The Salem-Keizer Education Foundation capped a busy back to school month by awarding nearly $59,000 in teacher grants to fund innovative projects that enhance learning in the Salem-Keizer School District.

Thursday’s award also means the foundation is nearing $1.5 million in investments in Salem-Keizer Public Schools for 2009-2010.

Grants

Thirteen district teachers earned regular grants for special projects. The Foundation also awarded four grants specifically supporting its subject initiatives of literacy and math, science and technology.

On top of the teacher grants, the Foundation committed $15,000 to support professional development for district teachers in 2010.

The 2009 Susan Gleason Award went to Salem Heights Elementary’s Katie Nelson and Marcia Zegar. The $4,906 grant will fund “Love of Literacy Through Multiple Modalities” - a project promoting literacy development and school/home partnership. The Susan Gleason Award honors the memory of a Salem-Keizer Education Foundation founding director, and is the most prestigious grant the foundation presents.

“Each year it’s encouraging to see teachers who continue to come up with new and creative ways of helping students learn,” said grants chair Margaret Aeschliman. “These grants help fulfill our mission of enhancing education for all students in Salem-Keizer.”

Busy September

Leading up to the grants ceremony was the foundation’s first ever Great Educator’s Circle fundraiser luncheon on Sept. 22, which netted over $50,000. That followed a First Wednesday community pep rally outside the foundation’s downtown office featuring marching bands from all of the district’s high schools. The rally also served as the culmination of the “Tools for School” supply drive. Thirty-five organizations across the community helped collect 51,500 school supply items for district classrooms.

The foundation’s next major event is the 13th annual Crystal Apple Awards on Nov. 12.

Enrichment Academy

The Foundation also celebrated year two of the expansion of its enrichment programs, thanks to a $1.25 million 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant from the Oregon Department of Education. The Foundation now has before and after school programs at 17 sites across the district.

A complete list of the 2009 grants follows:

Subject Initiatives
Literacy - In support of the Common Literacy Model
Partner: First Tech Credit Union
Sneak Peeks $5,000

Even the most reluctant reader will line up for this amazing new program. Students read a book of their choice, write a script for a “book trailer,” create a storyboard of images to drive the narrative and then produce a video, complete with sound to advertise the book to other readers. Students will have access to digital cameras, membership-based copyright approved images and music, and guest speakers for this 8 week class.* Videos will be uploaded to district-wide website for all student access.

Grades: 5-8

Curriculum and training provided by SKEF
Supplies: Cameras, curriculum and training provided by SKSD Literacy Team, SKEF, and SKSD Technology Dept. 

BookFlix $5,000

Scholastic BookFlix is an online literacy resource that pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic to build a love of reading and learning. An engaging way to link fact and fiction, BookFlix reinforces early reading skills for all students

Grades: K-2

Schools: Candalaria, Grant, Hallman, Highland, Washington Elementaries

Multi-Cultural Literacy
Partners: First Tech Credit Union, Salem Multicultural Institute and Delta Kappa Gamma
Linking Truth $1,000
West Salem High School
Submitted by: Pattie Sloan

Current, non-fiction books will be purchased to enhance traditional English course literature. These texts will offer well-written accounts of the contemporary human experience in our global community.

Multi-Cultural Literacy and Math, Science & Technology Initiative
Astronomy from Different Cultural Perspectives $1,000
Leslie Middle School
Submitted by: Michael Rockow

This grant funds a library of cultural stories and mythology that illustrate the way other cultures have viewed and explained our solar system.

Teacher Grants

It Makes Cents !$! $500
West Salem High School
Submitted by: Carol Kilfoil

Business Management students will write and publish a book about the importance of saving money and distribute it to their 2nd grade target audience. They will also host 2nd grade field trips to the Titan branch of MAPS Credit Union.

Interactive Read Aloud $780
Morningside Elementary School
Submitted by: Patty Roberts

Motivating, high-quality literature will be read aloud to students. Students write a non-fiction response and then practice reading fluency with a readers’ theater performance.

Making Connections with Bookflix $1,000
Liberty Elementary School
Submitted by: Sally Roberton

Students will use Scholastic Bookflix, an online interactive literacy program, to build a love of reading while making connections to the real world.

Look What I Made! Digital Portfolio $2,498
Judson Middle School
Submitted by: Anne Rose-Phillips

Middle school art students will use technology to combine digitally manipulated pictures of their artwork with self-reflective writing.

Come Read With Me $8,649
Richmond Elementary School
Submitted by: Adria Farina-Miller

Spanish language materials will be purchased for the school library. These will include read-aloud and award winning books, legends and traditional literature of Latino culture, and relevant non-fiction titles.

Picture Perfect $3,200
Leslie Middle School
Submitted by: Kari Withers

Students write essays detailing family stories, then take pictures of family members after learning about photography from guest instructor Jill Canafax. The essays and photos are then compiled into an iPhoto book.

Every Voice Should Be Heard $5,444
Salem Heights Elementary
Submitted by: Alison Kaiser

Sound systems and student microphones in all classrooms will ensure that all students benefit from an optimal listening environment.

