Johnston Foundation Awards $41,000 in Grants During Dragon Patrol

Students from the marching band, the Johnston Dragon mascot and members of the Johnston Community Schools Foundation surprised 22 teachers and students with $41,000 in grants.

Projects and programs receiving grants include author visits, e-readers to support non-proficient readers, iPad programs and more.

The available grants total one of the largest the foundation has given, foundation secretary Jene Spurgin said in a district article.

All Johnston staff members may apply for a grant. The foundation board reviews the applications and awards the grants in early November.

The main goal of selecting grant recipients is finding applications that uphold the mission of the Foundation.

“Our mission to enhance our children’s education experience and support educators is the priority,” Josh Willis, foundation president, said. “We look for projects that can be used for multiple years in the classroom and benefit many students.”

Pay to the Order of Amount Use Johnston High School $3,000 Clear Focus - Leslie Shipp Johnston High School $1,990 Hydroponic Gardening: A Science and Culinary Arts Cross-Curricular Experience - Jennifer Rollings Johnston High School $3,552.88 It's an eWorld After All! - Jane Behrens Johnston High School $2,026.83 Peer Partner Art - Teresa Francois Johnston High School $500 Theatrical Make-up for Acting Class - Wendy Arch Johnston High School $3,140 Upgrade from Fischertechnik to VEX for PLTW & TSA - Rhys South, Mitch Gearhart, Josh Heyer Johnston Middle School $500 Drawing and Creative Writing Book and Show - Katie Black, Teresa Francois, Nicole Benson Johnston Middle School $959 Heavy Ropes Station - Eric Shafer Johnston Middle School $2,000 iPads: Success for 8th Grade Readers - Lisa Boge, MacKenzie Gersdorf Johnston Middle School $614 Kindle E-readers - Kate Leo Johnston Middle School $667 Science Olympiad - Lisa Horsch, Elizabeth Herzmann Summit Middle School $2,500 "Around the World in One Day": An Experience in Storytelling and Culture - Lacy Sprung Summit Middle School $1,280 ESL iPad Program - Melissa Grinstead Summit Middle School $1,903 iPads in Graphic Design - Connie Pruitt All Elementary $2,000 Beginner Band Instrument Update 2012 - Josh Morgan Beaver Creek Elementary $400 Author Visit for Beaver Creek Elementary with Jerry Pallotta - Tracy Mikles, Kelly Snow Beaver Creek Elementary $2,000 Investing in Positive Achievement Devices (iPads) - Pat Rodda, Sheri Johnson Beaver Creek Elementary $2,000 iPads in the Classroom - Nick Gomez Beaver Creek Elementary $2,000 Third Grade iPad In the Classroom - Christy Willis, Kate McCombs Timber Ridge Elementary $2,500 High Interest/Low Readability Chapter Books - Scott Short, 5th Grade Team Wallace Elementary $2,982.42 Elementary E-Readers - Ruth Thoreson Wallace Elementary $2,484 Third Grade iPad Project - Matt Todd