cooley, the foundation director, announced the awards.

Michelle Robinson, Southeast Region President for Verizon, which helps to sponsor the foundation initiatives, told the crowd that she appreciates the work of schoolteachers "to inspire and transform the lives of our children.” 

Argosy University sponsored the evening’s reception with Verizon and presented the fourth annual Argosy Principal’s Award to principal Sally Mancheno of North Port’s Lamarque Elementary. Her school won a check for $500.

Jim Henry, Rotary Club of Sarasota president, joined Cooley onstage to close the ceremonies with a final drawing. Henry drew the name of Cranberry Elementary’s Kathleen Butigian, who received the Rotary Club of Sarasota Teacher’s Award, a no-strings cash gift of $500.

All Sarasota County K-12 public school teachers are eligible to apply for awards of up to $500 through the Edge of Excellence Classroom Grants program. The Education Foundation raises the funds, sponsors proposal-writing workshops for teachers and organizes community grant-reading sessions. 

This year, all teachers were also eligible to apply for larger awards through the Education Foundation’s new Exploration Grants program. 

The following is the list of grants awarded, the teachers and their schools:

1.  Edge of Excellence Classroom Grant Awards, Up to $500 each

Teacher Name

School Name

Project Title

Lisa Lampel

Alta Vista Elementary

Geometric Self-Portraits: A Real Art Experience

Kim Morris

Alta Vista Elementary

Making K'Nextions in the Classroom

Donna McGarry

Ashton Elementary

Take Me Out to the ball Park

Donna McGarry

Ashton Elementary

Authorific!

Paul Redington

Ashton Elementary

Make It Fly

Paul Redington

Ashton Elementary

Diary of a Mealworm

Valerie Solum

Ashton Elementary

American Girl Book Club

Marnie Eckerd

Atwater Elementary

Reel 'em in With Reading Rods

Marie Rosander

Atwater Elementary

History Comes to Life 2

Joyce Barnett

Bay Haven Elementary

Beyond Mother Goose

Michala Chipurnoi

Bay Haven Elementary

Let's Build a Book

Maribeth Ditmars

Bay Haven Elementary

Florida Mural

Mary Jo Mundy

Bay Haven Elementary

First Grade Ferdinandos

Jaime Vieira

Bay Haven Elementary

Tales from Spain- Brought To Life!

Jaime Vieira

Bay Haven Elementary

Spanish Manners and Restaurant Culture 2012

Rebecca Walsh

Bay Haven Elementary

Mathematical Manatees Math Club

Catherine Walton

Bay Haven Elementary

News, Views, and Interviews

Julie Felts

Booker High

Wrap and Roll

Melissa Lodhi

Booker High

Science in Motion

Victor Fernandez

Booker Middle

Around the world with orchestra!

Joanna Fox

Booker Middle

THE GAME IS AFOOT! Playing with Language Arts

Donna Heath

Booker Middle

Emergent Reading with Dignity

Donna Heath

Booker Middle

Reading Literature the 21st century Way

Jennifer Jaso

Booker Middle

I’M GAME! Creative Problem Solving Through Play

Carrie Mills

Booker Middle

Write Now!

Deborah Piner

Booker Middle

It's Greek to Me

Henderson Riley

Booker Middle

GAME ON! Math Literacy through Play

Angelique Hellriegel

Brentwood Elementary

It's Important To Be Me

Erin M. Bogie

Brookside Middle

I Funna Read Too!

Stephanie Cordone

Brookside Middle

Bully vs. Victim… Justice for All.

Susan Roberts

Brookside Middle

I Can 2 (An Aluminum Can Project)

Deanna Stroud

Brookside Middle

Book Whispers

Kelley Bolin

Cranberry Elementary

Building Comprehension Through Tiers

Katherine Brunson

Cranberry Elementary

Connecting the Dots from School to Home

Katherine Brunson

Cranberry Elementary

Bridging the Gap

Kathleen Butigian

Cranberry Elementary

Together- The Kids Win

Karen Cramer

Cranberry Elementary

Science Trading Cards

Karen Cramer

Cranberry Elementary

Reading Rocks Club

Cheri Dame

Cranberry Elementary

What Did That Owl Eat?

Stacey Embury

Cranberry Elementary

Small Scientist Big Learning

Laura Kemble

Cranberry Elementary

It's Only Logical

Maryann LeRoy

Cranberry Elementary

KNOWING is to see, to smell, to hear and touch!

