Norton Educational Foundation Awards Grants to Teachers

N.E.E.D. runs 2 major fundraisers each year-Square 1 Art and Thank-A-Teacher which raised approx. $7500 this year. We are also fortunate to have the generous support of Norton families through personal and corporate match donations as well as Horizon Beverage who provided a generous donation.

Approximately $12,000 in grants this coming academic year were awarded to teachers recently at the School Committee meeting.

Jerusha Bjork, Jennifer Ryan (2nd grade teachers), Emilie Packer (Occupational Therapist) at the L.G. Nourse and J.C. Solmonese schools and Michael Manske 7th grade math teacher (Norton Middle School) will receive large stability balls for the goal of improving student focus during seated tasks.

· Brittany Conley, Guidance Counselor at NHS, “Academy support for at-risk youth” using a “Love and Logic Classroom” program to help both teachers and guidance work with struggling families/students in Norton. The goal of this program is to try and reduce the dropout rate.

· Alicia Silva Kindergarten teacher at the L.G. Nourse- a Chick Incubator for her classroom for interactive demonstration of required science curriculum. Special thanks to the L.G. Nourse Parent Board for funding this grant request.

· Cheryl Mulligan 7th grade science teacher (Norton Middle School): “Interactive Science assessment” which uses a CPS (Classroom performance System) allowing students to use a “clicker” to answer questions and receive immediate feedback on performance.

· Kim Zajac: (Speech Therapist at Elementary Schools): Partially funded Speech Applications for Speech Therapy.

· Maryan Welch (Kindergarten teacher at JCS) will receive a camera for a “picture this” program. The camera will be fully funded by the J.C. Solmonese Parent Board.

· Susan Cashton: (Computer teacher, Yelle School) Will receive 30 headsets with microphones to be used with computers at the Yelle.

· Eric Beard: (7th grade math teacher, NMS) will be receiving an interactive projector for the classroom to replace his broken/outdated Smartboard.

· Carol Clark: (Speech Therapist at L.G. Nourse) will be awarded an IPAD Air with speech/language therapy applications.

· Kayla Sweed and Aaron Sumner: (NHS STEP Program and Business Department) They will be purchasing needed items to update the DECA store for selling Norton spirit gear and school supplies. This collaborative venture is to support a self sustaining business model.

· Martha Godfrey: (Spanish teacher NHS) will be receiving funds to purchase items needed for the Spanish National Honor Society students to make a Spanish Art Gallery. Funding for this project is a joint venture between N.E.E.D. and the NHS Parent Advisory Board.