Cordell Academic Foundation - An Educational Endowment


		2008-2009 Grants
	The following teacher grants were awarded through the Cordell Academic Foundation for the 2008-09 school year. Teachers must submit a grant proposal that is then evaluated by the Cordell Academic Foundation Board of Directors. The goal of the Teachers’ Grant program is to supplement or enhance classroom instruction through innovative practice/materials.
		Terry McKee 7th Grade English
	Ms. McKee’s grant proposal asked for a Scholastic Educational Publication called Scope Magazine. Scope is a bi-weekly publication that is used as a supplemental tool in the regular classroom. Scope has plays in which the students participate as well as current events such as following the Presidential Election, current stories about students participating in a positive way as well as up to date news on celebrities as positive role models. The magazine also provides worksheets that reinforce grammar, literature skills and reading comprehension.
		Sherri Pankhurst High School Library
	Ms. Pankhurst had a simple grant proposal in providing more books for our junior/high school library. During the 2007-08 school year about $8000.00 in new books were purchased for the library from the district’s general fund. According to Ms. Pankhurst when the books arrived it was like “kids in a candy store”. Ms. Pankhurst states, “The students were so excited to have a wide variety of books from which to choose." Funds from the Cordell Academic Foundation provided even more books for the students. Ms. Pankhurst feels that reading is at an all time high in the library, and we must keep new and interesting materials on hand for students.
		Monica Brinkley High School Science
	Ms. Brinkley’s proposal involved requesting science kits for lab experiments. It is a challenge to prepare students for the labs that many of our students will face at Southwestern due to the pharmacy school and nursing departments. These kits along with other lab materials ordered will provide the opportunity for meaningful, challenging labs in which students learn in a hands-on environment.
		Cara Regier First Grade Teacher
	Ms. Regier asked for a leveled classroom library. Leveled readers help beginning readers by letting them practice expression and accuracy on the lower leveled books while practicing decoding and reading with context clues on the higher levels. Leveled readers are necessary in helping beginning readers become good strong readers.
		Shara Garmon Third Grade Teacher
	Ms. Garmon’s proposal centered on improving classroom instruction through the use of teaching and learning centers. Third grade students must read at a proficient level before they can be promoted to the fourth grade. Learning centers will help students reach this benchmark. Through materials purchased with the grant, Ms. Garmon has additional materials needed to improve reading skills.
		Karen Spradlin High School Art
	Ms. Spradlin’s proposal involved art supplies for junior/high school art students. Specifically, clay is needed for student projects. Students will handbuild, throw on the potter's wheel, and glaze their clay. They will also be introduced to the firing process. These supplies allow students to test their creative side while creating projects that will last a life time.