2011 IRTAF Grant Winners
In October, the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation (IRTAF) awarded nearly $15,000 in grant money to several public school educators from Southern Illinois counties. This grant money will allow these educators to enrich their instruction with materials not otherwise available to them. Their students are the real winners! A special thank you to the Illinois Principals Association for their assistance with the promotion of this program.
Below, you will find the name of each winner listed, along with his/her school, the amount of the award, and a summarized paragraph of each project in the winners' own words.
Karen Anderson and Title Aide Melissa Lewis
Karen Anderson, Lincoln School, Flora ($540.55)
Thanks to the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation, the students at Lincoln
School in Flora were able to participate in a state-wide voting process to award the 2012
Bluestem and Rebecca Caudill Book Awards. With the funds from the Excellence in
Education Grants for Teachers we were able to purchase the 40 nominated books from
both lists. The students' literacy lives have been enhanced because of your generosity.
We anxiously await the results to see if we are chose a winner!
Principal Jackie Frey, Sandra Aydt, Tonya Neal, IRTA Member Karin Miller
and IRTA Member Annette Webb
Sandra Aydt, East Side Elementary, McLeansboro ($350)
East Side Elementary's good behavior program wants to positively impact our
students' lives both in and out of school by promoting and encouraging our motto
Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful. This program has proven to be
successful in encouraging good behavior in our 517 students. There is a great
need for signage to be placed in our school to remind students of expected
behaviors in the cafeteria, hallways, and etc ... Our goal is to have this good
behavior be a foundation for the rest of our students' lives, thereby affecting their
families and community.
Kristin Ing, Gretchen Bennett and IRTA Member Doris Heaton
Gretchen Bennett, Ewing-Northern Grade School, Ewing ($361.80)
With SmartMusic, the teacher can create and send customized assignments from
a huge, growing library of band and orchestra titles, which includes solo contest pieces
and popular method books. Students improve faster with instant feedback about which
notes they've gotten right or wrong and by listening to recordings of their performance.
The teacher can grade assignments, track student progress, and can build portfolios of
student work. SmartMusic is an award-winning interactive music software that provides
the ideal practice environment where students have unlimited access to the world's
largest accompaniment library for all ages and skill levels, which includes thousands of
pieces of music.
Carol Hotz, Bill Funkhouser, Traci Biffar and Principal Mary Gardner
Traci Biffar, Zahnow Elementary, Waterloo ($500)
My students would greatly benefit from this grant by putting the money received
towards the use of a smart board within our classroom. The smart board would be used at
various times throughout our school day. The hands on and multi-sensory experience
would give them so many more learning opportunities that is of such importance to
preschoolers. They could grow in ways that are beyond imagination.
Bill Funkhouser, Sue Bogner, Katie Bevis and Principal Hillary Stanifer
Sue Bogner, Liberty Middle School, Edwardsville ($399)
Newsbowl is an interactive current events quiz game that gets students excited
and motivated to follow the news on their own. It is a weekly 30-45 minute on-line
enrichment activity that provides global awareness, makes current events fun, and
promotes students' interest in the news. Newsbowl also integrates technology,
interdisciplinary learning, as well as lifelong learning.
Principal Angela Reeter, Casie Bowman and Keri Buscher
Casie Bowman, Brownstown Elementary School, Brownstown ($378.60)
Also Keri Buscher
I would like to further my children's learning by using the software I
have asked for. The software would be used as a station for children to
learn and explore while I am working with the Tier 3 kids on more one
on one interventions. The software is not the cure all but it sure will be
helpful for children who are growing up in an electronic world.
Assistant Principal John Ducey, Bill Funkhouser, Teresa Callies, IRTA Member Ed Gray
and Supt. Kenneth Felles
Teresa Callies, Alton Middle School, Alton ($350)
The objective is to use the educational games to offer a more innovative approach to learning.
The games will address the various state learning goals for all of the academic subjects. These
games will also enhance our state SEL (Social Emotional Learning) goals. The SEL goals demonstrate
self-management skills, demonstrate interpersonal skills and maintain positive relationships, and
decision-making skills.
