Empowered Educators

Few jobs are more important—or more challenging—than educating our children. Without sufficient resources, even the most dedicated teachers can't deliver the most enriching programs. By supporting teachers and providing classroom resources, SchoolPower cultivates innovation, teacher leadership and collaboration. This not only provides resources to help teachers succeed in the classroom, it creates a positive professional environment and helps to attract the best teachers to our district.

Every year, SchoolPower supports teachers through two specific programs — Community Campaign designations and the SchoolPower Endowment Teacher Grant Program. Community Campaign Donors of over $500 may direct 20% of their donation to a program, grade level teacher team, PTA, sport or teacher of their choice. SchoolPower Endowment's Teacher Grants Program allows teachers and administrators to dream big for LBUSD students, and then, fulfill those dreams. Grants, which range from grades K to 12, and subjects ranging from advanced chemistry equipment to a ballet bar to a potter's kiln are announced each Spring.

Every year enthusiastic educators apply for SchoolPower grants to enrich their classroom experience. Grants cut across all educational disciplines and are thoroughly veted by LBUSD leaders and SchoolPower Endowment. Grants are approved based on their impact, creativity and sustainability. The grants awarded for the 2011-2012 school year are:

TEACHER(S) NAMES GRANT TITLE FUNDING APPROVED

EL MORRO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
El Morro 4th Grade Team Structured Independent Learning on a Laptop $9,999
Heather Besecker Scrabble School $650
Kim Adams RtI Progress Laptops $6,000
Chris Duddy Scholastic Reading Counts $2,500
Shannon Grasso Listening to Reading on iPods $825
    $19,974
TOP OF THE WORLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mary Minerman Environmental Nature Center Field Trip $1,200
Kimberly Mattson Updating Literacy Listening Centers $2,500
Linda Barker Innovative Teaching/Learning Using the iPod Touch $8,000
Rosie Haynes Laptops for 5th Grade $8,000
    $19,700
THURSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Randi Beckley French Learning Library $500
Andy Crisp Expanding Multimedia at Thurston $3,300
Linda Hill-Lindsay 7th Grade Lab Network $7,869
Ina Inouye Bill Nye the Science Guy DVD’s $650
Kara Smith The Final Spark! $2,400
Richard Selin Thurston Outdoor Science School Tuition Subsidy $5,000
    $19,719
LAGUNA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL
Kimberly Wahlstrom TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculators Class Set (30) $4,000
Jennifer Lundblad Government Alive: Teacher & Student Curriculum $997
Steve Sogo Funding for Advances Chemical Research $1,000
Don Austin College Readiness – Crushing Private Schools! $9,300
    $15,297
DISTRICT WIDE
Irene White Welcome Package for Every Age, Every Stage Parent Mentors $500
Cindy Newman-Jacobs District Grant for Parent Ed in partnership with Coffee Break $3,500
    $4,000
    TOTAL $78,690