"GRANTING" WISHES: The Bartow Education Foundation awards 196 Bartow County teachers grant money to transform their classrooms and provide unique educational opportunities for hundreds of students.
“The Teacher Grant program is the largest project we fund,” said Bartow Education Foundation Executive Director Dot Frasier. This year, we disbursed $92,301.82 in grants. While that’s a little less than in years past, I am very happy with the outcome considering these unprecedented times. The grant money is introducing our students to materials and lessons that I never thought possible in Bartow County!”
Adairsville High School received $18, 621.59 in grant money – the most out of any school districtwide. Grants, which support learning, collaboration, and results, include the intent to purchase drones and 3-D printers to push the boundaries of innovation. Adairsville High School’s Center for Advanced Studies in Science, Technology, and Math will use its well-deserved money to erect a four-tier portable greenuse for a one-of-a-kind outdoor classroom. Math teachers will now be able to teach a Personal Finance class so students will be able to make sound financial decisions for life, and administrators will be purchasing paint to create encouraging, inspiring, and uplifting messages in restroom areas to make a positive impact on the school’s climate and culture, just to name a few grant proposals.
“So many teachers reach into their own pockets every year to supplement student learning,” added Superintendent Dr. Phillip Page. “So, we are very thankful for Ms. Dot and the Bartow Education Foundation, teachers, and community members who contribute annually to this worthy cause. Our students are learning at higher levels because of them.”
At the middle school level, teachers are spending their grant money on multi-sensory spaces for Exceptional Education students, tools to aid in graphic design, and even materials for community service projects, like mercy mats, made for distribution to the homeless population.
Many schools build upon projects started last year. At Cloverleaf Elementary School, teachers used grant money last year to purchase materials for a chicken coop. Cass High School students built it, and now teachers are utilizing additional grant money to purchase baby chickens and supplies for their garden area. Students from all grade levels will be able to complete many investigative projects and problem-based learning (PBL) tasks centered around the chickens, their needs, life cycle, and habitat.
In addition to the Teacher Grant program, which is now in its 27th year, the Bartow Education Foundation helps fund programs that benefit BCSS retirees, teachers of the year, and bus drivers.
[Pictured: Ms. Dot holding materials purchased through grants]