Thursday, February 6, 2025

SEF announces grant recipients

Educators express appreciation for opportunity to enhance their classrooms and programs

Posted

SPRINGTOWN — The Springtown Education Foundation awarded grants to Springtown ISD teachers and staff as a show of appreciation to local educators. Springtown ISD Director of Communications and Marketing Kendra Hutchison said this would not be possible without community members supporting the school district.

“These grants are made possible thanks in large part to our amazing business and community partners, as well as our dedicated staff members who contribute to SEF,” Hutchison said. “Their support has a far-reaching impact on classrooms throughout the district, providing innovative resources and opportunities for our teachers and students. The awarded grants are not just investments in our teachers; they are life-changing opportunities for our students.”

These grants will equip teachers with the proper tools to educate their students in a unique way that benefits overall their learning.

“By equipping educators with tools and resources like advanced technology, creative learning aids and vital classroom equipment, these grants empower our teachers to bring learning to life in ways that inspire, engage and transform,” Hutchison said.

Springtown ISD Superintendent Shane Strickland expressed his appreciation to everyone that is a part of the SEF who donated toward the grants.

“The support from the Springtown Education Foundation is a testament to the heart of our Porcupine community,” Strickland said. “These grants directly enhance the educational experiences of our students, sparking innovation in the classroom. We are so grateful for SEF, our local businesses and every individual who pours into this district. Together, we are creating opportunities that will leave a lasting impact on generations of students.”

The grants given to the recipients were for the purchasing of tools that spanned from innovative projects, to coding robots for early learners to 3D printing technology, EKG machines and even a pollinator garden.

From Springtown High School, Darci Cosentino received $3,500 from the foundation for the purchasing of two industry standard EKG machines and four privacy curtains to enhance the hands-on learning experience in the health science programs. Cosentino says the students are very happy about the new machines coming to their class and thanked the foundation.

“The health science students are over the moon about the new EKG machines coming to our classroom,” Cosentino said. “The new machines are industry standard and since there are two machines coming, we can utilize our skills class time so much better. Thank you, Springtown Education Foundation, for helping us improve our hands-on experience in our classroom.”

Sports trainer Austen Hutchison received $3,750 for sports medicine acute injury lab materials. Hutchison said this will help students learn to address sports-related acute injuries effectively.

“I and the sports medicine students are incredibly thankful and hopeful for years to come because of this grant,” Hutchison said. “It will allow not only for our students to develop skills they may not get at any other high school, but it allows for our program to grow. We cannot wait to use our joint dislocation simulators and CPR dummies.”

Here is a list of the Springtown Education Foundation grant recipients:

  • Trisha Weaver — $2,493.92 to enhance music education through orff xylophone instruments
  • Christopher Walker — $849 to teach AI programming
  • Lucy McPherson — $1,000 for a Membean vocabulary program
  • Roy Stephens — $800 for welding hoods for ag mechanics.
  • Kevin Van Rite — $3,675 for the engineering design process and speed/braking distance labs
  • Margaret Bryant — $400 for a kiln for 6th grade art class
  • Brittany Cole — $350 for coding robots for pre-K to first grade
  • Whitney Killingsworth — $1,339.50 for 3D printing project
  • Sally McPhetrige — $400 t strike up the band: Purchase of unpitched percussion instruments
  • Jessica Tucker — $350 for a pollinator garden: A new outdoor classroom and pollinator habitat
  • Jacqulyn Patino — $635.80 for a care closet initiative forseco2nd grade: This will create a classroom resource hub providing items like clothing, hygiene products and snacks for students in need
  • Kacie Woods — $300 for Tonies for teaching: Funds will be used to implement Tonies audio players; a screen-free learning tool that supports reading and literacy