Cherokee County Educational Foundation Awards $56K In Grants

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA -- The Cherokee County Educational Foundation helped kicked off the new school year in Cherokee County this month by presenting teachers and support staff with $56,000 in grants.

The nonprofit organization, since its 2012 formation to raise funds for Cherokee County teachers, programs and schools, has awarded more than $500,000 in grants to support teaching and learning.

The Foundation’s Classroom Impact Grants program offer competitive grants for projects costing up to $2,500, with a focus on new ideas for instruction that could be replicated throughout Cherokee County classrooms.

“The Cherokee County Educational Foundation makes teachers’ dream projects a reality, and we’re incredibly grateful for the foundation board, executive director and volunteers and sponsors and donors who make its fundraising successful,” Superintendent Brian Hightower said. “The bright ideas funded by these grants not only benefit the students in these classrooms and schools, but also our entire school district as these innovations take root and grow.”

The foundation also supports district wide initiatives including credit recovery scholarships for high school students, STEM learning and the Teacher of the Year recognition program. These funds are raised through Cherokee County Educational Foundation events such as the annual Golf Classic and Celebration of Education Gala, as well as through direct donations, which can be made online.

The 2020 Classroom Impact Grants winners include:

• ACE Academy, Robyn Wilms: Gardening Expansion
• Arnold Mill ES, Hailey Burden and Elizabeth Gama: Life Skills Lab
• Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, Julie Miles: Goodnight, Sweet Student
• Bascomb ES, Danielle Mabeus: Calming Our Classrooms
• Carmel ES, Nathan Whitehurst: Ukulele Program
• Clark Creek ES STEM Academy, Karen Garland: Using the Garden as an Integrating Context
• Clark Creek ES STEM Academy, Kathryn Smerker and Jama McCartney: Redhawk Nation - Creating a Caring Learning Community
• Creekland MS, Stacy Arnold: Bottle Rockets- Altitude Tracker
• Creekview HS, Stephen McCarthy: Room Equipment
• Creekview HS, Mary Panik: The Universe at Our Fingertips
• E.T. Booth MS, Daniele Deneka: Go Baby Go!
• E.T. Booth MS, Amanda Graves: Etowah Zone - Books on Blankets
• Free Home ES, Keith Furstenberg: Get Moving!
• Free Home ES, Bryan Wallace: The Greenhouse Project
• Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy, Barry Dalton: Physical Education with Technological Integration
• Holly Springs ES STEM Academy, Mollie Guy: Aeroponic Tower Garden Project
• Holly Springs ES STEM Academy, Lisa Lougheed: Global Connections
• Indian Knoll ES, Julie Bryant: Music and Math Fun for EVERYONE!
• Indian Knoll ES, Marissa Williams: Elementary 3D Printing Engineers
• Liberty ES, Stacy Campbell: The Importance of Human Connections
• Mill Creek MS, Mark Markley: CAD/Laser Cutting and Engraving Maker Space
• River Ridge HS, Chris Akins: Professional Applications with Photoshop
• Sixes ES, Sarah Kay Dobbs: Creating an Inclusive Playground
• Sixes ES, Emma Neumeister: Drumming Up Student Engagement
• Teasley MS, Scott Reece: SAMLab Maker and STEAM Course Kit
• Tippens EC, April Popham: High School Novel Studies
• Tippens ES, Wesley Satterfield: Hokki Stools
• Woodstock MS, Justin Norton: Bass Clarinet/Tenor Sax for kids