Clayton Alumni Association and Education Foundation Awards $11,500 In Grants To Clayton Teachers

The Clayton Alumni Association and Education Foundation recently selected its 2012 grant recipients, awarding eight grants totaling $11,500 to Clayton teachers for projects that create lasting changes in the learning experiences of students. The Foundation “Prize Patrol” made surprise visits to award the grants to teachers

Captain Elementary Librarian Tom Bober and Spanish Teacher Lorie Madriz received a grant for Spanish early reader books, which will provide elementary students in first through fifth grades with the opportunity to expand what they learn in the Spanish classroom through interaction with Spanish text during reading time at school and at home. The early reader books will be available for checkout to elementary students and teachers throughout the District.

Glenridge Elementary First Grade Teacher Lindsey Zoellner, Technology Integration Specialist Denise Stouffer and Reading Specialist Kimberly Roach received a grant for four Hear All Assessment Recorders, which will be used to help first grade students become more fluent and expressive in their reading. By recording students reading, they will be able to listen and discuss their readings, as well as focus on improving phrasing and the use of punctuation marks as indicators of when and how to change their voices. As students reread and re-record themselves, they will hear the changes in their own voices and consider how the use of appropriate rate, phrasing and expression can improve their comprehension.

Meramec Elementary Science Specialist Tom Sprengnether, along with Captain Elementary Science Specialist Chris Hwande and Glenridge Elementary Science Specialist Brendan Kearney received a grant for 21 portable telescopes (seven for each elementary school) for students to checkout and take home to enhance their observations of the night sky during relevant science units. The telescopes will primarily be used by third graders. When they are not in use, the telescopes will be available for checkout to fourth and fifth graders.

Instrumental/Strings Specialist Kristen Tourville received a grant for an iPad and various music programs that will be used to enrich student learning. The iPad will allow for easy transportation of the programs and accessories needed for teaching strings at each of the District’s three elementary schools. The music software and apps on the iPad will provide students with listening exercises, visual aids and hands-on work, which will be used across all stages of musical development within the curriculum.

Clayton Kid Zone Coordinator Tyler Kearns received a grant for science and engineering equipment to bring STEM enrichment activities to students who participate in Kid Zone. Projects such as straw rockets, solar robots and toothpick bridges will provide students with a hands-on approach for learning basic ideas and concepts of science and engineering. The equipment will be used primarily by fourth and fifth graders. When the equipment is not in use, it will be available to science teachers.

Clayton High School FACS Teacher Lauren Compton received a grant for additional sewing and serger machines for the school’s new fashion design and merchandising class, allowing more students to work on a machine and providing students with hands-on experience in one of the fastest growing industries in the world.

Clayton High School Teacher and Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator Paul Hoelscher received a grant for nonfiction, social studies texts for students of all reading levels in grades first through third. The books will offer new reading materials in social studies to meet the needs of students as the District adjusts to the common core state standards. Under the common core state standards, social studies becomes much of the nonfiction reading and these nonfiction texts will not only teach social studies concepts, but also provide prompts for written responses and challenge students at appropriate reading levels.

Clayton High School Science Teacher Mike Howe, along with Science Teacher Jennifer Adams, Science Teacher Gabriel De La Paz and Industrial Technology Teacher Steve Beauchamp received a grant to start a First Robotics Team comprised of 20-30 CHS students. The robotics team will provide students interested in science, technology, engineering and math an opportunity for additional hands-on experience. The team will compete in the First Robotics Competition this spring.

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