GRANTS OVERVIEW

Program Summaries for our Spring 2015 Impact Grant Awards:

Dean of Instruction Christa Thompson-Martin and English teacher Debbie Quick from Vandegrift High School, received $6,000 to continue offering Turnitin, the online self-assessment tool that empowers students to take ownership of their writing and includes authentic writing, teacher commentary and peer evaluation tools. Sixty-nine percent of the top 100 universities use Turnitin to improve students’ writing technique.

Andrew Perrone, a pre-AP physics and engineering VHS teacher, received $2,423 for STEM equipment, including a Vernier structures and materials tester for testing of student-built trusses and bridges and electric circuit components for easy design and construction of circuits.

Dr. Ellen Conner, an anatomy and physiology VHS teacher, received $5,000 for digital microscopes designed to connect to any USB-compatible computer, allowing students to project, measure, label, save and print specimen. Faculty will be able to more easily model microscope use, encourage peer teaching and instantly engage students.

Martin Wiedenmeier, a Project Lead The Way engineering VHS teacher, received $2,470 to build quadcopters (unmanned aerial vehicles or drones) to introduce concepts of design, building, programming and flying in his aerospace engineering course.

College and Career Transition Coordinator Sarah Spradling received $1,950 to offer College JumpStart, a series of innovative four-day sessions that offer incoming seniors assistance in planning and preparing their college applications during the summer months.

Rad Allen, ViperBots faculty sponsor at VHS, received $5,000 to purchase components needed to migrate to the new FIRST FTC robotics platform.

Troy Bruce, science department chair at VHS, received $2,500 for college-level microscopes for the AP biology curriculum, allowing for an improved 2:1 ratio of students to microscopes.

Jennifer Macklom, a pre-AP algebra II teacher at VHS, received $436 to purchase reverse polish notation calculators for the Calculator Application UIL team.

Athletic Director Drew Sanders at VHS received $2,000 for guided lessons plans on character development of players which focuses on leadership, accountability, responsibility and integrity.

Jan Masterson, Four Points Middle School’s 8th grade science teacher, received $943 to carry out an electrical appliance dissection, a lab experience that she learned about at the Massachusetts Institute Technology during EurekaFest last summer. Students learn about industrial design, physiology, engineering, biomechanics, and logistics as it applies to the research, design, product development and marketing of bringing a new or improved product to market.

Alicia Stansell, 8th grade science teacher at FPMS, received $2,119 for force plates and pH sensors for use in scientific investigations to support a clear conceptual understanding and better preparation for high school science.

Julie Ballengee, parent volunteer at Canyon Ridge Middle School, received $1,109 to expand the Math Pentathlon program, which takes place in a before-school club and focuses on spatial/geometric, computational and logical/scientific reasoning for 6th and 7th graders. Elementary schools are also involved in this STEM-based program.

Christi Carew, parent at River Ridge Elementary, received $2,498 to start the Mathematics Pentathlon Program at the school.

Jacob Leffler, parent at Steiner Ranch Elementary, received $2,503 to expand their existing program. These clubs strengthen mathematical concepts and stimulate creative thinking while developing problem-solving proficiency.

Kellie Peden, parent at River Ridge Elementary, received $1,000 for supplies for the new garden and outdoor classroom built this spring, providing hands-on learning for STEM and TEKS activities with the goal to boost student engagement and interest in science, math and nature.

Dee Porter, Grandview Hills Elementary Librarian, received $2,324 for an online subscription to Time for Kids, age-appropriate resources for students to learn about world events and global trends in science and technology.

Jamie Carpenter, River Place Elementary parent, received $5,000 to help fund The Leader in Me (LIM), a leadership program based on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. LIM is a whole-school transformation process that has proven to increase academic performance, improve school culture, decrease disciplinary issues and heighten teacher engagement and parent involvement. Schools that use LIM report increases in self-confidence, teamwork, responsibility, creativity, leadership, communication and diversity awareness among students.

Program Summaries for our Spring 2014 Impact Grant Awards:

Christa Thompson-Martin, Dean of Instruction, received a one-year subscription to Turnitin on behalf of Vandegrift High School. Students will utilize Turnitin to provide online, self-assessments of their writing in all stages of the writing process. Sixty-nine percent of the top 100 universities and 56% of the top 100 high schools listed in U.S. New and World Report use this college-readiness tool. Approximately 1,850 students will benefit.

Librarian Zandra Lopez received a one-year online subscription to JSTOR at Vandegrift High School. JSTOR provides access to interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journals. This resource is the standard for four-year institutions of higher education and promotes critical thinking, research skills and develops information literacy skills. Students across the 26 AP courses at VHS will have access to these journals 24/7 impacting as many as 3,588 (some are served multiple times) students.

