Classrooms benefit from minigrants

minigrants062: Classrooms benefit from minigrants During the holiday season, many a public school teacher wishes for a gift that will help inspire students to a new year of higher performance. Recognizing that need, Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider annually awards teachers within his organization with classroom minigrants. Dec. 13, teachers in the Special Education and Student Services divisions received 18 minigrants totaling more than $15,000 from Reider in a reception at the superintendent of schools' Bakersfield office.

"I love to be able to do this," Reider told the assembled teachers. "This is one award where you can definitely see the fruits of your labor, knowing that these minigrants will help in the education of a lot of children. A wise person once said, 'you will lose good friends, family and health during your lifetime, but education is a gift that can never be taken away from you.'"

Teachers working for the superintendent educate special needs students on campuses throughout Kern County and provide the same kinds of services for at-risk students in Court and Community schools operated by the superintendent. Each minigrant recipient had to submit a written proposal detailing how it would be used and how it would benefit student learning.

Committees from Special Education and Student Services divisions screened the proposals, paring them down to the finalists for selection by Reider. Special Education Services Administrator Pam Sanders and Student Services Administrator Ken Taylor presented the recipients with certificates of appreciation in addition to the monetary minigrants they received at the reception.

Minigrant proposals included requests for physical education equipment, interactive photography and computer programs and social and therapeutic exercises. As they received their minigrants, each teacher gave a brief explanation of how they would be used. Some ideas were simple but carried the promise of large gains for students.

"I work at Daibreak School in Arvin with severe disabilities students, ages 14-22," said teacher Christina Haworth. "It is hard to keep students this age motivated as they get older. This minigrant will help purchase an adult tricycle for each of our three classrooms with which we can design a variety of fun and fitness activities to improve student motor skills."

Billy Gaeta teaches at-risk students at Community Learning Center Tech. He also spoke of motivating his pupils.

"I am involved in Tech's physical education and after school workout program," Gaeta said. "With this grant I will be able to purchase T-shirts to award to students when they attain specified physical education goals. It is an incentive to make students feel good about themselves, and they know they have to perform well to get a T-shirt. They like that concept."

Special education bilingual counselor Liliana Labra told the audience she is going to use her grant to create a DVD movie library for children with emotional disturbances.

"My students love movies, and I told them they would get a chance to become movie critics," Labra said. "What they don't know is that the movies they will be watching are all socially relevant. They will write about each movie they see, giving them motivation to develop their language, writing and comprehension skills. The movies should inspire them with some valuable social lessons, too."

Teachers apply for Superintendent Minigrants in September and receive notification in December.


Superintendent Minigrant Recipients 2006-07:

Amber Atkinson, KEEP Cambria -- "Using Digital Presentations to Enhance Learning"
Susan Barle, Special Education, Taft Primary School -- "Taft Primary Express, 2nd Edition"
Toni Bouck, Aurora Program -- "Discovering the Stars"
Tamara Bruce, Special Education, McKinley School -- "My Gym: Fitness Made Fun For Kids"
Nicole Butler, Special Education, Stockdale Elementary -- "Stop and Go!"
Cathy Chambers, KEEP Ocean -- "Digital Video of KEEP Experience"
Timothy W. Davis, Special Day Class -- "The Coffee Shop"
Linda Edelman and Michelle Fisher, Special Education, IDP -- "Picture Language"
Billy Gaeta, Community Learning Center Tech -- "Jumping Jacks Tech"
Linda Gratt, Christina Haworth and Cheryl Wernli, Special Education, High School Autism -- "Pedal Power"
Steve Hollick, Blanton Academy -- "IVT, Intense Vigorous Training"
Steve Jensen and Kyla Birebeck, Special Education, Van Horn School -- "Read! Read! Read!"
Liliana Labra, Special Education Assessment and Support -- "Movie Club"
Marcia Larson, Severe Disorders of Language Program -- "Learning the Smart Way"
Jean McAfee, Special Education -- "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words"
Jamie Riddick, Special Education, Autism, Buena Vista Elementary -- "Primary X-5 Sensory Modulation and Fine Motor Tools"
Shelly Welch, Special Education -- "Riding Into the Sunset"
Rob Wolosz, McKinley School, MH/DH -- "The Magic of MARE"


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