Copperas Cove Education Foundation awards more than $44,000 in teaching grants
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
A “prize patrol” rolled through Copperas Cove on Thursday morning, when the Copperas Cove Education Foundation board made its annual rounds to Copperas Cove ISD campuses.
They surprised 33 staff on nine campuses with the news that they’d been awarded one of this year’s innovative teaching grants, totaling $44,236.
Dr. Michele Cox with Hettie Halstead Elementary received $2,000 for her Sensory Literacy “Garden”, a trails and hammock garden.
A sensory literacy hammock and trail garden will be built within the fenced area of the playground. It is located outside the library area, to allow for accessibility to books. Students will be able to read while relaxing during outside learning time. They will be able to choose from reading in the hammock or taking a walk-about, reading the trail of reading stands that show-case books that can be checked out in the school library.
Over at CR Clements/Hollie Parsons Elementary, Patricia Bigford and Candice Kelly received $620 for kindergarten students. Their project is to help students with their emotions and help control behavior. This project will also give a voice to the students when they have a hard time explaining how they feel that day.
The teachers will use a Color Monster Book to help teach the different emotions along with the emotion stuffies in calm down corners. Students will be able to use the stuffies to show how they feel if they are having a hard time talking. The emotion sensories will help students, who are struggling with their emotions, calm down.
Sara Janidlo and Cira Jones at Mae Stevens Early learning Academy, the district’s prekindergarten campus, received $673 for their Breathing Buddies project. The Breathing Buddies are a stuffed animal that “breathes,” allowing the student to have a non-threatening focal point to squeeze, and match breathing with to regulate.
Breanne Turner at Martin Walker Elementary School received $2,458 for her project, Principal Book of the Month. The whole campus will read a book that promotes inclusivity and positive social skills. This will support readers, teach crucial skills, and open the conversation about valuable social and emotional learning skills while bringing the entire campus together working toward one goal. These stories will also support them with conflict resolution, equipping them with strategies to navigate disagreements and challenges constructively.
Also at Martin Walker, Wendy Butler, Tiffany Moore, Kelly Rivas, Alisa Miller, and Breanne Turner are receiving $2,000 for their Literacy Lounging: A Hammock Reading Initiative project. This will fund a class set of durable hammocks to be added to the field behind the school so that classes of readers can spend time reading outside.
Amanda Rolfe is receiving $563 for her project, Interactive Hallways: Cultivating a Culture of Learning Beyond the Classroom. By creating a variety of wall displays, resources, and interactive boards, all students Kindergarten through 5th grade will be provided an opportunity for continued learning.
Big Blue Blocks: Minds at Work is the project proposed by Whitley Stone, Beatrice Zills Murphy, Morgan Hutsell, and Bennyce Schafer. It is funded at $7,530. This will supply students and staff with over 100 large cubes, bricks, hinges, chutes, bends, plugs and gears so they can use their imagination and creativity to build structures while also strengthening math, science, and social skills. Children can direct and conduct their own play on a life-size scale as they build forts, towers, and obstacle courses.
At JL Williams/Lovett Ledger Elementary, Tricia Michalk and Jenny Cresswell are receiving $2,985 for their project, Engage to Excel: Elevating Learning Through Interactive Resources. This will fund interactive tools, including LCD writing tablets, throwable wireless microphone balls, timers, and spinner wheels. These resources will make learning more dynamic and participatory, encouraging creativity, communication, and time management. The LCD tablets offer a hands-on, eco-friendly way for students to express ideas.
Elida Vasquez and Crystal Chaco received $338 for their project, Beaded Rewards: Celebrating Reading Practice and Progress in the Classroom. The process of earning beads helps students set and achieve specific reading goals. This incremental approach allows them to track their progress in a fun and engaging way while adding an element of fun and competition. A completed necklace acts as a visual reminder of their hard work and dedication.
