Teachers get grants for innovation
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 17, 2004 1:59 PM
Lauri Drosendahl's home school has expanded along with her family.
She began teaching when her first child turned 4. Rachel is now 14 and has seven siblings, the youngest being a year old.
This morning, Mrs. Drosendahl was presented one of 15 teacher mini-grants from the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. She said she plans to use the $500 to buy two different kinds of microscopes.
Mrs. Drosendahl, whose husband John is pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, says the grant will help as she continues to teach in her home in the Rosewood community.
The microscopes will be a good learning tool as her children "study the critters" on the family's property, she said.
The Business and Education Partnership, sponsored by the Wayne Charitable Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce, delivered nearly $6,000 in grants to 11 schools today.
The money will assist teachers in trying new ideas and implementing special projects, said Dr. Ken Benton, chairman of the chamber's education committee.
Applications were sent in by teachers from public, private and home schools earlier in the fall. Among the projects being rewarded are character education, a family social night followed by science activities, and a compost bin.
Benton said most of the money for the mini-grant program was raised during the chamber's spelling bee in August. Other money was provided by sponsors across the county.
The following recipients received mini-grants for the fall:
*Mary Ann Barwick, Southern Wayne High School, $500.
*Marion Carter, Mount Olive Middle School, $500.
*Karen Helms, Mount Olive Middle School, $500.
*Donna Countryman and Martie Saylor, Edgewood Community Developmental School, $500.
*Lauri Drosendahl, Drosendahl Family Home School, $500.
*Martha Kornegay, Charles B. Aycock High School, $500.
*Mary Carter, St. Mary's School, $475.
*Ann Price, Tommy's Road Elementary School, $468.
*Sheila Ann Wolfe, Tommy's Road Elementary School, $445.
*Sally Moriniti, St. Mary's School, $415.
*Faith Newell, Greenwood Middle School, $270.
*Aimee Moore Kahler, North Drive Elementary School, $250.
*Jo Ann Smith, Rosewood High School, $225.
*Jeff Bradley, Grantham School, $169.
*Ricky Joyner, Southern Wayne High School, $160.
Benton said there were 70 applicants for the mini-grants.
"They're all winners because they have gone the extra mile to plan opportunities for their students," he said. "The real winner in this program are the students who will benefit from the extra learning experiences provided by the funded grants."