Sand Springs gave $100,000 in grants to teachers Friday to fund their passion projects and send a clear message: think bigger.
It is an annual pre-Thanksgiving tradition run by the Sand Springs Education Foundation. This year, the pot’s a little sweeter. It’s the first time the foundation has granted six figures of funding.
Money collected throughout the year’s fundraisers is divvied up across the school district, supporting proposals submitted by Sand Springs teachers. Grants go toward enrichment opportunities like new STEM education programs, classroom competitions and adaptive spaces in schools — whatever educators can dream up.
“Teachers just use their creative selves to come up with ideas that they think would be really a positive impact for kids but also to draw engagement,” said Superintendent Sherry Durkee. “Just things that sometimes we can’t provide — above and beyond — that teachers really find influential and impactful for kids.”
Foundation members and administrators fanned out across the district Friday, surprising teachers and their students with 61 awards.
“It’s fun to see you all, because I know somebody gets some free money,” said Terri Lee, principal at Limestone Technology Academy in Sand Springs.
Limestone teachers received five grants worth about $8,000 this year.
Barbie Jackson, described as the “best teacher ever” by one of her students, received $5,300 to create a new Lego robot program. She will lead a curriculum where students build and code robots, complete with motors, light sensors and sound. Her students think it’s the “funnest thing in the world.”
Kandace Jacobs, a special education teacher, will use her funding to revamp the school’s sensory room.
“We need a very safe spot for our children to be able to deescalate when they’re overwhelmed,” Jacobs said. “It’s going to be a great thing, it’s wonderful for everyone and very needed for the whole school, not just my room.”
Librarian Hadley Tolle and second grade teacher Charity Emigh will bring PebbleGo, or “Google for kids,” to the school so more students can develop research skills and embrace their curiosity on a safe, controlled website.
Title I coordinator Stephenie Sivadon will introduce more games, books and tools that build phonics and comprehension skills.
First grade teacher Hannah Crowder will boost her classroom “center” to create an area for students to explore new activities.
“Thank you for taking the time to write it, keep writing them and think bigger,” Kenny Tate, Sand Springs Education Foundation president, told each Limestone recipient.
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