Published: December 04, 2008 08:13 am      

Teacher grants awarded

Aside from assisting in the destruction of chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass also manages to encourage local teachers with the company’s annual grant awards.

Twenty Madison County teachers recently were awarded $500 grants for proposed classroom projects, and this marks the fourth year that Bechtel Parsons has sponsored the awards.

“Our goal is to recognize teachers who have innovative educational approaches, promote creative thinking by teachers and students and emphasize the importance of math, science and technology,” said John Schlatter, public information officer for Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass.

Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, the contractor which will build the plant to neutralize chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot, has awarded the grants through its Teacher Innovation Program since it began in 2004.

“We provide the funds to Madison County Schools, and they are responsible for soliciting applications, reviewing them and selecting recipients,” Schlatter said. “Professional educator are far better equipped to make those decisions than we are.”

Funding is provided by Bechtel National Inc., and Parsons Infrastructure and Technology, the two parent companies of the Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass joint venture.

“As technology-based companies, we believe it’s important to support math and science education,” Schlatter said.

The grants are awarded to teachers who submit proposals for science, mathematics and technology programs for their classrooms. They are to be used for innovative approaches in the classroom that promote student-centered learning and enhance education in science, mathematics and technology programs, according to Erin Stewart, community education director for Madison County schools.

This year’s grant recipients are:

• Sonya Richardson, Daniel Boone Elementary, “Reading About Science Helps Us Make Sense”

• Jill Van Dyke, Daniel Boone Elementary, “Algebra to Zebras”

• Angela Headley, Kirksville Elementary, “At Home with Science”

• Dana Freeman, Kit Carson Elementary, “Making Math Facts Permanent”

• Jennifer Whitt, Kit Carson Elementary, “Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Connecting Math and Literacy”

• Wanda Meaux, Mayfield Elementary, “Measuring Up Math”

• Randy Norton, Mayfield Elementary, “Where in the U.S.A. is Mayfield Elementary?”

• Katrina Martir, Shannon Johnson Elementary, “Mike’s Menagerie Memory Garden”

• Beth Conner, Waco Elementary, “Hands On Equations”

• Margaret Soto, Clark-Moores Middle, “Science and Math Fun Day”

• Kevin Combs, Clark-Moores Middle, “Wellness Trail”

• Jennifer Ramsey, Clark-Moores Middle, “Nature Path and Outdoor Classroom”

• Judy Winkler, Clark-Moores Middle School, “Interactive Math Support Program”

• Ginnifery Saylor-Watts, Foley Middle, “Video Production”

• Lisa Mullins, Foley Middle, “Micro Type 4”

• Karrie Johns, Madison Middle, “Explore Learning”

• Keith Brock, Madison Middle, “Podcasting for Students”

• Steve Johnson, Madison Central High, “Solar Energy”

• Wanda Chandler, Madison Central High, “Video Self-Modeling”

• Susan Haddix, Madison Southern High, “Electricity and Electronics”

Proposals were written and submitted by each teacher in November and then judged by the Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Community Support Committee.

The grantees will be honored at the Dec. 11 Madison County Board of Education meeting at Madison Central High School beginning at 6 p.m.

Bechtel Parsons Project Manager Mark Seely and Deputy Project Manager Rick Rife will attend the meeting.

“Mark and I visited several of the classrooms last year and plan to do the same this year,” Schlatter said. “In visiting the classrooms, we were amazed at the ideas teachers came up with. We saw everything from innovative ways for teaching numbers to first-graders, to high school students using a hovercraft to demonstrate the principles of physics.”

This grant program is open to Madison County science, math and technology teachers, grades 1-12.

The annual application deadline is Sept. 30.

Visit www.bechtelparsonsbgcapp.com for more information.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.