January 30, 2007

News Release

Tyler ISD Foundation Distributes Teacher Grants

            Mardi Gras started early in Tyler this year with the Tyler Independent School District Foundation awarding grants to deserving teachers with a New Orleans-style celebration on Tuesday.  Nine different campuses throughout the school district were awarded the grants totaling $30,000 for use in the spring semester.

            “The Foundation’s grants were the result of a competitive proposal system available to all Tyler ISD teachers and staff members,” said Larry Goddard, Executive Director of the Tyler ISD Foundation.  “Our selection committee chose 11 grants from the 40 applicants.  We were looking for grants which inspire learning, enrich teaching, or enhanced the opportunities of the Tyler ISD students.”

Teachers were asked to submit proposals which would accomplish the mission of the Foundation, the goals of the District, and the plan for their particular campus. 

From the 40 applications, a committee panel selected the following recipients. 

Individual Grant Recipients ($1000 and below)

1. The East Texas Professional Credit Union Named Grant.  “Proud Pals” Kaye Krause, TARGET Program at Gary School, 5^th Grade Gifted and Talented.  Proud Pals is a project providing academically-gifted elementary students an opportunity to use their talents in a setting of shared learning and cooperation with learners possessing various levels of mental and physical disabilities.  During the school year, the non-disabled students will participate in a simulation to learn what it is like to be disabled, make visits to meet and interact with partners with disabilities, and create an original writing project about themselves and their partners.
2. “Space Probes” Kay Newberry, TARGET Program at Gary School, 3^rd and 4^th Grade.  Space Probes is an independent research project focused on the exploration of space using unmanned spacecraft.  The project will allow the learner to go beyond reading about science and to implement the process scientists follow to gather research about outer space.  The learner will design a probe that must use an electrical circuit in its design either to light an orbiting probe or create movement with a motor landing probe.  It will promote understanding of inventive design.
3. The Bonnie Beall Named Grant.  “LIFT—Literacy Intended for Toddlers:  Baby’s First Books” Linda A. Hulsey, Alvin V. Anderson/PACE High School (9^th through 12^th Grade).  LIFT (Literacy Intended for Toddlers:  Baby’s First Books) provides literacy training and children’s books to parenting students and their children.  From early infancy, the positive interactions between a student/parent and her child through home reading and pre-literacy activities enhance the opportunity to build a strong literacy foundation.   Teen parents enhance their reading skills and realize the joy of reading and “learning together” with their children.
4. The Alton R. Goddard Memorial Named Grant. “Education at the Speed of Sound” Steve Phillips, Hogg Middle School, 7^th and 8^th Grade (Math, Science, Technology and Social Studies).  Students will learn about aviation as they use a flight simulator in technology class, principles of propulsion and aerodynamics in science class, the history of flight, aviation careers in social studies class, and calculate plane load balance and flight planning in math class.  Paper, model, and radio-controlled airplanes will be used to deliver hands-on experience in flight.  Guest speakers, field trips to the Tyler Airport, the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, NASA, the local Civil Air Patrol, and the air show at Barksdale Air Force Base will give students exposure to the exciting world of aviation.
5. “Sport Stacking and the Body-Brain Connection” Teri de Jong, St. Louis School, Pre-K through 12 (Adapted Physical Education)  Sport Stacking is rapidly becoming a popular and easy method to increase hand-eye coordination, ambidexterity, quickness, and concentration skills in primary and secondary students.  It is an individual or small group activity that can be taught in minutes, is fun and completely safe to play, and requires only a table and colorful speed stacking cups. 

Team/Campus Grant Recipients ($5000 and below)

1. “Off Broadway Productions” Paul Eyler, Rosilyn Hill, Steve Phillips, Hogg Middle School (Technology, Science, Language Arts).  Students will use desktop video technology to produce a weekly program to be shared with the entire class via the existing Channel One closed circuit network.  The content of the program will be cross-curricular as students will record projects and activities in a variety of classrooms.  Students will be trained in video recording techniques, the mechanics of video editing, effective lighting, script writing, as well as audio and graphics editing.
2. “Great Expeditions” Jeff Gage, Melissa Harris, Dennis Cates, Katie Lasseter, Camp Tyler (Fifth Grade).  To elevate the educational experience of TISD students, a functional replica of a 17^th century sailing ship will be built.  Students will be able to experience rigging the sails, firing in unison their air cannons, utilizing navigation skills, and learn the significance of a successful voyage for their “nations” and “kings.” 
3. “Inspiring Inventors” Christi Parsons, Rebecca Clapp, Lucinda Presley, Caldwell Elementary Arts Academy (Kindergarten through 5^th Grade).  Students and teachers will be inspired to use technology, engineering, science, and math through fun applications in the arts by creating interactive, motor-driven student inventions.  This grant seeks to introduce into Tyler ISD nationally-recognized educational materials, training, and opportunities by becoming partners in learning with the Discovery Science Place museum and their partner institutions:  Exploratorium and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
4. “Reading:  Three P’s of Success (Packs, Practice, and Parents) Annalisa Stenkflyft, Michelle Pardue, Marty Smith, Jennifer Holley, Valerie Williams, Jill Lestage, Agnes Roberson, Connie Moore, Andy Woods Elementary (K through 5^th Grade).  The Three P’s of Success will provide students additional reading reinforcement by providing reading backpacks containing books, corresponding audio tapes and tape players, journals for students and their parents, and an instructional video for parents.  This project will produce the audio lending library.
5. “Personal Practice Pouches” Michelle Jett, Jan O’Neal, Rice Elementary (1^st through 5^th Grade).  This grant will expand reading skills of dyslexic students while providing a self-esteem component.  Each student will assemble his/her own personalized pouch containing children’s self-esteem books, a writing journal for reflections/study review, and hands-on manipulatives to build word recognitions.
6. “Peer Tutorial Project” Jennifer Dutton, Lynn Ward, Theresa Prather, Wyley Graham, Adalberto Delafuente, Wanda Toote, Dogan Middle School (6^th, 7^th, 8^th Grade—Math).  Research proves that peer tutoring increases the achievement/skill level of all students involved.  Low performing students will be paired with statistically high performing classmates who demonstrate an understanding of necessary skills.  The peer tutors will work with their students to complete a set of worksheets based on Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) objectives over a period of four weeks under a math teacher’s supervision.  After successful completion, students will be eligible for a reward field trip.

Another round of grants will be awarded in April for Fall 2007 project proposals.

###