Building Bridges with Books:
Enhancing Literacy at Home $2,435
Yoshikai Elementary School
Submitted by: Haley Meadows

The grant purchases books for struggling readers. Students take the books home, so literacy is enhanced both in the classroom and with their families. Students and parents learn about the importance of reading at home.

Multiple Intelligences Publishing Center $5,362
Liberty Elementary School
Submitted by: Joan Smith

Publishing centers will provide students with numerous publishing supplies and options, encouraging creativity in their writing as they envision the finished, published product.

Science Fiction: Bridging Curriculum $547
McKay High School
Submitted by: Tyrell Graham

Science-based, high-interest books and DVD’s will be purchased for use in the Science Fiction Literature classroom

Math Rx $1,500
Miller Elementary School
Submitted by: Beverly Mortimore

Math Whizz, a computer web-based program, will be used by students who have difficulty learning math concepts.

The Roberts High School Online Magazine Project $5,100
Roberts High School
Submitted by: Kathy Martin

Students will create and publish an online, bilingual magazine featuring articles, photos and artwork.

Susan Gleason Award
The Susan Gleason Award honors the memory of a Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, founding director, and is the most prestigious grant the foundation presents. The Award is presented to the teacher or team whose proposal meets the highest level of grant criteria each cycle, and which the committee determines symbolizes the innovative and compassionate commitment to children and academic achievement that Susan modeled.

Love of Literacy Through Multiple Modalities $4,906
Salem Heights Elementary
Submitted by: Katie Nelson & Marcia Zegar, SLP

This project promotes literacy development and school/home partnership by providing a language-rich, interactive learning environment. Connections are made between print, oral language, sign language, music and movement, strengthening the child’s internalization of the rhythms, sounds, and print of literature, songs, chants, rhymes & poems.

Professional Development

Academy for Teaching and Learning $5,000

We are proud to support the Academy for Teaching and Learning which provides professional development for educators. Every single time we have the opportunity to invest in the human resources of our school district, we are making an impact on student achievement.

AVID - Advancement via Individual Determination $10,000

AVID is a professional development plan for teachers focusing on instructional practice. Teachers are trained in specific strategies for working with secondary level students such as “Socratic seminars,” and “Cornell note-taking,” the use of inquiry-based methods and enhanced abilities in reading and writing instruction. AVID-trained teachers learn how to increase the rigor of their class content and provide students with higher level skills.

Before and After School Programs $1,250,000

To provide high quality, consistent before and after school enrichment opportunities for students. Our goals are to support each school’s efforts to improve academic achievement, meet the social and emotional learning needs of their students, and to increase school engagement by students and their families.

“Enrichment Academy” Partners:

City of Salem

· Oregon ASK

· Oregon Department of Education,

· Northwest Regional Education Laboratory

· Salem-Keizer Public Schools 

Program Sites:

Auburn Elementary

Principal: Meera Krietzer

Site Coordinator: Allison Harris

Grant Community School

Principal: Jim Hicks

Site Coordinator: Malinda Krauger

Hallman Elementary

Principal: Steve Lush

Site Coordinator: Shirley Certain

Highland Elementary

Principal: Olga Cobb

Site Coordinators: Patricia Bothwell & Maribel Pena

Washington Elementary

Principal: Linda St. Pierre

Site Coordinator: Joy Metcalf

Claggett Creek Middle School

Principal: Peter Danner

Site Coordinator: Melissa Shrout

Crossler Middle School

Principal: Jim Adams

Site Coordinators: Sherry Snider and Jim Henry

Judson Middle School

Principal: Lara Tiffin

Site Coordinator: Linda Adams

Houck Middle School

Principal: Susan Rieke-Smith

Site Coordinators: Fidel Hernandez and Gerardo (Jerry) Jimenez

Leslie Middle School

Principal: Steve Nelson

Site Coordinator: Douglas (DJ) Vincent

Howard Street

Principal: Cathy Mink

Coordinator: Melissa Martin

Parrish Middle School

Principal: Rob Schoepper

Site Coordinator: Stacey Robinett

Stephens Middle School

Principal: Neil Anderson

Site Coordinator: Stacey Robinett

Walker Middle School

Principal: Tricia Nelson

Site Coordinator: Leslie Harper

Waldo Middle School

Principal: Joe La Fountaine

Site Coordinator: Esmeralda Elliott

Whiteaker Middle School

Principal: Laura Perez

Site Coordinator: Michele Husseman

McKay High School

Principal: Cynthia Richardson

Site Coordinator: Alex Blevins

About the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation

The Salem-Keizer Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the education of Salem and Keizer public school students by providing resources for quality programs and materials.

The Awesome 3000 all-youth fun run is the organization’s signature event. The annual event is recognized as one of the largest children’s runs in the nation. Awesome proceeds and foundation sponsorships go toward some $50,000 in grants each year for original and motivational school programs.

For more information about the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, visit the website: www.skeducationfoundation.org.