East County Teacher Gets Grant From North Island Credit Union

EL CAJON, CA — North Island Credit Union has awarded grants to 10 teachers in San Diego County, including a teacher from East County.

The $500 grants through the credit union's Spring 2023 Teacher Grant program will support a variety of class projects in the San Diego region, including creating a STEAM community garden, designing pinball games, starting a ukulele music program, and using science to build solar-powered cars.

"Each of these grant programs demonstrate the tremendous passion, creativity and dedication our teachers bring to inspiring their students to learn and excel," North Island Credit Union CEO Steve O'Connell said in a statement. "We congratulate and thank all of these incredible teachers for their commitment to creating innovative programs that will make a meaningful difference in their students' lives."

Since the creation of the program in 2012, North Island Credit Union has awarded $175,000 in teacher grants, according to the credit union. As many as 20 grants are awarded bi-annually in the spring and fall.

These are the spring 2023 grant recipients:

• Madison Bala, Montgomery Middle School, El Cajon
• Leslie Beleche, Kimbrough Elementary School, San Diego
• Cynthia Ferguson, Rohr Elementary School, Chula Vista
• Crista Frans, Urban Discovery Academy, San Diego
• Christine Hill, Ramona High School, Ramona
• Evon Pontino, Veterans Elementary School, Chula Vista
• Daniel Schroeder, Bonita Vista Middle School, Chula Vista
• Vanessa Siegfried, Hilltop Drive Elementary School, Chula Vista
• Kristen Torres, Liberty Elementary School, Chula Vista
• Youcef Zamoum, Palomar Elementary School, Chula Vista