Junior League Of Dallas Awards 40 Dallas ISD Educators Funding Through Annual Grants For Innovative Teaching Program

Press release from the Dallas Independent School District:

October 26, 2020

Last week, the Junior League of Dallas (JLD), along with presenting sponsor Texas Instruments, held a virtual presentation to award 40 Dallas ISD educators with grants of up to $2,500 each through the annual Grants for Innovative Teaching (GFIT) program.

Since 1992, this JLD Signature Project has awarded more than $1.9 million to Dallas ISD educators and is designed to encourage excellence in education by funding special projects addressing: reading and literacy enrichment; diversity; special education; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); or arts and culture enrichment across one or more grade levels.

This year, more than $85,000 was distributed to fund deserving educators’ winning projects. Other sponsors include the Hillcrest Foundation; Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee; and Agnes Cluthe Oliver Foundation.

Some of the grants selected include: Basketball Recycling, Drummin’ and Movin’ with Drums Alive!, Music Recording and Production in the Modern Music Classroom, Rigor with Robots – Taking it to the Next Level and Kids Helping Kids. The projects awarded GFIT grants will provide students with diverse experiences and highlight the innovation of the Dallas ISD educators.

Basketball Recycling provides the opportunity for students to collect information and analyze data while exploring the research question: “Can recycling save our planet?” The students will roll out a series of recycling drives in the form of basketball hoops color-coded by grade. Students will shoot their empty water bottles in the hoops during passing periods. At the end of the school day, the empty bottles will be collected, counted and recorded per grade to analyze, graph and make conclusions. This process will be duplicated three more times in the school year for students to create their final reports on recycling.

Drummin’ and Movin’ with Drums Alive! has the goal of providing students with diverse learning styles and backgrounds with a creative hands-on curriculum that will forge a path for success. The project will combine active movement activities and rhythmic drumming activities to improve physical condition. Students can drum independently or in groups using various patterns and music genres. With opportunities to participate 2-3 times per week along with Physical Education coaching, students will be tested on physical/cardiovascular conditioning, endurance, strength, speed, and flexibility.

The goal of Music Recording and Production in the Modern Music Classroom is to develop the technical skills of sixth-grade students by guiding them to create original compositions using audio recording digital technology. As a final product, students will submit one original multi-track recording and mix of their work, which will include one vocal track, a loop, and an instrumental track recorded in class. Students will not only be able to record themselves singing, rapping, or playing classroom instruments, but the technology will work as an instrument and equip the students with a wealth of digital instruments at their fingertips to explore and realize their musical vision.

Rigor with Robots – Taking it to the Next Level will engage students who have been identified as having moderate to severe autism or moderate to severe intellectual disabilities with hands-on learning opportunities with LEGO Mindstorm robots. The use of the robots will help students to become independent learners and develop 21st-century skills including problem-solving, comprehension, task analysis, communication, creativity and critical thinking. This project will provide students the ability to utilize technology and demonstrate critical thinking skills while at the same time, building social skills.

A continuation of a previously GFIT-funded program and an 11-year tradition at the school, Kids Helping Kids provides the opportunity for special needs students at Multiple Careers Magnet Center to construct wooden rocking horses for children staying at the Ronald McDonald House during the Christmas holidays. In addition to bringing a bit of holiday cheer, students participating in this project will develop good habits, positive attitudes and valuable career skills that can be used beyond the classroom.

“For 29 years, this JLD Signature Project has encouraged excellence by awarding educators who go above and beyond to provide special projects for their students, which would otherwise not be possible within school budgets. This year in particular, it is especially important to help these unique programs continue in schools during such a difficult time,” said Megan LaDriere, the 2020-2021 GFIT Chair. “Each of the teachers receiving a grant is being recognized for their passion for providing experiences that are outside of the box for their students and engaging them in positive ways outside of the classroom.”