Principal Rita Florey, Elaine Daniels, Kay Lehman and IRTA Member Nancy Schaljo
(Drew Campbell not present)
Drew Campbell, Sullivan Elementary School, Sullivan ($528.90)
Dictionary skills and their usage have slowly faded and quickly become an abstract concept for
several classrooms today. Currently, my twenty to twenty-three students, share amongst
themselves sixteen dictionaries from 1964 complete with frayed covers, busted bindings, and
multiple missing pages. I would appreciate the opportunity to purchase new, up-to-date, age
appropriate dictionaries and thesauruses for my classroom and students. This would allow for
me to have more flexibility within my lessons across the curriculum while still engaging
students with the disappearing assistances these reference materials provide.
Bernie Salisbury, Angela Chase, Mary Kane and Principal Chris Clark
Angela Chase, South Fork Jr. & Sr. High School, Kincaid ($479.74)
WORLD MUSIC MIX uses authentic instruments, songs, reading materials, pictures, listening
examples, and video clips to encourage 6th grade general music students to experience the music
of cultures other than their own. The African rhythm instruments awarded with this grant will be
enjoyed on a daily basis as kids use them to improvise, compose, and accompany exciting music
from around the world. Four large African drums, accompanying rattles and bells, and the
World Rhythms supplemental book, CD, and DVD set, will form the basis for wonderful hands-on
learning in the music classroom. When the kids get the opportunity to play these exciting
instruments, their eyes will be opened, their ears will be challenged, and their hearts will be
inspired!
Principal Janet Ward (accepting check for Thersa Coleman)
Thersa Coleman, Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro ($200)
Students will work cooperatively to identify behavior issues while assisting in their onsite
classrooms as members of my Child Care/Teaching Internship classes. The manual,
known as the PRIM to educators, will serve as a resource for indentifying appropriate
strategies to guide the students in their care. As a result, students gain confidence,
knowledge and experience in dealing with difficult behaviors that can be transferred to
any setting.
Principal Kristin Ing, Tammy Cripps and IRTA Member Doris Heaton
Tammy Cripps, Ewing Northern Grade School, Ewing ($484.72)
In summary, we are requesting books to target our struggling male readers. We feel that the "Sports
Heroes" series will motivate our male readers to want to keep reading. We know that the more
material a student reads the better reader he/she will become.
Principal Rita Florey, Elaine Daniels, Kay Lehman and IRTA Member Nancy Schaljo
Elaine Daniels, Sullivan Elementary School, Sullivan ($448.33)
Children enjoy connecting with the environment by collecting
bugs and butterflies. Special nets to catch and safely release
insects and butterflies enable students to watch and learn
about the world around them. This is a good way to learn that
the Earth has much to teach us.
Doris Heaton and Glenn Eikenberry
Glenn Eikenberry, Benton Grade School 5-8, Benton ($500)
All students deserve to experience the joy of making music, and good working instruments
allows more students to do that. Unfortunately, many instruments that Benton Grade
School owns are in disrepair. The funds provided by the Illinois Retired Teachers
Association would repair broken instruments, which would allow us to put instruments in
the hands of children whose parents cannot afford one. This gift of music education is an
amazing and long lasting one.
Principal Kim Brave, Laren Evetts and IRTA Member Judi Harland
Laren Evetts, Jefferson Elementary, Marion ($500)
This grant will give my 4th grade students the opportunity to bring science to
life in a way they will enjoy and their natural curiosity will be cultivated.
With this grant, purchasing a multi-group science kit for my class will be
possible. Studying forces, motion, and simple machines will no longer be
abstract but exciting. Thank you for making this possible!
Brenda Foster, IRTA Member Juanita Sherwood and Patti Murphy
Brenda Foster and Patti Murphy, Charleston Middle School, Charleston ($416)
This project is designed to foster a love of reading in middle school students while exploring the theme
that all students are unique and different. Our goal is to spotlight a new and exciting book each quarter
allowing students to read it at their leisure. Then, at the end of the quarter they will gather during lunch
time to discuss this book in a book club setting. Staff members will be encouraged to come to the book
club meeting and help students explore the uniqueness of each character while discussing the positive
effects of such diverse students in society.
Abbie Furlong and Principal Clare Beaven
Abbie Furlong, North Elementary School, Marshall ($351.98)
Lights, camera, action! The 6th grade students in Mrs. Furlong's classes at North
Elementary School in Marshall will now have the opportunity to become the "stars of class"
using four flip video cameras that were purchased by the funds awarded by the Illinois Retired
Teachers Association (IRTA) grant. Using the cameras, students will create weekly videos for
vocabulary terms. Also, students will create videos to inform, instruct, challenge, provoke, and
persuade their classmates on various topics in science and language arts.
