In December 2007, FEPS awarded $30,000 in grants to six district staff members. The grants were awarded for innovative projects having a direct and measurable impact on student learning. Grants were given to:
Matt Hardy, Cedar Ridge teacher – received $7,700 for a two-year project titled “Go Green: High-Tech Environmental Science in the Elementary School”.
Marcia Beezley, Director of Student Support Services – received $4,000 for research on the use of tabletop smartboards in special education.
Terri Johnson, K-12 parent involvement coordinator – received $5,000 for a K-12 math night.
Jennifer Totoritis, Forest Hills art teacher – received $3,900 to start an art club at that school.
Cindy Stark, Oak Point student support services coordinator – received $4,500 for ball chairs to be used in classrooms for special needs students.
Kay Rosheim, Prairie View teacher – received $5,000 for a one-year project titled “Methods to Increase Non-Fiction Reading Instruction”.
“I want to express my gratitude to you and the FEPS Board of Directors for making the FEPS grant program possible. The funds we were given last year provided the catalyst for highlighting the importance of teaching students how to read non-fiction text and most importantly it has put new, high interest books in the hands of our young readers! It has been fun this year to tell the students that they are the first to be reading these new materials. It has been very motivating for all of us, teachers and students!”
~ Kay Rosheim, Prairie View Reading Specialist
During 2007, FEPS received nearly $190,000 in grant applications from 24 staff members. Grants are financed by private donations and by the annual Taste of Eden Prairie event.