2020-2021 Dallas ISD Grant Recipients

Project Name
School
Educator Name

Library Makerspace
Bayles Elementary School
Sheila Ortega

CK2 – Club Kindness for Kids
Central Elementary School
Shelley Couch

Art Journaling
Chapel Hill Preparatory School
Suhaila Sachak

Music, Science & Innovation
Dallas Environmental Science Academy
Malcom Newman

Laboratory of the Future
North Dallas High School
Olga Sytnianska

Aquaponics: A Student-centered approach
Daniel Webster Elementary School
Edwin Portillo

FlUrNing’s STEAM Studio
Daniel Webster Elementary School
Caleb Davis

Smart Solutions
E. D. Walker Middle School
Michael Keeton

Kids Club: Developing a Growth Mindset
Eduardo Mata Montessori School
Sherri Fetter

Basketball Recycling
Emmett J. Conrad High School
Monalisa Chadha

Personalized Learning Stations
George W. Truett Elementary School
Maria Moreno

Innovative Learning for PE
George W. Truett Elementary School
Angela Miller

Sharper Minds
H. Grady Spruce High School
Manuel Rocha

Rigor with Robots-Taking it to the Next Level
Harold W. Lang Sr. Middle School
Megan Vance

Artistic Biology
Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship Academy at James W. Fannin
Soniris Rosas

Keeping the Band In Time and In Tune
J.L. Long Middle School
Caitlin Schmidt

K-2 Future Coding Engineers Team
John J. Pershing Elementary
Jose Armendariz

Invent an Alien
Barbara Jordan Elementary School
Lynn DeFord

Increasing Biliteracy with iPads
Jose “Joe” May Elementary School
Karem Averanga

We Write Music
Kleberg Elementary School
Sara Cox

Voices of Vickery
Lee A. McShan Jr. Elementary School
Arianna Zeb

Elementary Audio Technician Master Level
Leslie A. Stemmons Elementary School
Chris Drews

This Project is BASSically Awesome!
L.V. Stockard Middle School
Beth Poquette Drews

Drummin and Movin with Drums Alive!
Martin Weiss Elementary School
Pamela Jenkins

Hornet Queens
Margaret B. Henderson Elementary School
Javier Alvarado

Kids helping kids
Multiple Careers Magnet Center
Terry Stotts

STEMS LAB (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Sensory)
N.W. Harllee Early Childhood Center
Norma Pardee

SeaPerch Underwater Robotics, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV)
Piedmont Global Academy
Willie Fowlks

Café Speak-uccino
Pinkston High School
Deidra Ballard-Moore

Engineering Design
Richard Lagow Elementary
Vanessa Alvarez

Top Gun – Piloting Partner PE into 2020
Robert T. Hill Middle School
Shelly Thibodaux

Making STEM Come to Life with VEX V5
Robert T. Hill Middle School
Eliana Tseng

Hip Hop Hooraying Through Math
Ronald E. McNair Elementary School
Rachael Edwards

Urban Invertebrate Biodiversity Survey
School of Science and Engineering
David McLoda

Green Screen Equipment for Solar Scientists
Solar Preparatory School for Boys
Rachel Hodge

Music Recording and Production in the Modern Music Classroom
Solar Preparatory School for Girls
Maria Marin

Exploring the Self: Career Self Portraits
Sunset High School
Gianna LoScerbo-Starkus

Leggo My Robot!
School for the Talented and Gifted in Pleasant Grove
Beatriz Bustamante

Structure and Functions of the Master Regulators of Pancreas Development
Thomas Jefferson High School
Ward Coats

ABOUT JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DALLAS

The Junior League of Dallas cultivates leaders who collectively address the critical needs of the community. Founded in 1922, the JLD is one of the largest Junior Leagues in the world, as well as the largest and oldest training organization for women in Dallas. Active members range in age from 22 to 49 with approximately 85% percent of women employed outside of the home. The JLD provides leadership opportunities to nearly 5,000 women each year through more than 26,000 cumulative hours of experiential and formal training. Uniquely member-run, the JLD provides over 130,000 hours in volunteer service and approximately $1 million in funding to area nonprofits each year. For more information, visit www.jld.net.

This press release was produced by the Dallas Independent School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.