Tim Mandell
Teachers in Madison County have been rewarded for their innovative ideas in math, science and technology.
Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass awarded 20 teachers with $500 grants to develop new programs in the classroom.
This is the sixth year the grants have been awarded.
“When we first came to Richmond, we wanted to be involved in the community,” said John Schlatter, public communications manager at Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. “Since we are a technically oriented program, we wanted to do something to help emphasize math, science and technology in the area. Education is a strong emphasis for us.”
Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass was selected by the Department of Defense’s Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program to design, build, systemize, test, operate and close a facility to destroy the chemical weapons stockpile stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky.
To be eligible for a grant, teachers had to submit proposals to promote student-centered learning and enhance education in their respective programs, according to the application form.
The application also states that proposals are judged by a support committee, which uses evaluation criteria that looks for clear learning targets, a summary proposal that includes the level of enrichment to education in science, math and/or technology, student involvement in high levels of thinking and an appropriate budget.
“They have an innovative idea that maybe takes a little bit of money,” said Marvin Welch, the elementary supervisor at Madison County Schools Achievement Center and a member of the selection committee. “Getting the grant gives them the funding so they can go ahead and implement the creative or innovative idea that they have.”
The committee received more than 40 applications.
“They were very strong applications,” Welch said. “The committee had a tough time choosing.”
All the recipients will he honored at the Madison County Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Madison Central High School.
Margaret Soto, who teaches eighth-grade science at Clark-Moores Middle School, and Karrie Johns, a sixth-grade math and science teacher at Madison Middle School, received the award for the second straight year.
Three teachers from Glenn Marshall Elementary School were awarded a grant.
Grants were given to two teachers at Waco Elementary School, Clark-Moores Middle School, B. Michael Caudill Middle School, Madison Middle School, Madison Central High School, Madison Southern High School and Model Laboratory.
Foley Middle School, Kit Carson Elementary School and Kentucky Tech each received one grant.
Most of the projects are scheduled to be implemented in the spring.
“During the year, some of our managers and employees will go to the classrooms of these teachers to see what they’re doing,” Schlatter said. “It’s really fun and eye opening to see what all the teachers are coming up with. It’s fun to see the innovative ways they can come up with to teach math, science and technology.”
Teachers that received grants include:
• Mary Brumley, Madison Central High School, “Building Bridges – An Engineering Project.”
• Heather Cooksey, B. Michael Caudill Middle, “Using Digital Photography to Create Narrative Works of Art.”
• RaeAnna Fields, Glenn Marshall Elementary, “Dream Green.”
• Tammy Frazier, Glenn Marshall Elementary, “Worms Are Not Just For Fishing.”
• Valerie Fryman, Model Laboratory, “Digital Storytelling.”
• Kendall Gadd, Madison Southern High School, “Entrepreneurship Teaches Engineering and Manufacturing Skills for the 21st Century.”
• Amie Gallion, Foley Middle, “Rendezvous with a Comet.”
• Karrie Johns, Madison Middle, “Explore Learning.”
• Kristy Little, Clark-Moores Middle, “Our Incredible Human Body.”
• Jane Mattingly, Kit Carson Elementary, “Science on Six Legs.”
• James Mattox, Ky. Tech. Madison Co. ATC, “Spiral Staircase.”
• David Metzger, Madison Central High School, “DVR’s and Flip Cameras.”
• Avonda Noe, Madison Southern High School, “Ebooks: Accessible and Appealing 24/7.”
• Ashley Parker, Waco Elementary, “National Science Foundation Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers.”
• Martha Scarberry, B. Michael Caudill Middle, “Financial Peace University.”
• Courtney Schuette, Waco Elementary, “Wii Love Music.”
• Elizabeth Shields, Glenn Marshall Elementary, “DreamBox Learning.”
• Margaret Soto, Clark-Moores Middle, “Art and Technology Mural.”
• Carri VanZant-Lowery, Madison Central High School, “Bio-technology, Chicken Incubation.”
• Stephen Willis, Model Laboratory, “Bridge Design and Construction.”
Tim Mandell can be reached at tmandell@richmondregister.com or 623-1669 ext. 6696.