Laura Lee, parent at Canyon Ridge Middle School, was awarded funds to launch a new First Tech Challenge team at CRMS. Funds will pay for supplies and competitions fees and help bring the “world-class” high school robotics program within the reach of 7th and 8th graders. Approximately 10 students will benefit from this new program.

Nathan Johndrow received three robot kits with programmable microcontrollers and the accessories needed to begin an advanced programming unit in the Gateway to Technology program at Canyon Ridge Middle School. With these kits, the students in the second year of the Gateway course will learn in depth about programming, problem solving and troubleshooting by performing in-class competitions. Approximately 90 students will benefit from the new robotics kits.

Nathan Johndrow received resources to employ new experiments in force and motion in the Gateway to Technology program at Canyon Ridge Middle School. The grant enables the purchase of a maglev kit, straw rockets kit and a photo gate timer system for new projects in construction, design and accurate measurements. Approximately 162 students will be impacted through this new engineering curriculum.

Cheryl Pieper-Gray, Lisa Leininger and Nathan Johndrow receivd a Strawbees Connector Infinite Kit for Canyon Ridge Middle School. The kit will allow teachers to manufacture Strawbees connectors, which can be used with straws, cardboard, poster board and other materials to create various models and constructions. This kit will be utilized in math, science, Gateway to Technology and arts classrooms. Approximately 500 students will benefit.

Rachel Martin received a rich array of supplies to build a real-world forensic investigations unit in the APS class at Canyon Ridge Middle School. Forensics is an enrichment program designed to support 8th grade math and science content while developing higher level thinking skills. It offers an opportunity for students to collaborate with one another to complete a variety of real-world, hands-on investigative forensic activities including lifting fingerprints, analyzing blood spatter, investigating skeletal remains and creating DNA fingerprints. Approximately 180 students will benefit from these resources.

Rauly Williams and Angela Roundy received five iPads and a Sony camcorder for Canyon Ridge Middle School. These tools will enrich the 7th and 8th grade Quest classes, expanding the focus on research, product development and presentation skills through the continued application of video presentation. Students will employ their abilities in expository and persuasive script writing, filming, editing, leadership and team building. Approximately 150 students will be impacted.

Students of FALTECH, the First Tech Challenge team of Four Points Middle School, received funds to expand this program. Funds will pay for supplies and competitions fees, expanding the high school-level robotics program as they return to compete for their second season next fall. Approximately 20 students will benefit from this new program.

Fifth grade teachers received 18 science graphic novels for each of 13 different topics for River Ridge Elementary. The books will supplement what Leander ISD has developed for the grade level’s science modules; thus further reinforcing conceptual understanding of 5th grade science curriculum standards. These books employ an inquiry-based approach that encourages critical thinking as students consider what they have observed and learned before they draw conclusions. Approximately 300 students will be impacted each year.

Debbie Hagood received seven Samsung Chromebooks at Laura Welch Bush Elementary. This tool will enable students to create work portfolios that they can access throughout their educational careers. The will be used for writing, presentations, research, interventions and enrichment of all subject areas in the classroom throughout the year. Approximately 145 students throughout fourth grade will benefit from these tablets.

Fifth grade teachers received 12 science graphic novels for each of 13 different topics for Laura Welch Bush Elementary. The books will supplement what Leander ISD has developed for the grade level’s science modules; thus further reinforcing conceptual understanding of 5th grade science curriculum standards. These books employ an inquiry-based approach that encourages critical thinking as students consider what they have observed and learned before they draw conclusions. Approximately 275 students will be impacted each year.

Librarian Lisa Hawkins receives two iPads and two headphones with a microphone for Steiner Ranch Elementary. These tools will enable the creation of 100 video book reviews for their STEM-based books. Students will create QR codes that will link to the video files stored on the school’s YouTube channel so that peers and younger students become engaged in STEM and excited to read the reviewed books. Over 700 students will benefit from this project.

Fifth grade teachers received 12 science graphic novels for each of 13 different topics for Steiner Ranch Elementary. The books will supplement what Leander ISD has developed for the grade level’s science modules; thus further reinforcing conceptual understanding of 5th grade science curriculum standards. These books employ an inquiry-based approach that encourages critical thinking as students consider what they have observed and learned before they draw conclusions. Approximately 275 students will be impacted each year.

