The City Schools Foundation will distribute over $50,000 in grants to teachers in 2015.  Sixteen grants have been selected for funding out of 75 grant applications. The Foundation will award the largest grant in its history, $22,995, to Northfield Elementary Music Teachers to fund “Tickling the Ivories” combining music and technology in the classroom.

The Foundation asks educators from Murfreesboro City Schools to submit proposals for funding that will help them acquire resources not ordinarily provided by taxpayer dollars.

Grant Winners- Tickling the Ivories
Tickling The Ivories – $22,995 Grant Writers Melanie Noe and Diana Polk with Dr. Linda Gilbert

“It’s thought provoking to see how educators are using hands on learning opportunities to enrich the classroom.  The range of requests from math and science to the arts were outstanding,” says David LaRoche, Grant Committee Chair, The City Schools Foundation.

The funding for grants ranged from Fun with Fractions at $117 to Tickling the Ivories at $22,995, with six grants receiving over $2,500 in disbursements.

 

  •      Little Bits Help Makerspace – Bess Turner, Discovery
  •      Exploration Through Life Cycles – Jessica Dozier, Scales
  •      Mozarts in a Minute – Kelley Kleppinger, Luke Hill, Tony Hartman, Ryan Stewart, Discovery, Overall, Scales
  •      Breaking the Code of the Future – Kristy Mall, Discovery
  •      Sphero Hero – Bess Turner, Discovery
  •      STEAM: An intefrated Approach to Art and STEM –  David Lockett, Mitchell-Neilson
  •      K-2 Maker Space – Kayla Mullen, Discovery
  •      Building Bridges – Heather Knox; Laura Caylor: Northfield, Cason Lane
  •      Fun with Fractions: Involve Me and I Learn – Rachael Slough, Scales
  •      Walking and Talking Math, Language, Science and Social Studies – Donna Beers, Bradley
  •      Tasks to Awesome Learners – Karen Godwin, Northfield
  •      Literally Math – David Lockett, Mitchell-Neilson
  •      Differentiated National Geographic Kids’ Explorer – Kimberly Carrell, Scales
  •      Tickling the Ivories – Diana Polk, Melanie Noe- Northfield
  •      Fundation Instructional Kit – Ann O’Boyle, Erma Siegel
  •      FabLab with LittleBits – Michelle Eaton, Erma Siegel

 

A grant like “Exploration Through Life Cycles,” brings the curriculum out of the book and into the classroom.  According to the grant writer, Jessica Dozier, “Life cycles are a very important standard when looking at plants and animals. The grant allows students to experience different life cycles from hatching chickens, to emerging butterflies and ladybugs.  It’s about deepening the student’s learning.”

This year, five funded grants cover the emerging technology of Makerspace, LittleBits and Spheros. This new technology puts the power of electronics in the hands of students and helps to create an atmosphere where students can gather to create, explore and discover using a variety of techniques.

The foundation will distribute $50,716 in this round of grant approvals.

Excellence in Education (scheduled for Friday, February 5, 2016) is the largest fundraiser for The City Schools Foundation.  This year’s event is chaired by Ben Parsley and will highlight Black Fox Elementary.

Trustees for The City Schools Foundation include:  Doug Young, Minerva Smith, Ben Parsley, Rebecca Upton, Sandra Parks, Anita Pirtle, Lana Seivers, Ben Weatherford, Kristi Gaines, David Scott, Charlie Baum, Ben Parsley, Joe Faiz, Jeannie Almon, Brook LaRoche and Shavon Davis-Louis.  Additionally, Dr. Linda Gilbert and School Board Member Jared Barrett serve as non-voting members of the Foundation.