Bartow Teacher Grant Program Helps Students Excel

CARTERSVILLE, GA — If you ask Bartow Education Foundation Director Dot Frasier who her babies are, you better have a solid 24-hours of free time. She would tell you her list affectionately includes hundreds of former Bartow County students and the Teacher Grant Program.

Frasier launched the Teacher Grant Program in 1995 after she retired as principal from Emerson Elementary School. Her passion for children and educators runs deeper than magic markers on a lunch box. Frasier spends most days requesting donations from local businesses and individuals in order to keep the program alive. Many classroom teachers also help fund the initiative through a payroll deduction program. Contributions exceed $5,000 every month.

“Teachers work because of their calling to help God’s children," Frasier said. "They clearly see a need for this
program and that’s why they have always invested in it."

Thursday, Jan. 25 marked the 23rd Annual Teacher Grant Banquet. More than 225 grants were awarded this year, totaling nearly $107,000. Bartow County employees who work with children such as teachers, nutrition staff workers, and bus drivers applied for the grants in the fall. A panel of grant readers reviewed each application and awarded up to $500 per entry. Foundation members continuously look for innovators who are willing to transform learning environments and create better educational experiences.

Peeking into the stack of grants, several stand out from the rest. Tara Hartline, a fourth-grade math teacher at Adairsville Elementary School, likes the idea of flexible seating and used her grant money to purchase sixteen exercise pedals.

“I noticed something more was needed. I don’t know many people that like sitting all day, under fluorescent lighting, listening to someone talk," Hartline said. "Kids need to move, explore and be engaged in their learning."

Emerson Elementary School Principal Tracy Mulkey now has the money she needs to purchase new books for her school’s Little Library. Last year, school leaders took an old newspaper box, filled it with books, and set it outside for children to delve into during the summer months. Students gravitated toward the little box with a big purpose.

New statistics show Emerson Elementary School closed their summer literacy loss gap by 11 percent thanks to the Little Library. Significantly more students are reading during the summer months and Principal Mulkey wants to build on the program’s success.

"Literacy affects all academic standards in all subject areas," Mulkey said. "The goal of Emerson’s Little Library project is to put the right books in the right students’ hands over school breaks."

Phyllis Bickford, an art teacher at Cass Middle School, has her creative eye on painting supplies for her seventh and eighth-grade students. Using visual art standards, Bickford told the Education Foundation that she is eager to buy acrylic paints and supplies to teach color theory and other lessons.

“Students sometimes need to be reminded that this is not just an art lesson; it is a science lesson, too," Bickford added. "All of us are artists and scientists as we use color theory and paint."'

Meredith Barnhill, a teacher at Adairsville High School, would also like to engage her regular and special education students through a course called Foundations in Personal Finance. Her grant money will allow her to acquire student workbooks, so next school year students can learn how to make sound financial decisions in their lives.

“Foundations in Personal Finance will use a model provided by Dave Ramsey to teach students how to avoid debt, budget, invest wisely, and build wealth,” added Barnhill.

The Teacher Grant Program is the largest project funded by the Education Foundation. Other programs focus on Bartow County School System retirees, teachers of the year, and bus drivers.

“I don’t think you will find another school system anywhere that has a foundation that does
anything remotely close to what we do for our students and staff," Frasier added. "It’s because we have such
dedicated directors on our foundation and they truly love our kids."

Images via Bartow County School System