Louis Gassmann and IRTA Member Grover Burkett
Louis Gassmann, East Richland Middle School, Olney ($230)
With the funds that this grant provides I can intertwine an automobile service project into
the 8th Grade Life Skills Class. The students will have the opportunity to learn skills in
the classroom setting, and then use those skills in hands-on, real-life experiences. By
participating in those lessons, and extending the learning outside of the classroom,
students will gain independence and skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.
Mike Gherardini
Mike Gherardini, Carlyle Grade School, Carlyle ($400)
With the purchase of color ink cartridges and a camcorder my students will
make their Native American projects shine. The students will be able to print
their pictures in color, which will improve the quality of their reports. I will
use the camcorder to record their oral reports, and we will then watch these
and learn ways to improve their public speaking skills. The students will
improve their skills in all areas ... reading, writing, and speaking!
Erin Hemingway
Erin Hemingway, Arcola Elementary School, Arcola ($782) 2 Grants
This project of purchasing leveled readers will strengthen the reading skills of special
education students in the 1st and 2nd grades by providing reading materials on the reading
level that compliments the vocabulary and reading strategies, they are learning in the
regular education room. Additionally, it will "feed" their love for books as they get to
experience the sights, sounds, and smells of a real book.
This project will provide a means of supplying additional reading instruction in reading
fluency and reading comprehension for struggling readers during social studies class
without sacrificing social studies standards. The recommended trade books purchased,
along with mini lessons and reading strategies that are of no cost, will support the growth
and development of our students in the areas of reading and social studies
simultaneously.
Justin Joiner and Principal Annette Hartlieb
Justin Joiner, Mulberry Grove Elementary School, Mulberry Grove ($500)
Extra Extra! Read all about it .... America' s youth the largest and most unfit there
is????!!!! Not on my watch! Mulberry Grove Elementary is ready to "Race to the Top!"
By purchasing the Little Tikes Race to the top inflatable rock climbing wall, students
from the Great Plains get to be Rocky Mt. ready! At least for a week or two!
Kara Kuhns
Kara Kuhns, Arcola Elementary School, Arcola ($358.93)
This project is to provide an RtI Tier 2 intervention for both English and Spanish
speaking students needing instruction in the area of articulation. A program called Artic
Lab would be utilized as the research based intervention. Students would participate in
this 10 week program with the speech-language pathologists to address mild articulation
delays on the sounds /r, s, I, sh, ch, k, or g/. The Articulate It! app on the iPad would be
used for individual learning stations within the Artic Lab program, as well as for
additional carryover activities.
Principal Rita Florey, Elaine Daniels, Kay Lehman and IRTA Member Nancy Schaljo
Kay Lehman, Sullivan Elementary School, Sullivan ($528.90)
Dictionary skills and usage have become almost non-existent at the
elementary level. Yet they are very important to upper elementary students in
order to meet current required standards. These dictionaries would allow students
access to new and updated information to enhance their writing, reading, and
vocabulary skills. They would afford students the opportunity to complete a
multitude of projects and assignments across the curriculum.
Principal Judy Fitzgerald and Tina McElroy
Tina McElroy, Central A&M High School, Moweaqua ($500)
During the 2011-2012 school year, the Central A & M High School
Driver Education Department plans to install a safe driving campaign
directed towards distracted driving habits. The high school students will be
engaged in special projects involving K-12 at Central A & M including the
administration, faculty, staff, parents, and community. All levels of the police
departments (state, county and local), the Secretary of State impact speakers
and local community speakers will be invited and encouraged to participate in
the cause. CAM safe driving activities will be held each week at school and during
athletic events like: signing a safe driving pledge, handing out free bumper stickers,
awarding safe driving message key chains and bracelets, making signs, giving away
free cupcakes and cookies with messages and conducting contests to involve
the entire school.
Assistant Principal Julie Hayes, Rebecca Pulleyblank and Principal Barbara Large
Rebecca Pulleyblank, Parkside Elementary School, Lawrenceville ($377.60)
The reading project incorporates the internet with reading strategies. Raz-kids, Reading A-Z, and
Enchanted Learning enable students to interact with animated leveled books, provide printable
books for guided reading groups and allow students to learn while at the same time having fun.
