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EDUCATION FOUNDATION INNOVATION CELEBRATION
by Charlotte Kovalchuk
End of the school year means many things to many people, and thanks to Jarrell Education Foundation classroom grants, it means greater resources for teachers in the next school year. In May, the Foundation awarded more than $35,000 for 16 projects across the district for innovation in learning, arts, fluency, and sensory needs. Once these programs are set in motion, they will serve and benefit our staff and students for years to come.
The Jarrell Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2019 to enhance student learning through innovative opportunities that promote academic excellence. The board of directors represents many dedicated parents and partners in Jarrell who share a vision for excellence in our schools. The board is deeply committed to partnering with parents, teachers, and the community to support and enhance the education of all students in the Jarrell Independent School District. “I believe thriving schools and happy teachers can help build thriving and happy communities,” Education Foundation President Sarah McLellan says. “The Jarrell Education Foundation works to raise money to fund innovative ideas for enhancing classroom learning and opportunities for teacher training. By donating to JEF you are investing in Jarrell schools, students, and teachers!”
Our teachers work so hard . . . This is going to go so far, so thank you so much." ~ Superintendent Dr. Toni Hicks
Thanks to D’Ann Johns’ grant for a C-Pen, students with deficits in reading at Jarrell Elementary School will have a portable reading tool designed to improve literacy. “We have Literary Legends who struggle in reading for many different reasons, and as they get older the struggle becomes more apparent,” she says. “They are embarrassed to ask for help for fear of peers making fun of them. Furthermore, they act out and exhibit negative behaviors in order to escape not being able to read. They also feel that they are inferior.”
2023 GRANT AWARDEES
The FUNdamentals of Teaching - $3,000, Teaching and Learning Department, Central Office • Study of the book, The Fundamentals of Teaching.
iPads for the Classrooms - $3,000, Tammy Fitzner, Lynn Norris, Mary Perez, Stephanie Rutherford, Brendie Engledow, Jennifer Williams, Paw Prints Child Development Center • Thanks to iPads and other technology, teachers have the ability to communicate effectively with parents daily and capture photos and videos to send home. This will allow parents to see their children in their daily environment and be part of their learning experience.
Tennis Racquets - $2,100, Ricardo Pell, Igo Elementary • More tennis racquets will allow each child in a PE class to participate in a sport many kids do not have the opportunity to learn in elementary school.
How Does Your Herb Garden Grow - $1,474, Alison Tillotson and Pennie DeAugustineo, Jarrell Elementary School.
Movement and Mindfulness - $1,347, Laura Lake, Double Creek Elementary • This project provides Yoga for Classrooms program training for staff members.
Recreation Stations - $1,340, Alison Tillotson and Coach Carol Sukup, Jarrell Elementary.
JES Literary Legends - $3,000, D’Ann Johns and Danna Gray, Jarrell Elementary • This project funds the C-Pen, which provides the school’s Literary Legends — a select group of third through fifth grade students who have deficits in reading — a convenient portable tool to support their independent reading. By swiping the pen over the text, the pen reads the words out loud to help each student read more fluently, improve literacy, and assist with the definitions of unknown words.
The Wonderful World of Robots and Coding - $3,000, Pennie DeAugustineo and all elementary principals, elementary campuses • Funds the VEX 123 and VEX Go Robots for the Gifted and Talented Program, which will allow students hands-on experience to learn coding and robotics while enriching their reading, writing, and math skills.
Tuners for the Band Program - $2,731, Leah Jones, Jarrell Middle School • This grant helps students who can’t afford tuners, which not only tell them what note they are playing but how they need to adjust their instruments to play them correctly.
NoRedInk Premium Subscriptions - $3,000, Chesna Bowman and Carla Clegg, Jarrell Middle School • Premium subscription to NoRedInk, an online writing program for eighth graders at Jarrell Middle School that supports all parts of the writing instruction. The program uses student interests to create grammar exercises, gives them choice and voice, and enables them to see their growth through the writing process.
Sensory Mindfulness Room • $2,100, Charlotte Mendoza, Eric Taylor, and Shelby Duplichan, Jarrell Middle School • This room allows students the opportunity to take a few minutes for themselves to reset and refocus.
Science Equipment - $1,500, Crystal Thompson, Jarrell Middle School.
Achieving Math Mastery - $1,500, Carla Clegg, Jarrell Middle School.
LEGO Mindstorms STEM Kits - $780, Michael Griffiths, Jarrell Middle School • These kits introduce robotics and mechanics via a less intimidating platform.
In it to Win it: Building the Future of JISD eSports: $3,000, Alison Marlone, Jarrell Middle and High schools • This grant provides upgraded equipment and gaming systems that allow students to be more competitive in e-sports competitions as the program grows.
JHS PLC Team - $3,000, Kelly Blair and Andrew Maddox, Jarrell High School.
Winning this grant has been beneficial for our students, she says. “It allows them to be successful and confident when they are engaged and working independently in any subject area. The goal is to have our Legends with reading deficits learn the material presented without the fear of unknown words or the meaning of the words. It is working!”
Charlotte Mendoza says her Sensory Mindfulness Room grant was written with the social and emotional well-being of students and staff in mind. “With post-COVID came some emotional behaviors that students were not capable of dealing with on their own. This room allows students the opportunity to take a few minutes for themselves, reset, and refocus. We have specifically chosen items for the room to be used as sensory soothing mechanisms for students. As of today we have many students who use the room and ask if they can go to just calm down or work through some emotions so they can return to class with a clean mind-set and better ability to focus.”
For teachers who are considering applying for future grants, Charlotte says, “Do it! Anything you feel you need to help your students be successful is worth it. It only takes a few minutes to fill out the paperwork and the rewards will last a lifetime.”
