Chevron fuels classroom ideas

chevron062: Chevron Teacher/Classroom Grants
Teachers Marcia Larson (left) and Nora Orizaga (second from right) celebrate receiving Chevron Teacher/Classroom Grants with Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider and Special Education Services Administrator Pam Sanders.
Thanks to Chevron's generosity and concern for advancing classroom innovation, 32 teachers from Kern, Fresno and Monterey counties received grants totaling $28,250 in ceremonies held Aug. 1 at the Chevron Energy Center in Bakersfield. Each year, Chevron Teacher/Classroom Grants are awarded in individual amounts of between $500-$1,000 to teachers who have formally submitted ideas for advancing education in their classrooms. Among the recipients of the 2006-07 awards were three teachers from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office. They were special needs teachers Toni Bouck, Marcia Larson and Nora Orizaga.

This is the seventh year Chevron has presented the awards intended to "support exemplary projects and innovations in math, science, reading, health and safety training, along with helping prepare students for the work place." Since the inception of Chevron's teacher/classroom grant program, more than $175,000 has funded 218 classroom grants reaching approximately 31,000 students.

Chevron's San Joaquin Valley Policy, Government and Public Affairs Representative Roger Christy made the presentations and commended the recipients for their devotion to the students they serve. He noted the devotion was obvious by the quality of ideas presented and the amount of time spent detailing proposed projects in the applications they submitted.

One of those in attendance was Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider who praised Chevron's annual teacher/classroom grants. Reider's office collaborates with Chevron distributing checks to the recipients with funds provided by Chevron.

"Chevron's participation underscores the firm's commitment to community citizenship," Reider said. "It gives many of the county's classroom teachers the resources to try out new approaches that increase student learning and interest in the subject matter. Resources are always an issue, and these awards help stretch those resources."

Larson, a teacher dealing with students who have severe disorders of language at Independence Elementary School in Bakersfield, received a $1,000 grant for a second consecutive year. She will use the grant to fund "Project a Good Image" in her classroom.

"I am so excited," Larson said. "Last year was my first attempt at writing a grant, and I was hopeful it would be accepted. Once it was, it got me thinking and being more creative about other classroom projects we could fund in the future. 'Project a Good Image' involves purchasing a digital projector that will be a big visual aid for my students. They are not strong audio learners, and all my lessons depend heavily on the use of visuals."

If Larson was excited, maybe the best descriptive word for Orizaga's reaction was "surprised." Orizaga is a fourth-year teacher working with severely handicapped students at Bakersfield's Virginia Avenue School.

"I had never applied for a grant before and asked for $500," Orizaga said. "I was blown away when Chevron gave me a $1,000 grant instead. My classroom project, 'Now You're Cooking with Math,' will focus on helping students with their math, motor and social skills by introducing cooking into the curriculum. I will be able to purchase an oven, cooking utensils, child cookbooks and lock up cabinets for food and utensil storage. When they are relaxed, they learn without realizing it. They have more fun learning and develop better nutritional habits along the way."

Bouck, who was unable to attend the ceremony, teaches students with severe disabilities in the Aurora Program. She received a $500 grant for her classroom project, "Developing Basic Knowledge of Hydrocarbons."

Teachers are eligible to apply for Chevron grants if the public school in which they work is located in an area where Chevron has facilities. Grant requests must follow California education content standards and be used to fund materials, supplies and equipment only.

2006-07 Chevron Teacher/Classroom Grants

Crystal Aguilar, Coalinga High School -- Coalinga High School District
Carole Lynn Anderson, Sequoia Elementary -- Richland School District
Karen Blount, Highland High -- Kern High School District
Toni Bouck, Aurora Program -- Kern County Superintendent of Schools
Kimberly Brown, Loudon -- Panama-Buena Vista Union School District
(2) Louise Cooper, Buttonwillow -- Buttonwillow Union School District
Lori Coler, San Ardo Elementary -- San Ardo School District
Tom Cormack, Kern Valley High -- Kern High School District
Jackie Eiffert, Sing Lum --Panama-Buena Vista Union School District
ChariAnn Gregory, South Fork Elementary -- South Fork Union School District
Diane Hislop and Elizabeth Leipnik, Frank West -- Bakersfield City School District
Roxanne Honaker, Rosedale Middle School -- Rosedale Union School District
Kristin Hudlow, Centennial High -- Kern High School District
Jan Karnowski, Endeavour Elementary -- Fruitvale School District
Marcia Larson, Independence Elementary -- Kern County Superintendent of Schools
BreAnne Maltone, Almondale Elementary -- Rosedale Union School District
Julie Moore, San Lauren Elementary -- Beardsley School District
Terri Morrison, Orangewood Elementary -- Edison Elementary School District
Karen Nguyen, McKinley -- Bakersfield City School District
Nora Orizaga, Virginia Avenue -- Kern County Superintendent of Schools
Heather Randolph, Munsey -- Bakersfield City School District
Mery Reynolds, San Ardo Elementary -- San Ardo School District
Richard Roy, General Shafter -- General Shafter School District
Carol Sayer, Evergreen Elementary -- Bakersfield City School District
Robin Slocum, Pauly -- Bakersfield City School District
Kathy Van Stralen, Golden Valley High -- Kern High School District
(2) Joyce Victor, Owens Primary -- Bakersfield City School District
Joshua Walker, Coalinga High School -- Coalinga High School District
Joni Stiles Weber, Scheutz Career Center -- Kern High School District
Darren Willis, Highland High -- Kern High School District

(2) Indicates teacher received two grants


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