Crystal Chaco and Savannah Taylor received $6,400 for their project, The Behavior Boost: Rewarding Kindness and Effort with Books. This project provides a large visual reminder of what students can earn through good behavior and reading, and this can be a powerful motivator. The visual display encourages students to set specific, achievable goals for their behavior and reading, helping them take ownership of their progress. Having a book vending machine can boost school culture by creating a sense of community and shared interest in literacy, enhancing the overall school environment.
Leslie Lautenschlager, D’Andre Bacon, and Catherine Golden received $973 for their project, Blooming Readers Literacy Totes. The take-home literacy totes will be used specifically with first grade students in Tier 2 and Tier 3 Reading Intervention who have been identified as struggling readers. The literacy totes will also be used with students in grades 1st through 4th who are in Dyslexia Reading Intervention or Emergent Bilingual students. The literacy totes will impact 55 students. The literacy totes include decodable books on the student’s level that he/she can read independently or have a parent/family member read with him/her.
House Creek Elementary will be receiving a Book Vending Machine funded at $6,400, the project of Christina Jacobs and Amanda Pierce. The book vending machine will serve as a positive behavior incentive. Students can earn tokens for the vending machine by demonstrating the weekly character trait, showing leadership, or completing their reading log. When students model appropriate behavior, they receive a token that can be exchanged for a book of their choice. The educational goal for this initiative is to encourage students to read more.
Christina Jacobs also received $285 for ES2S New Student Bags. ES2S (Elementary Student 2 Student) will create welcome bags for new students that are decorated and put together by students. This project impacts all new students who join the school throughout the year, especially since we are located in a military town. The ES2S program is designed to make these students feel welcomed and comfortable. By offering tours, our students not only get to know their new peers and help them navigate the building, but also introduce them to their teachers and office staff, all while providing a welcome bag.
Jessica Bredwell is receiving $4,800 for STEM Pathways: K-2 Robotics Clubs. This program will establish K-2 Robotics Clubs at all six elementary campuses. Using Wonder Workshop robots, students will explore coding, aligning with district literacy, math, and science goals. Building on the district’s existing 3-12 robotics programs, this initiative ensures that students of any age with an interest in STEM have an early and ongoing outlet to explore their passions.
At Copperas Cove Junior High, Elena Abercrombie is receiving $1,624 for her project, Digital Canvas Initiative. The project aims to enhance the educational experience in an art classroom by providing a class set of drawing pads compatible with laptops. These digital tools will enable students to explore digital art techniques, bridging traditional and modern artistic practices.
Charles Noble is receiving $2,137 for the project Culinary Commerce: Real-World Skills through Point of Sale. This project aims to implement a point of sale (P.O.S.) system in the school’s culinary program to enhance students’ hands-on learning experience. This system will allow students to practice operating real-world retail technology while selling culinary goods to staff, students, and the broader school community. By using a professional-grade P.O.S. system, students will gain essential skills in financial transactions, inventory management, and customer service, preparing them for future careers in the food and hospitality industry.
At SC Lee Junior High, Jo Warren is receiving $900 for her program, In it to “WIN” it!. CCISD uses the character-based curriculum, Capturing Kids’ Hearts, to support students’ social and emotional needs. A main part of the program includes a social contract where the students contribute positive traits to help make the class a success. This program will reinforce this social contract through “winner” coupons. Students exchange the coupons on Fridays for a prize which provides the opportunity to say thank you for being a “winner.”
Crossroads High School will be receiving $1,550 for a greenhouse and farmers market program called, Growing Futures: An Inclusive Greenhouse and Farmers Market Program, led by Renee Moore. This will integrate special education students with general education students. This initiative will provide a collaborative and inclusive environment where students can learn about horticulture, business management, and community engagement. The program will provide fresh produce to the community.
Since its inception in 2008, the Copperas Cove Education Foundation has awarded a total of $565,873 in grants through 2023.
This year’s grants award total is $44,236, distributed to nine schools, and 33 teachers/principals.