Erin Kolecki, parent at Grandview Hills Elementary, received resources to expand the successful afterschool Mathematics Pentathlon into the classroom in grades 3 through 5. The Mathematics Pentathlon is a program of interactive problem-solving games, supportive curricular and instructional activities and assessment tools. This motivation program stimulates creative thinking while developing problem solving skills and allows the differentiation of instruction that accommodates varying abilities and learning styles. Approximately 500 students will be impacted in the classroom with an additional 100 students gaining access through the after-school program.

Brenda Ferguson, Shelly Hopson, Gina Coleman and Lisa Wellborn received 12 science graphic novels for each of 13 different topics for Grandview Hills Elementary. The books will supplement what Leander ISD has developed for the grade level’s science modules; thus further reinforcing conceptual understanding of 5th grade science curriculum standards. These books employ an inquiry-based approach that encourages critical thinking as students consider what they have observed and learned before they draw conclusions. Approximately 275 students will be impacted each year.

Dee Porter, Stacy Perry, Casey Ruegger and Becky Blackwell received STEM resources for Grandview Hills Elementary. Kindergarten students will visit an interactive career exploration site called “Paws in Jobland” where they read and listen to articles about STEM-related careers. First graders will gain access to leveled books via Reading A to Z and Science A to Z online subscriptions. Students will develop language skills leading to effective communication in technology and engineering professions. Approximately 100 students will benefit from these STEM resources.

Fifth grade teachers received 12 science graphic novels for each of 13 different topics for River Place Elementary. The books will supplement what Leander ISD has developed for the grade level’s science modules; thus further reinforcing conceptual understanding of 5th grade science curriculum standards. These books employ an inquiry-based approach that encourages critical thinking as students consider what they have observed and learned before they draw conclusions. Approximately 275 students will be impacted each year.

SPRING 2013 IMPACT GRANT AWARDS
Becky Calzada, LISD District Library Coordinator, received $1,000, which will be used to purchase electronic books that can be accessed through OverDrive, LISD’s digital library. Purchased books will encompass grades Pre-K through 12 and be accessible for all students throughout Leander ISD.

Christa Thompson-Martin, dean of instruction at VHS, received $5,000 to expand the PSATeam, an initiative seeking to increase the number of Commended and National Merit Scholars at VHS.

Mary Beth Battles and Jennifer Macklom, Pre-AP Algebra II teachers at VHS, were awarded $480 for purchases supporting the “flipped” math classroom.

Rad Allen, Galen Goodreau and Martin Wiedenmeier, ViperBot sponsors at VHS, received $5,000 to expand the successful ViperBots program that recently won third place in the FTC World Championship.

Katherine Eckenrod, parent at VHS, received $800 to purchase an additional arena for the ViperBots program.

Kelly Simon, French teacher at VHS, received $846 to purchase literature books on CDs for French AP I and French AP II courses.

James Larremore and Jennifer Fisher, department chairs for social studies and mathematics at VHS, received $9,980 to purchase 15 iPads that will be shared between both departments.

Peggy Morisset, Joe Adrian and Jan Masterson, teachers at Four Points Middle School, received $2,007 for professional development supporting the AVID program.

Alicia Stansell, FPMS science teacher, received $2,202 for science equipment that will be used in physical science classrooms.

Lisa Hawkins, librarian at Steiner Ranch Elementary, received $1,500 to build a STEM Career Center in the library.

Jean Wong, parent at Steiner Ranch Elementary, received $1,667 to implement a Mandarin enrichment pilot program at Steiner Ranch Elementary and Laura Welch Bush Elementary.

SPRING 2012 IMPACT GRANT AWARDS
Sarah Spradling receives funding to offer needs-based textbook scholarships to Vandegrift Early College Start students enrolled in dual credit coursework. These scholarships will assist in eliminating the barriers to higher education for disadvantaged students. Research shows that students who take advanced coursework in high school are more likely to enroll and complete their post secondary degree. Re-usable textbooks will be cataloged and labeled so that they may be returned and redistributed in future semesters to students in need.

Drew Sanders receives 12 copies of Inside From the Inside Out curriculum materials for the athletics department at Vandegrift High School. Beyond winning and losing, Vandegrift’s athletic program is about building relationships with students that will guide them through high school and beyond. Twelve coaches will implement this leadership program with approximately 320 athletes benefiting.

Amber Willis and Katie Hodson receive 12 iPad2s on behalf of the math department at Canyon Ridge Middle School. These math teachers will implement a new instructional approach that combines online and face-to-face strategies to teach new math concepts. Students will watch recorded video lessons for homework. Assessment the next day will determine their understanding and assign differentiated activities to reinforce the video lesson. Nearly 300 7th grade students will participate in this “flipped” classroom environment.

