Over $25K In Grants Given To District 58 Teachers By Education Foundation

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Dozens of teachers received funds to help with their projects when the District 58 Education Foundation doled out more than $25,000 in grants.

Below are the teachers who received grants and the projects they intend to fund:

Belle Aire Elementary School

• 3rd grade teacher Kristina Cardinal for Kindness Club

El Sierra Elementary School

• Kindergarten teacher Gianna Smith for Purposeful Play, Please!
• Reading specialist Megan DuPass for Flyleaf materials and Ramped-Up Readalouds
• Teacher librarian Mary Loversky for Ramped-Up Readalouds
• First grade teacher Kendra Myers for letter/sound cards for Systematic Phonics Instruction
• First grade teacher Kelly Wyatt for letter/sound cards for Systematic Phonics Instruction
• Resource teacher/interventionist Christina Gamboa for Fostering Engagement with Reading and Math

Fairmount Elementary School

• Teacher librarian Elizabeth Stroud for culturally diverse books
• Sixth grade teachers Colleen Brejcha and K.C. Chick for Can I Believe My Eyes: Cow Eye Dissection
• Reading specialist Alison Glennon for decodable books and Decoding with Decodable Readers
• 3rd grade teacher Melissa Swallows for Decoding with Decodable Readers

Highland Elementary School

• EL teacher Michele Crowley for thematic stories and felt boards for English learners
• Third grade teacher Brittany Sanfillippo for standing desks for a flexible classroom environment

Hillcrest Elementary School

• Teacher librarian Leslie Hesterman for We Are Still Here: Exploring Native American Culture and History

Indian Trail Elementary School

• Second and third grade RISE teacher Stacie Hamilton for STEM materials for special education students
• Reading specialist Janet Peters for Science of Reading and the Power of Decodable Text Year 2
• Interventionist Katie Hurckes for Family Math Night
• Teacher librarian Chelsea Borchers for Bits Box Kit
• Preschool teachers Alecia Probst and Kendall Buege for gross motor equipment
• Principal Tracey Ratner to showcase students and staff

Related: New Tools Help 'Make Learning Fun:' District 58 Grant Winners

Kingsley Elementary School

• Occupational therapist Michelle Schmidt and resource teacher Melissa Eckdahl for vertical learning
• Speech-language pathologist Kate Blackburn for an interactive whiteboard table
• Teacher librarian Jamie Krier for forward facing picture book displays

Lester Elementary School

• EL teacher Natalie Notardonato for English language vocabulary development
• Teacher librarian Christina Forzley for flexible library seating
• Second grade teacher Matt Leiser for Fostering Creativity: A Transformative Tool for Digital Learning

O'Neill Elementary School

• Reading teachers Nicole Ferroli, Bernie Homel and Stephanie Potter for Enhancing Classroom Libraries to Include the Most-Wanted Student Texts
• Resource program coordinator Rachel Katoll, math teacher Katelyn Morgan and reading teacher Kayla Kinder for flexible seating
• Music teacher Janet Hecht for world music drumming

Pierce Downers Elementary School

• Fifth grade teacher Monica Eilers for flexible seating for all
• First grade teacher sSabrina Breault and Beth Kamano for decodable library books all students can read

Whittier Elementary School

• Resource teacher Katie Porter for multisensory tools for students with dyslexia
• Sixth grade teacher Patricia Miller for a classroom library overhaul

Preschool Coordinator Susan Dillon for One Book, One PreSchool

"This opens up even more possibilities for teachers to provide unique learning experiences for our students,” District Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell shared in a statement. “I look forward to seeing the impact these grants have in our classrooms!”