Enhancements to Blaine County public education arrived Thursday, May 5, from the Education Foundation. The foundation awarded more than $10,000 through Excellence in Education Awards to programs in the Blaine County School District during the annual lunch held at the Valley Club, north of Hailey.
Founded in 1992, the Blaine County Education Foundation raises money to enrich programs and enhance educational facilities within the school district. The foundation relies on donations from individuals, businesses and private and public foundations to help buy needed equipment and fund a variety of programs for public schools.
This year the foundation presented seven Excellence in Education Awards, offering a total of $10,525 in grant money to teachers. The money comes from the foundation's permanent endowment fund.
One of the foundation's beneficiaries included Jessica Trager, a Wood River Middle School teacher, who received funding to further the technology program at Wood River Middle School.
"My goal is to have every child learning every day with today's tools," Trager said as she accepted the award.
The grant enables Trager to incorporate new technology—a projector, a wireless laptop, three desktop computers and three monitors—into her classroom.
"When we can weave the power of technology into the fabric of our lessons we really empower our students," Trager said.
State Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, a guest speaker at the lunch, also spoke of empowering students. Jaquet suggested creating partnerships across regional school districts. She illustrated the importance of district alliances by detailing the status of school districts in her legislative region.
To improve education, Jaquet stressed, communities must invest in teacher development.
The Education Foundation did its part to aid teacher development through the awards. The recipients of the 2005 Excellence in Education Awards include:
· Sandy Mauro, Bellevue Elementary student services teacher, to provide funding for the fourth-grade Read Naturally Program.
· Joni Cashman and Krista Jones, Bellevue Elementary teachers, to provide funding for display boards in the hallways to show projects completed by all of the school's students.
· Gloria Wieand, Judy Shelly and Gail Kearns, Bellevue Elementary teachers, to provide funding for the Book Builder Reading Series.
· Kathleen Diepenbrock, Bellevue Elementary teacher, to provide funding for books used by the fourth-grade Dual Immersion program.
· Catherine Lowden, Carey School teacher, to provide funding for display boards in the Art Department.
· Jessica Trager, Wood River Middle School teacher, to provide funding for a projector, wireless laptop, three desktop computers and three monitors.
· Char Roth, Sue Barnes, Heidi Copeland, Jill Lecrone, Ellen Noble, Hemingway Elementary first-grade teachers, to provide funding for the Number Corner Program, a math learning tool.
This spring, the foundation is also distributing $14,595 evenly across the district's seven schools. The money comes from the Atkinsons' Market Advantage Card program.
The Education Foundation and Atkinsons' Market formed a unique partnership in 1995 to fund special programs for the public schools. The Advantage Card issued by Atkinsons' allows patrons to support education by designating the Blaine County School District as beneficiary of the card. Atkinsons' donates a percentage of the store's sales to the Education Foundation based on participation by the public.
Public supporters in attendance included Blaine County School administrators, teachers and other foundation members.
"Thanks for all of your countless hours," said John Koth, a member of the Education Foundation, addressing the group of educators.
Joni Cashman and Krista Jones Photo by David N. Seelig
