Core curriculum programs, gym mats, flexible seating, 3-D technology, and ukuleles are some of the resources that are being added to Mexico classrooms as a result of the A+ for Mexico Education grant program. A+ board members recently awarded a total of $28,042.62 to area teachers. This was a unique year in that all 27 of the grant applicants received full funding. The funding is made possible by the contributions from local individuals, businesses, civic organizations, clubs, foundations and the United Way.

In an effort to support Mexico's local schools, a group of area leaders started this unique and community-supported program in 1991. All area teachers are encouraged to participate in this mini-grant program. The applicants' names and schools are removed before being read by three anonymous judges. The following is a list of this year's grant recipients:

Eugene Field

Allison Mattox, a social worker, was awarded $565.73 for a comprehensive collection of SEL books which address various emotional and social challenges that children face and will help foster resilience, empathy, and effective communication among students.

First Grade Teachers

Haley Schafer was awarded $969.98 for, Science of Reading Decodable Readers. Students will be provided with decodable readers to be used during independent reading time to help with phonic patterns. 

Shafer was also awarded $1,049.99 for guided mathematics kits for small group instruction. These small group materials include differentiated lesson plans, interactive activities, handson materials, and assessments which will help to guide small group instruction for all students, following a plan of targeted instruction.

Second Grade Teachers

Kaylee Hutcheson was awarded $409.98 for a classroom community rug. The classroom rug will be a central part of the room where the teacher and young students can sit in an inclusive space for them to learn, to read stories, to play games, and so much more.

Kaylee Hutcheson, Emily Houchins, Amber Graziano and Buffey Mulligan were awarded $1,600.00 to “create fluent readers”. The addition of reading centers will expand the library of individual read-alongs and provide students with additional choices for their reading level.

Dr. Samantha Poeter, a counselor, was awarded $86.30 for, “Empowering Elementary Students Through Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Task Cards” and “Building Social Competence Through Social Skills Games”. These manipulatives are social-emotional task cards that help build social skills through tasks and games to integrate in the counseling department.

Buffey Mulligan, a second grade teacher, was awarded $919.80 for flexible seating in the classroom. Research indicates that flexible seating can positively impact student engagement, behavior, and learning outcomes by providing options that support movement, comfort and collaboration for their unique learning needs.

Hawthorne

Jared Shulse’s Music class was awarded $1,950 for a classroom ukulele set. Students will be introduced to music theory concept such as chord progressions while using a ukulele.

First Grade Teachers 

Emily Dodd, Reghan Smith, Jessica Brown, Sammie Hobbs and Alisha Early were awarded $1,950 for “Science of Reading Tools”. These magnetic blending boards will be used with the UFLI curriculum and will help students develop fine motor, decoding and encoding skills, and help with the retention of these skills.

Sammie Hobbs, Jessica Brown, Emily Dodd, Reghan Smith and Alishia Early were awarded $1.078.73 for classroom whihteboards. Students will use whiteboards to practice letter and number writing, and these boards will allow teachers to quickly assess student knowledge and identify students who may need further instruction on a topic.

Cali Crile, Miriam Hyde, Sarah Mahnken and Megan Schutte were awarded $1,383.16 for Stem Adventures. Through the introduction of STEM materials students will be able to develop more understanding when it comes to science technology, engineering and mechanics.

Fourth Grade Teachers

Amy Webber was awarded $794.55 to create a supportive and empowering learning environment through sensory seating. By offering the right kinds of sensory stimulation, sensory seating can help students to focus and create a more comfortable and accommodating learning environment.

Gyda Hooker was awarded $360 for an SEL Library. Teacher and student ambassadors will help demonstrate behavior expectations while relating to each other through SEL library of books.

McMillan Early Learning Center

Dr. Casey Echelmeier was awarded $1,999.99 for “Phonemic Awareness Fun!” kits. Each kit includes a teacher guide with 60 standards-aligned lessons and multisensory manipulatives which will allow students to map individual sounds, listen to sounds as they read aloud, and sound to spelling relationships.

Dr. Anne Billington, Principal, was awarded $1,483.98 for “Nature’s Reading Haven”. Creating a reading haven with a nature theme will not only tap into the science curriculum stands, but it will enhance the learning of all students who are able to utilize the new reading canopy and science activity table.

Peggy Klick, Title 1, was awarded $670 for, “Families Reading Together”. Students and their families will benefit from this grant by having access to age-appropriate books in English and in Spanish to read together at home.

Kindergarten Teachers 

London Davolt was awarded $323 for, “Writing and Identifying Letters and Numbers”. These resources will provide guided practice for students learning to write, to recognize letters and to practice identifying words.

Kristin Jenkins was awarded $483.43 for, “Science of Reading in Kindergarten”. The materials will help improve students' foundational reading skills by incorporating word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, and content knowledge and comprehension.

Mexico Middle School

Melissa Holman’s Computer Class was awarded $2,000 for, “3-D Dreamers”. 3D printing technology will enhance students’ learning by allowing hands-on learning opportunities that will help them develop valuable skills for their future careers in STEM technology.

Seventh Grade Teacher

Julie Duncan was awarded $677.41 for, “Games for Growth”. The innovative approach of using board games will help PAWS students enhance their life skills while allowing a collaborative exercise in critical thinking.

Eight Grade Teachers

Alexis Thoenen’s science class was awarded $149.94 for, “Organ Attack!”. This board game allows students to simultaneously learn about different organs of the body and the illnesses that impact them while interacting with peers in a way that so many of kids have not experienced.

Thoenen was also awarded $330 for animated educational science videos, $581.92 for additional refrigeration space for those items that require precise temperatures in a controlled environment for experimentation needs, and $427.73 for “Games for Good” providing students who struggle in simple interaction a way to encourage them to do face-to-face interactions.

St. Brendan

Theresa Farnell, principal, was awarded $2,572 for “Foundations for Fundations”. These boards will help with teaching phonics to students in kindergarten through third grade.

Cora Ransom’s physical education class was awarded $2,085 for safe, not slip mats that will help students to build their leg, core, and arm strength.

Cheyenne Yeager, early childhood education, was awarded $1,140 for Toniboxes which can be used for large or small group activities for students to listen to stories or song, while gaining literacy skills.

***Correction on  Dec. 5: Dr. Anne Billington and Peggy Klick are from McMillan Early Learning Center.***