ChevronTexaco grants aid educators

Classroom innovation and student learning will be enhanced due to $28,000 in grants awarded by ChevronTexaco to Kern County educators on Aug. 1 at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) office in Bakersfield.

"Our students always receive a value added instructional benefit when we have private sector interest and participation. ChevronTexaco's participation will give many of our classroom teachers the resources to try out new approaches that increase student learning and interest in the subject matter," said Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider.

ChevronTexaco Government and Public Affairs Manager Ed Spaulding and Community Relations Specialist Linda Robinson presented individual grants varying in amounts from $150 to $1,000 to 36 teachers from 13 Southern San Joaquin Valley school districts. More than 60 teachers applied for the grants which were reviewed by a committee consisting of ChevronTexaco employees and community leaders.

Reider said ChevronTexaco's participation underscores the firm's commitment to community citizenship. The awards will be extremely helpful this year, given the state's budget deficit which impacts all public services, including education.

"The program started three years ago to provide additional opportunities for teachers," Robinson said. "So much is needed to provide inspiration for students. ChevronTexaco has seen some wonderfully, innovative programs presented by teachers in their grant applications. Innovative programs get students interested in learning and that is great."

ChevronTexaco makes the awards based on a competitive grant process. The awards are intended to support exemplary projects and innovations in math, science, reading, health and safety training along with helping prepare our students for the work place.

This year's grants included funding for classroom projects such as "Aqueous Chemistry," "Heavy Duty Truck Electrical/Electronic Safety," "Kindergarten Learning Through Interactive Manipulative Materials," "Hands-on Earth Science Learning," "Board Game Production Economics," "Accelerated Math for 4th, 5th, & 6th Grade Students," and "Reading Across the Ages."

The ChevronTexaco Teacher/Classroom Grant Program started with an initial contribution of $20,000 to KCSOS in 2000. ChevronTexaco collaborates with KCSOS which provides help in disseminating the grant application information to schools and handles distribution of grant funds to individual teachers.

Funding of $74,000 for 93 programs in 22 schools has been made possible through grants provided by ChevronTexaco the past three years.

2002-2003 ChevronTexaco Teacher/Classroom Grant Program awardees:

Pat Abbasi - Liberty High - $1,000
Gary Adams - Regional Occupational Center- $1,000
Eydie Alba-Gamblin - Frank West School - $250
Pamela Alten - Woodrow Wallace Elementary (Lake Isabella) - $1,000
Vicki Anderson - Sandrini School - $500
Karen Blount - Highland High - $1,000
Julie Camell - Freedom Middle - $1,000
Bruce Campbell - South High - $1,000
Virginia Carnero - Huron Elementary (Huron) - $860
Karen Corson - Jefferson School - $1,000
Jessica Ercoli - Bessie Owens - $1,000
Kerri Hamer - South High - $1,000
Kelly Henderson - Berkshire Elementary - $1,000
Diane Hislop and Barbara Mansfield - Frank West School - $250
Claudia Key - Beardsley Intermediate - $150
Stephan Klouses - Freedom Middle - $900
Karen Linder - Karl F. Clemens (Wasco) - $1,000
Audrey Martinez - Discovery Elementary - $400
Michelle McNamara and Carol Lynn Arretche - Standard Elementary - $1,000
Lynn Michael - Columbia Elementary - $1,000
Julie Moore - Beardsley Elementary - $750
Douglas Nielson - Coalinga High (Coalinga) - $1,000
Barbara Norman - North Beardsley - $1,000
Tom Porter - Foothill High - $1,000
Don Ricketts - Fairfax School - $200
Casey Robinson - Kern Valley High (Lake Isabella) - $1,000
Andres Sanchez - Lost Hills Elementary (Lost Hills) - $1,000
Jacquelyn Selgrath - Linns Valley-Poso Flat School (Glennville) - $500
Judy Steele - Beardsley Intermediate - $750
Rachel Street - Patriot Elementary - $1,000
Deborah Thomas - Endeavor Elementary - $1,000
Joyce Victor - Bessie Owens Primary - $1,000
Mark Wheeler - Stine School - $800
Judith Wren - Harding Elementary - $1,000
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