Kimberly Muller

Cranberry Elementary

Math Matters

Kimberly Muller

Cranberry Elementary

Marvelous Math Makers

Deborah Pappas

Cranberry Elementary

Countless Books for Cranberry Cougars

Megan Anne Mahoney

Emma E. Booker Elementary

Books are Fun: Adding to My Classroom Library

Susan Martin

Emma E. Booker Elementary

Power of Words-Intermediate Dictionary/Thesaurus Books

Makaya Moran

Emma E. Booker Elementary

Literacy Speaks Out

Rachel Satz

Emma E. Booker Elementary

Classroom Library

Dawn Hinck

Englewood Elementary

Everyone's A Michelangelo

Darlene Rodgers

Englewood Elementary

Flashing Fingers Take the Stage

Jessica Belloise

Fruitville Elementary

Big Ideas in Science Give Us Jungle Fever

Beverly Hild

Fruitville Elementary

Give Me Knowledge

Theresa Corlett

Garden Elementary

Every Child Deserves a Voice

Joanna Davis-Lanum

Garden Elementary

Art Talks: Description Language with FotoBabble

Gayle Heskett

Glenallen Elementary

CATegorial Arts

Jamie Ward

Gocio Elementary

Reading + ESOL = REESOL Reading Everyday with ESOL Students Optimizes Learning

Mary Compton

Gulf Gate Elementary

Sunnyside Up: Looking to the Future with Solar Cars

Patricia Harrell

Gulf Gate Elementary

More Math Please

Patricia Harrell

Gulf Gate Elementary

Pass the Peas and Mind Your Manners Please!

Joan Hazen

Gulf Gate Elementary

Let's Liven Up Literacy with Science and Social Studies

Joan Hazen

Gulf Gate Elementary

We'll Capture It in a Snap

Liz Kinsinger

Gulf Gate Elementary

Explore the Lore II It's Time for Science

Karen Korzecki

Gulf Gate Elementary

It's a Buggy Safari Bonanza- A Study of Insects

Maria Mayl

Gulf Gate Elementary

Bananas for Literacy

Bonnie McWhorter

Gulf Gate Elementary

Roving Reporters on the Scene

Susan Otis

Gulf Gate Elementary

What Did You Bring Home?

Susan Otis

Gulf Gate Elementary

Real Writin' and Readin' Cowpokes

Deborah Radek

Gulf Gate Elementary

Through the Eyes of the Mask…Travel the World

Debra S. Hussey

Heron Creek Middle

Hands Up For Hands-On II

Meaghan Beasley

Lamarque Elementary

1 Pen + 1 Pen = Double the Learning

Susan Chynoweth

Lamarque Elementary

Tapping Technology to Motivate Learning for Autistic Students

Kerry Greco

Lamarque Elementary

The More We Read, The More We’ll Know. So, Through Florida History We will Go!

Lisa Levine

Lamarque Elementary

See me, Be me, Make me talk!

Patricia Longo

Lamarque Elementary

Dance Like No One Is Watching

Adam Massoth

Lamarque Elementary

A Grant Who'll Fuel a Cool Jewel of a School! A Dr. Suess Reading Project

Caroline Paolillo

Lamarque Elementary

Seeing stars in Speech!

Caroline Paolillo

Lamarque Elementary

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Drills!

Mary Pedro

Lamarque Elementary

Climb the Word Ladder to Reading Success

Mary Pedro

Lamarque Elementary

Active Achievements

Mary Ruth Robenalt

Lamarque Elementary

We Get By With a Little Help From Our Hands…

Donna Schmunk

Lamarque Elementary

My Place in the World

Roger Lockwood

Laurel Nokomis

Words of Wisdom

Barbara Stella

Laurel Nokomis

Who's Your Daddy?

Alicia Bartol-Thomas

McIntosh Middle

IDK? Inquiry + Discovery = Knowledge: Young LIFE SCIENTISTS @ Work

Cheri Dennen

North Port High

Crime Scene Investigation

Cheri Dennen

North Port High

Designing a Green Building

Christine Todd

North Port High

Do You Dig. It? Yes We Dig. It! Going Digital in Photography

Dan Kaser

North Port High

NPHS Stem

Allison Hilliard

Oak Park North

Project Give

Mary Alice Hratko

Oak Park North

Reading with Your Imagination: The Next Generation

Jason Kirby

Oak Park North

Make a seat and sit down

Ashley Light

Oak Park North

Skill Building

Mary Millbourn

Oak Park North

Organize Me-I Want to Learn

Robyn Sadlo

Oak Park North

Cooking up Literacy

Barry Taylor

Oak Park North

Busy hands need more hand saws

Joseph Craycraft

Oak Park North

Baking Biscuits for Education

Wendy Belling

Oak Park South

Project Hocus Pocus

Dawn Kelley

Oak Park South

Rappin' Up the Vocab

Ashley Light

Oak Park South

Veggie Cars

Ginger Rosenberger

Phillippi Shores Elementary

All Systems Go!

