Valley Alliance for Education celebrates area teachers

The Valley Alliance for Education has awarded Creative Classroom Grants to 27 area educators.  The organization also recognized three Teachers of the Year, one from each school division.

In Augusta County, Fort Defiance High School’s Paula Jesalva was recognized; Alison Cornish from William Perry Elementary School represented Waynesboro Public Schools; and Staunton City Schools celebrated Donna Morris, a teacher at Shelburne Middle School.  Each received a gift and a $1,000 school grant given in their honor by nTelos Wireless Foundation.

“Our region truly believes in the power of education, as reflected by the exceptional support VAE continues to receive from our generous and committed donor base.  Thanks to the contributions of the business community and committed individuals, our guiding principles to imagine – innovate – inspire – invest were front and center at tonight’s grant awards,” VAE Vice President Jenny Carter said. “We are excited and proud to reinforce the vitality of creative programming in our schools, and tonight’s event was a showcase for the wonderful ideas and passion our educators have for their students and the profession.”

Established in 1990, the non-profit VAE is a regional partnership of employers, educators and community volunteers dedicated to promoting excellence in our public schools, with the ultimate goal of improving quality of life and economic prosperity throughout the Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County region. To date, well over $600,000 has been returned to area schools, with materials and equipment continuing to enrich the lives of students for several years following the grant award.

Individuals seeking to make a tax-deductible contribution to VAE may visit www.vaeva.org, call 540-943-0029 or write Valley Alliance for Education, PO Box 515, Fishersville, VA 22939.  Donors may specifically support the Creative Classroom Grants program by earmarking their contributions for that purpose.

1. Amanda Massie & Sharyn Huff, Hugh K. Cassell Elementary School
   Grant title:   “Increasing 1^st Graders APP-i-tudes”
   Sponsored by: Dr. and Mrs. Richard Bolstein

2. Martha Mikell, Stuarts Draft High School
   Grant title:  Models for Success

3. Rebecca  Cannaday, Wilson Middle School
   Grant title: Pollinator Garden

4. Donna Morris & Leni Jackson, Shelburne Middle School
   Grant title: Wednesday Workshops

5. Bess Trainum & Heidi Whitecotton, S.G. Stewart Middle School
   Grant title:  “Inventing with Littlebits”
   Sponsored by: Cadence

6. Heather Smith Reeps, McSwain Elementary School
   Grant title: Sphero-Our-Hero
   Sponsored by:  Cadence

7. Erin Hagedorn, Kate Collins Middle School
   Grant title:  Coding Curiosity
   Sponsored by:  Cadence

8. Erin Hagedorn, Kate Collins Middle School
   Grant title:  Help Make Us a MakerSpace

9. Kristen Carr Beery, Riverheads High School
   Grant title: Transforming Trout

10. Kristin Carr Beery, Riverheads High School
    Grant title: iPads for iAgriculture

11. Jessica Herr & Mark Metcalfe, Fort Defiance High School
    Grant title:  Glaze Formulation and Application

12. Mary Faye Browning, William Perry Elementary School
    Grant title: Reluctant Readers Read

13. Joan Kenney, Edward G. Clymore Elementary School
    Grant title: The AristoCats Kids

14. Lauren Shifflett, Bessie Weller Elementary School
    Grant title:  Building Upon a Creative Imagination
    Sponsored by: Hershey Inc.

15. Susan Sites, Nikki Parks, Emily Rudin, Elizabeth Fravel, and Linda Brake
    Riverheads Elementary School
    Grant title:  High Interest Reading Material

16. Pamela Alexander, North River Elementary School
    Grant title:  I Can Play the Ukulele!

17. Sue Leonard, Fort Defiance High School
    Grant title:  Play That Funky Music

18. Sue Leonard, Fort Defiance High School
    Grant title:  Staying Alive
    Sponsored by:  Kiwanis Club of Waynesboro

19. Tessa Buchanan, Riverheads Elementary School
    Grant title: Engaging Minds One Brick at a Time

20. Lori Peltonen, Robert E. Lee High School
    Grant title: Re Kindle Reading

21. Elizabeth Williams, Fort Defiance High School
    Grant title: “Animal Health Care”

22. Kristie Chandler, Westwood Hills Elementary School
    Grant title:  Scientific Comic Relief