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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Kendra Baltes, teacher at Market St. Elementary school, discussed the grant she was awarded by teaming up with Theresa D'Angelo Jan. 8 from the Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Boardman Schools representatives posed at the Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence news conference from left (front) Don Riccitelli, a member of the school board, Edie Davidson, president of the Boardman School's Fund for Educational Excellence, Vickie Davis, a member of the board of education and Tim Saxton, district super intendent, (middle) Candance Fabry, Jaclyn DiSibio, Theresa D'Angelo, Chelsea Wisbar and Jenefer Basista (back) Shannon Soles, Debbie Siefert, Kendra Baltes, Scott Lenhart, Tim Harker and Kyle Sheenan.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Glenwood Junior High School teachers Chelsea Wisbar and Tim Harker discussed their idea for an almost $1,500 grant awarded to them Jan. 8 at Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence's press conference.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Teachers from various Boardman schools shook hands with representatives from the Boardman School Board and the Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence at a news conference honoring grant recipients Jan. 8.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Grant recipiant Chelsea Wisbar, an art teacher at Boardman Glenwood Junior High School, demonstrated the use of the 3-D pens her and technology teacher Tim Harker purchased with money they recieved from a joint grant from The Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence.
By JESSICA HARKER
jharker@vindy.com
The Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence hosted a news conference on Jan. 8 to announce the winners of the 2019 grants.
Seven projects created by Boardman teachers were granted more than $7,500 to benefit Boardman students.
“We are very excited for the ideas the teachers bring to us,” said BSFEE President Edie Davidson. “They always bring a lot of unique ideas and passions to the board.”
Davidson said eight projects applied for grant money this year, first submitting grant ideas to the BSFEE and then presenting their idea if the project was chosen.
“The projects relate to the curriculum, and enhance a student’s ability to learn in Boardman,” Davidson said.
The BSFEE is a component fund of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and has been giving grant money to Boardman teachers for 10 years.
“It started with donations, very generous donations, from community members,” Davidson said. “But we have since grown to be able to offer more money to teachers to fund more projects.”
This years projects included ear pieces that translate language in real time to assist students who are learning English as a second language.
Boardman High School teacher Kyle Sheehan thought of the project, after spending his first year teaching at Boardman.
“This year I have a student who is from China, and it is very hard to make that personal connection with him, which as a teacher is one of my main concerns,” Sheehan said.
He explained that the translator allows him and Boardman students to communicate openly with ESL students, which helps the student learn the lessons in class and form bonds with other members of the Boardman community.
“I want to make sure every student in Boardman feels welcomed at school,” Sheehan said.
Timothy Harker and Chelsea Wisbar, teachers from Boardman Glenwood Junior High, also received a grant to purchase tools combining their art and technology classes integrating STEAM into Boardman schools.
Harker said that his and Wisbar’s project went to purchase 3D Pens, a Green Screen and a Cricut cutter.
“The goal is to combine our classes for a week, integrating art and technology ideas to create interesting projects for students,” Harker said.
All teachers will use the grant money to purchase supplies for their projects, demonstrating them throughout 2019.
BSFEE board members will travel to Boardman schools throughout the year to observe the effects of the projects before restarting the grant process for the next year.
“We are very excited about this years prospects, and we want to keep this going for as long as we can,” Davidson said.
The BSFEE will also host a fundraiser on March 8 at Avion on the Water to benefit the fund, where there will be a reverse raffle, a basket raffle and a silent auction.
For more information on the BSFEE or attending the fundraiser, contact the board at 330-726-3404.