Educational Foundation Awards IMPACT Grants To Schools

The Cherokee County Educational Foundation on Friday surprised Cherokee County School District teachers and students with a total of $15,000 awarded through its second annual round of competitive IMPACT Grants.

The grants will fund projects ranging from a StoryCorps-inspired media center recording studio to archive a high school community’s oral histories to mobile gardening labs for first- and second-graders to learn about science (and to love vegetables) to equipping an elementary school with a 3D printer so students can see their engineering designs come to life.

Cherokee County Educational Foundation Board Secretary Amanda Arnold said the day of surprise “Prize Patrol”-style grant presentations with oversized checks, balloons, bouquets of flowers and cheering crowds of students is the “highlight of the year” for the board.

“It’s so inspiring to read the grant applications and realize the creativity and dedication of the teachers in CCSD classrooms and it’s incredibly fulfilling to make those visions become reality through these grants,” said Arnold, who represents Credit Union of Georgia on the Board. “We appreciate every donation the Foundation has received, as it allows us to show schools, teachers and students how much the community cares about them.”

The grant application process was open to individual district teachers, paraprofessionals and school staff; teams of district teachers, paraprofessionals and school staff; administrators; or department heads.

Through public support, the Foundation offers IMPACT Grants of as much as $2,500 per winning proposal, and on Friday eight grants were awarded; a ninth grant to be awarded later this month will bring the total to $15,000, which is an increase from $10,000 awarded last school year.

A committee made up of Foundation Board members reviewed the applications and selected proposals they determined would best strengthen academics; demonstrate a creative and innovative approach to education; provide meaningful and engaging instruction for students; and have a long-term benefit.

The 2015 IMPACT Grants presented on Friday were:

• Avery Elementary – Bringing Movement to Math - $2,399.40, teachers Tori Sinco and Ashley West

• Canton Elementary School STEM Academy – Flash Force 3D Engineering - $1,425, teachers Daniel Cornn, Emma Griffin and Judy Wright

• Johnston Elementary – Walking Track -- $1,325, Principal Kathleen Chandler and teacher Julie Peppers

• Mill Creek Middle School – Paper & Tape Festival -- $1,880, Teacher Becky Stodola

• River Ridge High School – River Ridge Recording Studio - $1,900, Media Specialists Keara Rubin and Leslie O’Bryant

• Woodstock Elementary – Gardening with First and Second Graders - $802.98, teacher Debby Pinion

• Oak Grove Elementary School Fine Arts Academy – Homework Help -- $685, teachers Kristin Guinther and Lisa Reidy

• Clark Creek Elementary School STEM Academy – SMArTE Space - $2,500, Media Specialist Madeline Hall

Copies of the winning grant proposals are available electronically from the Foundation for anyone who wants to learn more about them. As part of the process, winners will be required to submit a report sharing details about the success of their project funded by the grant.

Since 2013, the Foundation has awarded more than $45,000 in grants to district schools, teachers and students.

The Foundation raises funds for these initiatives through sources including its annual “For the Love of Education” T-shirt sale, CCEF Golf Classic Tournament and the inaugural “Celebration of Education” Gala, which will be held on March 14.

Donations to CCEF may be made by mail to P.O. Box 4754, Canton, Ga. 30114.

For more information about the Foundation, visit the website, email cceducationalfoundation@gmail.com or call (770) 704-4213.

Photo 1: Avery Elementary School teachers Tori Sinco, left, and Ashley West, fourth from left, accept a $2,399.40 IMPACT Grant from the Cherokee County Educational Foundation for their ‘Bringing Movement to Math’ idea to combine math and fun physical activity across the two grades they teach – kindergarten and fifth. Celebrating with them are CCEF Board Members, from left to right, Fundraising Chairman Kevin Williams, Vice President Billy Hayes, Colleen Blackwell, Debbie Rabjohn and Rod Drake.

Photo 2: Clark Creek ES STEM Academy Media Specialist Madeline Hall, right, gets a congratulatory hug from Principal Dr. Jennifer Scrivner for winning a $2,500 CCEF IMPACT Grant to create a STEM and art-inspired lab in the media center.

Photo 3: Johnston Elementary School teacher Julie Peppers, second from left, accepts a $1,325 CCEF IMPACT Grant for the school’s planned walking track.

Photo 4: River Ridge HS Media Specialist Keara Rubin, third from left, hugs Ms. Rabjohn upon learning that she and colleague Leslie O’Bryant, second from left, won a $1,900 CCEF IMPACT Grant for their media center recording studio project.

Photo 5: Canton Elementary School STEM Academy teachers won a $1,425 CCEF IMPACT Grant for a Flash Force 3D Engineering project. Celebrating the donation are, from left to right, CCEF Board Member Rod Drake, teacher David Cornn, Board Members Colleen Blackwell, Debbie Rabjohn and Kevin Williams and teachers Judy Wright and Emma Griffin.

Photo 6: From left to right, Cherokee County Educational Foundation Board Secretary Amanda Arnold and Board Member Colleen Blackwell applaud Mill Creek Middle School teacher Becky Stodola, as Board Member Debbie Rabjohn and students cheer her on for winning a $1,880 IMPACT Grant to expand her annual Paper & Tape Festival. The Foundation on Friday, Feb. 13, surprised teachers and schools throughout the Cherokee County School District with a total of $15,000 in grants for “bright ideas.”

Photo 7: Oak Grove Elementary School Fine Arts Academy teachers Kristin Guinther and Lisa Reidy hug upon learning they won a CCEF IMPACT Grant for their Homework Help program.

Photo 8: Woodstock Elementary School teacher Debby Pinion, right, shows her delight upon winning a CCEF IMPACT Grant for her idea to create mobile gardening labs for first- and second-graders.

Photo credits: Cherokee County School District