Using these types of subscription programs will teach students independence while at the same
time provide fun, motivational tools for learning. It will allow differentiation in the areas of
comprehension and fluency.
Sheila Rappe
Sheila Rappe, Meridian Middle School, Blue Mound ($285)
The Hot Dots™ Reading Comprehension Kit would provide our Tier II sixth graders with
additional practice using comprehension skills such as recalling details and drawing conclusions.
This intervention would interest them because it is a kinesthetic and auditory learning activity
that utilizes technology to make learning more active.
Doug Rees
Doug Rees, Marshall High School, Marshall ($367.47)
Purchasing GPS units will allow our students to do authentic labs on topics we study such as
water quality and land use changes. Students will also use the data collected to create GIS maps to help
interpret the data. Both of these skills are needed skills in a changing job market.
IRTA Member Judi Harland, Christie Sanders and Principal Becky Moss
Christie Sanders, Marion Junior High School, Marion ($250)
Students tend to have difficulty understanding how fractions, decimals and percents are related to
each other. They struggle when they try to convert from one form to another. The use of visual
aids and manipulatives will make it more interesting and fun to learn about these important
skills. Not only will they gain a better understanding of these concepts, they will also learn how
to apply these skills in "real life" situations.
Melissa Slobodzian and Superintendent Joyce Carson
Melissa Slobodzian, Cisne Middle School, Cisne ($500)
Students will experience geography in a hands-on and exciting way. They will travel across the
world using interactive computer software, globes, maps, games, and puzzles. These activities
will increase students' knowledge and interest in the world. Students will then compete in a
school geography bee with the possibility of advancing to the National Geography Bee.
Tammy Smith
Tammy Smith, Arcola Elementary, Arcola ($350)
The 40 students enrolled in the Arcola little Riders PreK Program spend the entire month of November
learning about the importance of the Wampanoag tribe, and how they were instrumental in helping the
Pilgrims survive and prosper. They explore topics such as: thankfulness, manners, nutrition, diversity,
and types of corn. This unit provides hands-on experiences to help students make connections to the
lives of early Native American and Colonial children.
Caroline Toth
Caroline Toth, Carlyle High School, Carlyle ($400)
Fluency in Spanish is reached through reading and hearing the language. By using Kindle readers as part
of an active classroom Free Voluntary Reading program and short novels as part of a novel study and out
of class reading program, students are able to increase their fluency beyond what is possible without a
reading component in the language classroom. Learning a second language is helping our students
become 21st century learners ready for their futures in the global community.
Larissa Vander Kuur
Larissa Vander Kuur, Arcola High School, Arcola ($407.88)
As a class project, the students will take a field trip around town to find hidden Geocache treasure based
on a latitude and longitude and by using the compass on the Magellan unit. This lesson will help
students understand how to use latitude and longitude as well as a compass when trying to find an exact
point. The importance of this lesson for students is to understand the importance of geography, math concepts
and problem solving. Lessons may include the basics on GPS systems including latitude and
longitude, calculating the accuracy of a GPS system and how GPS enhances a Farmers job.
Bernie Salisbury, Beverly Williams and Principal Cheri Wysong
Beverly Williams, Lincoln Elementary, Pana ($390)
All students need to learn to read well because it affects all areas of their lives and
determines future success. It is important to establish a reading program that will
facilitate this success. My grant proposal with Read Naturally will enable my
students to reach future reading victory and improve their quality of life forever.
Carol Hotz, Bill Funkhouser, Karen Witte and Principal Kevin Juhas
Karen Witte, Millstadt Community Consolidated School District #160, Millstadt ($459.98)
The IPod touches will have downloaded books and applications pertaining to
literacy skills for use in small group reading instruction. Applications available for
IPod touches are an invaluable classroom resource. I can't wait to use these with
my students! They'll be so excited to explore this type of technology.
Judi Harland, Kerri Young and Principal Becky Moss
Kerri Young, Marion Junior High School, Marion ($315)
I would like to implement a vocabulary program in my classroom that will aid in
preparing students for their high school education and the ACT test that students will take
in high school. The money that the IRTAF Grant would provide would be used to buy a
vocabulary series that I could use with each of my 68 language arts students this year,
and for many years to come. Implementing a vocabulary program like this would greatly
increase students' vocabularies, which would improve their writing skills and reading
comprehensions skills, while simultaneously preparing them for the challenges of the
high school standardized tests.
