IRTA Announces 2022 Grant Winners
This Fall, the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation (IRTAF) awarded nearly $36,500 in grant money to several public school educators from across the state. This grant money will allow these educators to enrich their instruction with materials not otherwise available to them. Their students are the real winners! A special thank you to the Illinois Principals Association for their assistance with the promotion of this program. Here are the recipients from Ogle and Lee County along with his/her school and a paragraph summary about each project in the winner’s own words.
Justine Davis, Oregon Elementary School, Oregon (1)
Since COVID, Chromebooks in the classroom have exploded in our district. Students now have their own Chromebook, and I work to incorporate fun and engaging ways to use their devices in music class. Music can be a noisy subject, and having proper headphones for each student ensures that students can explore music websites in a safe environment without distracting others. Having a quality set of classroom headphones will ensure that all of my 460+ students will be able to participate in music listening activities while only needing to focus on the project instead of feeling discomfort because of ill-fitting headphones. Pictured: Kim McKenna and Justine Davis
Since COVID, Chromebooks in the classroom have exploded in our district. Students now have their own Chromebook, and I work to incorporate fun and engaging ways to use their devices in music class. Music can be a noisy subject, and having proper headphones for each student ensures that students can explore music websites in a safe environment without distracting others. Having a quality set of classroom headphones will ensure that all of my 460+ students will be able to participate in music listening activities while only needing to focus on the project instead of feeling discomfort because of ill-fitting headphones. Pictured: Kim McKenna and Justine Davis
Nancy Elson, Kings Consolidated District #144, Kings
I would like to expose my students to the use of wool to create felting. The supplies I am requesting include the foam blocks and needles necessary to create needle felting. We will be able to create 2-dimensional as well as three dimensional wool felted art at levels 4th-8th grades. Pictured: Kim McKenna and Superintendent Matt Lamb (receiving grant check for Nancy Elson)
I would like to expose my students to the use of wool to create felting. The supplies I am requesting include the foam blocks and needles necessary to create needle felting. We will be able to create 2-dimensional as well as three dimensional wool felted art at levels 4th-8th grades. Pictured: Kim McKenna and Superintendent Matt Lamb (receiving grant check for Nancy Elson)
Jennifer Freeman, Madison Elementary, Dixon
I believe students would benefit from an indoor garden so they can learn about agriculture and the responsibility of tending to a garden along with scientific observations, healthy eating and incorporate other subjects like math, social studies and science. Pictured: Principal Joey Sagel, Jean Whipple, Jennifer Freeman and Mary Nelmes
I believe students would benefit from an indoor garden so they can learn about agriculture and the responsibility of tending to a garden along with scientific observations, healthy eating and incorporate other subjects like math, social studies and science. Pictured: Principal Joey Sagel, Jean Whipple, Jennifer Freeman and Mary Nelmes