Sno-King School Retirees award teaching grants to Shoreline teachers

Each fall Sno-King School Retirees' active members are invited to apply for grants of up to $200 to facilitate special projects they envision to enrich the school experience of students they work with.

During these tough economic times school money is tight so a few extra dollars come in handy.

SKSR enjoys recognizing and rewarding the often unnoticed efforts of our colleagues still "in the trenches" to provide resources necessary to help them feel more comfortable about the job they're able to do.

SKSR will honor them at the annual picnic on Wednesday, July 20 at Edmonds Park.

This year 34 grants are being awarded amounting to a total of $7000. Since 1998 they have distributed a grand total of $61,220.

The teachers are in three school districts: Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline.

Twelve Shoreline teachers were selected for grants:

Sarita Benson - 4th grade, Brookside
She will purchase "wiggle seats" and noise-canceling headphones to help some of her more needy children focus while doing their independent work.

Allison Bowhay - 6th grade, Echo Lake
Her grant will be used to purchase read aloud books to complete a set so that every child will be able to hold their own copy of the book while she reads. She has found that this increases student comprehension.

Dennis Day - librarian, Echo Lake
He will purchase non-fiction books for the school library, particularly books about northwest animals as a resource for third grade classes.

Sandi James - 1st grade, Meridian Park
She is going to buy clay art supplies for use with her first graders.

Jonathan Nessan - Briarcrest principal
He will buy book and craft supplies for the preschool story time group that meets every other week at the school.

Kathryn Pihl - 1st/2nd grade, Echo Lake
She will buy a digital camera, memory card and batteries for students to take pictures for individual writing projects, memory books, and the class newspaper.

Mary Rae - 2nd grade, Ridgecrest
Her grant will be used to purchase new books and book bins for her classroom library.

Laura Reed - Resource Room, Cascade K-8
Her students who have trouble focusing will benefit from the "wobble chairs" and variety of "fidgits" she will purchase.

Amy Serra - 2nd grade, Parkwood
Her grant will go for math games, puzzles, and books to supplement the curriculum for her advanced 2nd grade math class.

Tani Stenfjord - 6th grade, Echo Lake
She will purchase watercolor paper for art projects throughout the year.

Merrilyn Tucker - teacher-librarian, Lake Forest Park
She will buy five sturdy, high-quality, reflective jackets for school safety patrol members.

Carrie Wandler - librarian, Briarcrest
She will buy two digital Sony Cyber-shot cameras for teacher and student use in the library and classrooms.

The following Board members served on the Grants Deliberation Committee: Cheryl Bauer, Roberta Hawkins, Evelyn Nordeen, Jan Phillips, Rita Requa, Erma Snook, and Virg Rayton.

Those who are presenting grant checks to recipients at staff meetings during December and January are: Sharron Cain, Keith Lindaas, Jan Phillips, Rita Requa, Jim Siscel, Erma Snook and Virg Rayton.