Lona Sims

Phillippi Shores Elementary

Reading Enthusiastically and Daily (READ5)

Sandy Waite

Phillippi Shores Elementary

Measuring Up in the Kitchen

Sandy Waite

Phillippi Shores Elementary

More Math Means Mystery!

Laura Bradly

Pine View

Math No-BORE-atory

Laura Bradly

Pine View

Science, Math & Model Rockets

Denise Fugere

Pine View

Eat a Rainbow and Color Your Way to Healthy Choices

Retsy Lauer

Pine View

Small Art Quilt & Three Dimensional Vessels

Tara Spielman

Pine View

Angles of Peace

Martha Magenheim

Pine View

Vicarious Voyage Around the World

Laura Drake

Riverview High

Dates and Dead People…Restoring the Humanity to History

Jackie Henson-Dacey

Riverview High

Third View: A photographic survey of Sarasota County

Kathy Kourapis

Riverview High

Littlest Learner's Lending Library III

Judy Lyon

Riverview High

Paint Marker Masterpiece Creations

Rita Wetsman

Riverview High

Cooperative Learning in the HS Math. Classroom

Robert Gray

Sarasota County Technical Institute

Digital Universe

Randy Thies

Sarasota County Technical Institute

Doctor in the Water

Gina Barresi

Sarasota High

All Aboard: Getting Parents on Board to Promote Literacy

T. Austin Dunk

Sarasota High

From Concept to Reality- Three-Dimensional Printing

Rachel Wasserman

Sarasota Military Academy

Disaster Dos and Don'ts

Mickey Stone

Sarasota School of Arts & Sciences

Introduction to Stage Make-Up

Abby Coulter

Sarasota School of Arts & Sciences

Algebra is Fun

Don Miller

Sarasota School of Arts & Sciences

Mastering Facts in a Flash

Stacy Agee

Sarasota Suncoast Academy

Technology, Motivation, and Success

Cherese Dennis

Southside Elementary

May I Get That To Go?

Stephen Waite

Student Leadership Academy

Reading, It's History!

Hugh Burns, Ph.D

Suncoast Polytechnical High

Shakespearean Birthday Elizabethan Festival

Claire Fuller

Suncoast Polytechnical High

Teaching Science through Reading

Nancy Mills

Suncoast Polytechnical High

Buy the Book

Tracey Cardenas

Taylor Ranch

Reading: The Key to All Learning

Susan Griffith

Taylor Ranch

Creating a Mindful Classroom: A Positive Climate for Learning

Susan Griffith

Taylor Ranch

The Optimistic Classroom Library

Karen Dodd

Toledo Blade Elementary

Reading Rascals

Sharon Hermanson

Toledo Blade Elementary

Munching on Math

Jennafer Slanger

Toledo Blade Elementary

Circle of Life

David Ursel

Toledo Blade Elementary

Turn On Your Neurons

Aurora R. Gray

Tuttle Elementary

Gross, Gruesome and Ghastly

Kathryn Baber

Venice Elementary

Cross Train You Brain

Barbara Sirpilla

Venice Elementary

Weave Me Alone…I'm Trying to Write a Grant Here!

Beverly Alden

Venice High

Dance the First Step Towards Social Interaction

Leslie Bachtel

Venice High

Performance Based Diploma

LeeAnne Baker

Venice High

Performance Based Diploma

James Bauman

Venice High

Performance Based Diploma

Stephen Case

Venice High

Physics of Electromagnetic Signal Propagation

Lynn Haines

Venice High

Performance Based Diploma - Math netop

Dan Kelly

Venice High

Mariculture

Robert Lash

Venice High

Mathematics in the Real World: Antenna Analysis

Nancy Parker

Venice High

Have I Got a Book for You!

Ann Pinney

Venice High

Tomatoland

Charles Powell

Venice High

Marine Aquariums

Lisa Jodwalis

Venice Middle

Art Quest

Laura Semian

Venice Middle

A Novel You Can Count On in MS Math Class

Laura Semian

Venice Middle

Meaningful MS Math...It DOES Add Up!

Barbara Woody

Venice Middle

Civics Class Goes to Tallahassee

Nancy Avishar

Wilkinson Elementary

From the Arctic Circle to the Language Lagoon

Donna Hambrick

Wilkinson Elementary

I Can Learn to Read with Fluency! Yes I Can!

