Grant Recipients for the school year 2023-2024
The Township of Union Education Foundation is pleased to announce that they awarded 10 grants to teachers in the Township of Union public schools for the school year 2023-2024. A reception for grant recipients was held on May 18, 2023 at the Knights of Columbus in Union.
Mini grants of up to $750.00 were awarded to the following teachers:
Cathy Jakositz, Kawameeh Middle School, has been awarded a grant for replacements parts for the aeroponic garden which she received from a prior grant from the Foundation. Ms. Jakositz has used the garden as a catalyst for a Garden Club which was a place where general education students and students with special needs could join and work together to learn how to grow not only plants but friendships as well.
Nicole Kelly, 8th grade English teacher at Kawameeh Middle School, and Danielle Stabler, 8th grade science teacher at Kawameeh Middle School, will receive a 3D printer which will enable the science students to visualize abstract concepts by creating physical models, as well as to design and create prototypes that can be tested and further improved upon as part of the engineering process. Students in the English classrooms can create visual representation of literary settings, historical monuments as they read novels, poems and plays in a way to visualize the setting and understand the context better.
Lauren Kohn and Marcy Musarra, who teach English self-contained grades 9-12 at Union High School, will receive funds for sets of books for each special needs student in their class. These students will be exposed to a variety of genres, explore literature as a form of entertainment and make connections to real life skills.
Thomas Lubanski, CAST teacher at Union High School, and Sandra Mangarella, Screenwriting 9-12 and other Language Arts classes teacher at Union High School, requested funds that will enable their students to enter nationwide contests where they can showcase their talents in screenwriting and television production. Having entry fees paid will provide students with a chance to build a professional portfolio which they can showcase to industry professionals and receive feedback and national recognition for their efforts.
LaShanna Armour, Integrated Preschool teacher at Hannah Caldwell, has been awarded a grant to purchase materials which will support her preschool students with extra support and guidance in mastering the early stage of self-regulating their strong emotions with materials for stimulating experiences to creatively explore and engage in tactile play.
Macro-grants of up to $5,000.00 have been awarded to:
Lisa Krauze, media specialist at Kawameeh Middle School, and John Irwin, media specialist at Burnet Middle School, cooperated on a grant proposal for both schools which requested funds for materials that are print books and also contain an audio component which allows students to read along to help strengthen the reading skills and help students to learn to pronounce new words as they learn them. These books are especially geared towards students with special needs and students who are learning the English language. These books will enable students at all reading abilities and levels to select and read printed books on their own.
Jha’Lon Motley, Pre-K teacher at Hannah Caldwell, will receive materials that will enable the young students to explore science, technology, engineering, arts and math through play. These specially designed kits will be able to be used for years to come.
Alexia Moriello, Trisha Davis, Nicole Filippone, Ashley Maynard, teachers of self-contained pre-K and self-contained autistic students at Hannah Caldwell School, will receive materials for a Sensory room,
that students can use throughout the day to help with self-regulation in order to help them increase the ability to refocus and promote positive classroom behaviors.
Melissa Antolovich, library media specialist at Hannah Caldwell School and Battle Hill School, requested funds to add a graphic novel and manga book collection to both school libraries. These novels are an accessible way for all students, including those with disabilities, to spark a love for reading. Students will learn to interpret both text and images, a skill needed for students in our media rich age.
Mary Ellen Patricco, fourth grade teacher at Connecticut Farms School, will receive materials for a grant called “Building Math Success.” Ms. Patricco believes that students need hands-on and engaging materials to learn math. The students will use “Math Stackers” and “Math Magnets” to help students learn the “why” behind math.
