(December 22, 2016, Allentown, PA) The Allentown School District Foundation is pleased to announce the newest cohort of Teacher Innovation Grant recipients. These ideas are designed by Allentown School District educators to provide ASD students with added, enriched learning experiences. The recipients for the 2016-2017 school year are as follows:
| TIG Program Title | Lead Applicant | School | Grade(s) |
| William Allen Basketball Game Film | Dave Peters | William Allen HS | 9 to 12 |
| This is Who We Are | Sarah Pastelyak | Louis E. Dieruff HS | 9 to 12 |
| Functional Skills Centers at Dieruff | Lata Ananthan | Louis E. Dieruff HS | 9 & Up |
| Little Huskies Girls Basketball | Catherine Piston | Louis E. Dieruff HS | 2 to 8 |
| Dodd Scholarship | Lisa Brinker | William Allen HS, Louis E. Dieruff HS & Hiram W. Dodd ES | 5 & 12 |
| Newcomer Academy Guitar Program | Ian A. Herzog | Newcomer Academy | 9 to 12 |
| Student Songwriting Workshop | Jennifer Rarick | Harrison-Morton MS | 6 to 8 |
| Promoting Diversity Through the Arts | Virginia Mervine | Raub MS | 7 |
| South Mountain Kettle Balls | Michael Rocchi | South Mountain MS | 6 to 8 |
| Ukuleles in the Classroom | Justin Tanzos | Trexler MS | 7 & 8 |
| Vietnam: A Study Through Literature | Conchetta Marucci | Trexler MS | 8 |
| Integrated Math and Meal Planning | Katy Hankins | Trexler MS | 6 to 8 |
| Fidgets & Widgets in the Classroom | Brittany Williams | Jackson Building | 6 to 8 |
| Student Authors | Jane Dotter | Cleveland ES | 5 |
| Science Fair Project | Ivonne Miranda | Hiram W. Dodd ES | 2 |
| Inspiring Tomorrow’s Creators w/ 3-D Printing | Katlyn Baer | Hiram W. Dodd ES | 4, then K-5 |
| Grade 3 Simple Machine Maker (1 & 2) | Colleen Radocha/ Amy Talaber | Jefferson ES | 3
|
| 1st Grade Animal Expo | Tracey Fenstermaker | Jefferson ES | 1 |
| Bird Habitat | Kristen Laub | Lehigh Parkway ES | 1 |
| I Am On a Bookshelf (1 & 2) | Robin Hohe/ Donald Stahl | Lehigh Parkway ES | 3 to 5 |
| Mobile Kitchen | Tara O’Brien | Ritter ES | K to 5 |
| Mega Learning w/ Magna-Tiles | Kathy Perinotto | Sheridan ES | 3 |
| Recycled 3-D Art | Melanie Christopher | Sheridan ES | 5 |
| Third Grade Flutophone Project | Leslie Monahan | Union Terrace ES/ McKinley ES | 3
|
The ASDF Allocations Committee selected the Teacher Innovation Grant recipients which were approved by the ASDF Board of Directors on December 19. Recipients were notified prior to the holiday break. Highlights from this year’s TIG program include:
- 49 applications were received.
- The ASDF Allocations Committee, upon review, recommended funding for 26 (53 percent) of the projects, either fully or partially, for a total of $18,300.
- Sixteen ASD schools are represented in this cohort.
- Subject areas reflect a broad variety: 5 reading, 3 math, 4 science, 3 life skills, 8 arts and 3 physical education.
The Teacher Innovation Program was founded in 2010 with a small grant. Six years later, the program is awarding $18,300. TIG is pegged to be a high-growth program, with a goal to fund 10 percent of the teacher corps, or about 140 – 150 ASD educators. New sponsors of this motivational program include The Donley Foundation and The Sugra Foundation, plus an anonymous gift.
“We are pleased to note that the highest number of applicants, a total of 49, were reviewed this year,” says Dr. Dennis Blankowitsch, Co-Chair of the ASDF Allocations Committee. “The quality of proposals is rich with commitment to make a difference in the lives of ASD students and they are immensely creative.”
“Our gratitude is extended not only to the Allocations Committee for their dedication and diligence, but to our new sponsors and all ASD educators who submitted TIG proposals,” added Allyn-Jane Marks, Co-Chair. “These innovative plans will create a spark that ignites a life-long love of learning and impact not just minds, but hearts as well.”
The grant ceiling is $1,000 per proposal; project funding to recipients is being released in January 2017. Part of the innovation grant process includes an evaluation component, which transpires at school year-end.
About Allentown School District Foundation
With a vision for enriched education for Allentown School District students, the ASD Foundation mission is to encourage, promote and support innovative educational experiences for students in the Allentown School District. If you would like to learn more, please contact the foundation at 484-765-4093 or williamssu@allentownsd.org. The mailing address is P.O. Box 328, 31 South Penn Street, Allentown PA 18105. www.allentownsd.org/asdf.
Press Release By: Susan Williams
Information provided to TVL by:
Kimberly Golden Benner
Director of Communications
Allentown School District