Tiffany Lloyd

Wilkinson Elementary

It's Geometry, My Dear Watson

Cynthia Pelosi

Wilkinson Elementary

I Can Read Naturally

Christine Wong

Woodland Middle

Weeping Time - Days of Tear

2.  Exploration Grant Awards 2011-2012, Up to $1,500 each

Teacher Name

School Name

Project Title

Participating Organization/s On EdExploreSRQ.com

Lisa Lampel

Alta Vista Elementary

Write A Play/Guided Storybook Tour

Selby/Florida Studio Theatre

Kim Morris

Alta Vista Elementary

Bringing Conservation into the Classroom

Mote Marine

Meredith Montgomery

Bay Haven Elementary

Involve Me and I Learn - Habitat Hooplah at Mote Marine

Mote Marine

Ashley Harris

Booker High

Reading through the Arts

Van Wezel/Florida Studio Theatre/Ringling

Julie Felts

Booker High

Pressing Expressions

Ringling Museum

Joanna Fox

Booker Middle

A Poetic and Painterly Pas de Dux, Reflecting on Rubens at the Ringling Museum

Ringling Museum

Rita Zywica

Brookside Middle

The Sky Isn't the Limit

GWIZ

Connie Stuart

Brookside Middle

To Infinity and Beyond

GWIZ/Riverview Planetarium

Stacey Embury

Cranberry Elementary

Will Clifford Even Fit on Stage?

Van Wezel

Ann Gillies

Fruitville Elementary

Not Just Tutors; Friends Who Understand

Van Wezel/Embracing Our Differences

Cindy Millar

Fruitville Elementary

From Angelfish and Zebra Sharks to "Tuxedos"

Mote Marine

Dianne Rodriguez

Fruitville Elementary

Write Me a Song, Sing Me a Summary, a Tall Tale Tune!

Van Wezel

Belle Lyons

Fruitville Elementary

Go Native! Plants of Florida

Selby Gardens

Melanie Buckhalter

Garden Elementary

Turtle Tots

Mote Marine

Carol Tausan

Garden Elementary

Going for Baroque - Recorders That Is!

Sarasota Orchestra

Yuliya Smilowitz

Glenallen Elementary

Phenomenal Phonics

Van Wezel

Jessica Gardner

Gocio Elementary

The SeaSnooze Experience

Mote Marine

John Freeman

Gulf Gate Elementary

Let's Go to the Garden

Selby Gardens

Alison Brannack

Imagine School at North Port

Playwright, Playwright, Write Me a Play

Florida Studio Theatre

Karen Johns

Lakeview Elementary

Step Afrika!

Van Wezel

Christine Klopfer

Laurel Nokomis

Science Really Grabs Us

Van Wezel

Aja Lowe

Laurel Nokomis

Enthusiasm for Science

Van Wezel

Christina Tweed

Laurel Nokomis

My Personal Finances

Junior Achievement?

Eric Vanarsdall

North Port High

Exploring GWIZ Science Museum

GWIZ

Amy Nash

North Port High

Discovering the Universe at Riverview Planetarium

Riverview Planetarium

Joseph Craycraft

Oak Park

Touch Screens Touching Lives

Selby Gardens

Kate Hennessey

Sarasota School of Arts & Sciences

Hamlet Prince of Cuba

Asolo Rep

Lee Maxwell

Suncoast School for Innovative Studies

Hands-on Exploring in Our Community

Mote Marine/ South Florida Museum

Tara Greenbaum

Tuttle Elementary

Magic School Bus Climate Control

Van Wezel

Harold Kaufer

Venice Middle

Community Garden

Selby Gardens

3.  Expanded Exploration Grant Awards 2010-2011

Up to $5,000 each

Teacher Name

School Name

Project Title

Participating Organization/s

On EdExploreSRQ.com

Mary Ward

Ashton Elementary

International Instrument Invention Convention

Van Wezel

Hellen Harvey

Booker High

To Be or Not to Be

Asolo

Deborah Herbert

Booker Middle

Envisioning a BMS Tornado of the Arts

Sarasota Season of Sculpture

Patricia Varley

Emma E. Booker Elementary

Live, Learn, Love Sarasota

Mote Marine/Riverview Planetarium/Fuzion Dance/Ringling Museum/Circus Sarasota

Andrius Vitkus

Emma E. Booker Elementary

Future Conservationists Exploring the Sarasota Bay Ecosystem

Mote Marine

Joanna Davis-Lanum

Garden Elementary

Voice Your View: Exploring Art in Our Community

Season of Sculpture

Cathy Levann

Gulf Gate Elementary

Our Backyard…Our  Gulf

Mote Marine

Amy Proch

McIntosh Middle

Sampling at Home and Abroad

Mote Marine

Robyn Sadlo

Oak Park North

A Magical Journey

Florida  Studio Theatre/Van Wezel

Lori Burton

Phoenix Academy/Riverview High

Visual Storytelling

Ringling Museum

Andrew Harshman

Sarasota High

Research Education and Exploration

Mote Marine