Jacob Hoffman receives three Celestron LCD Deluxe Digital Microscopes on behalf of the Canyon Ridge Middle School science department. All 7th grade science courses, which focus on living systems, will employ these microscopes to reach visual and kinesthetic learners. Teachers will create online videos so that the students can access pertinent information at their own pace. These microscopes will allow for easier viewing of specimen, and facilitate deeper and more meaningful class discussions for 300 students.

Jennifer Schuelke and Cindy Modrall receive 10 iPad2s on behalf of the English department at Canyon Ridge Middle School. Based on a previously successful pilot program within LISD, these iPads will create systematic change for all 7th grade English courses by employing skills-referenced curriculum that is highly differentiated. iPad2s would be used by groups of students to respond to forums, collect and analyze data, and offer critical peer review. This program will be supported by created a professional learning team consisting of 5-10 educators committed to improving their practice through collaborative learning.

Jan Masterson, Alicia Stansell, and Sarah Tanner receive funds to purchase Vernier technology for the science department at Four Points Middle School. This technology will deepen the student’s understanding of lab experiments. Science courses will use this technology to study chemical changes in 6th and 8th grade, radiant energy in 6th grade, integumentary in 7th grade, and angles of insolation in 8th grade. Moreover, this technology will be available to enhance the robotics club.

Joe Adrian receives 5 iPad2s for AVID courses at Four Points Middle School. The purpose is to create dynamic learning experiences for 80 7th and 8th graders enrolled in this research-based college readiness program. The project will entail the following goals: 1) students will use iPad2s throughout the AVID tutorial process that occurs within the classroom twice a week, 2) projects and presentations will be developed and created with iPad2 applications, and 3) AVID WICR strategies will be supported (writing, inquiry, collaboration and reading).

Brenda Cruz, principal of Grandview Hills Elementary, receives K’NEX Intro to Simple Machines: Levers & Pulleys kits. This technology will support lessons focused on force, motion and energy in grades 3-5. Approximately 300 will receive this hands-on. inquiry-based exploration and learning. The K’NEX kits will enable students to explore the science TEKS through their own creations of seesaws, balances, and other models demonstrating three kinds of levers plus fixed, movable and combination pulley systems.

Jennifer Passi, of River Place Elementary, receives 12 Number Talks and 6 Book of Facts in order to provide math facts and numerical fluency curriculum materials for each grade level team along with the professional development to assist with the implementation of these resources. LISD supports the belief that each student should learn the basic math facts by developing a conceptual understanding of each operation and number. Over 800 students will benefit from this school-wide mathematics curriculum that support this belief.

Angela Beach receives 3 iPads for her 2nd graders at Laura Welch Bush Elementary. They will aid in collaborative work in all content areas and be used daily in English language arts and math centers. Students will use an app for checking nightly readers in/out. These iPads will allow students to take pictures of their learning during science projects, videos of content mastery and they will read into the tablet to assess fluency. Students will add these artifacts to their Digital Student Portfolio to share with their parents.

Heather Sabel receives interactive United States History maps for use in 5th grade classes at Steiner Ranch Elementary. These maps follow LISD curriculum and state TEKS with each map correlating to each unit of study. Students write on the interactive maps tracing routes taken by explorers, boundaries of the colonies, and the American expansion, providing detailed accounts of where each event actually took place. The map and chart skills gained directly carry over into science and math.

FALL 2011 IMPACT GRANT AWARDS
Rad Allen receives 25 Finch Robots for Computer Science I Pre-AP to introduce first-year programming students to the Java and Python programming languages at Vandegrift High School. The robots are a great way to show real-time results of looping structures, conditionals, and dynamic programming. The robots have a fixed design to allow students to focus on problem solving and programming behavior. Over 100 students at VHS will benefit from this purchase.

Jody Hormann receives a five-year subscription of StrataLogica: World History Series for her 10th graders at Vandegrift High School. Google Earth API powers this interactive program. It includes 32, 3D and 2D, political and physical maps. There are 32 content layers on civilizations, empires and conflicts from early Mesopotamia to present day. The technology allows teachers to create lesson plans, customize presentations, and create collaborative projects for students. In simple terms, this program brings maps and history into motion! Over 200 students will participate through the five-year license.

Jamie Bauerle receives funding on behalf of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) for leadership development. This funding will launch an annual Leadership Event at Vandegrift High School that includes all leadership organizations and identified leaders throughout the school, as well as other FCCLA chapters from other high schools. The FCCLA will hire R5 Productions motivational speaking group, which will focus the event on leadership, respect, diversity, and refocusing dreams to create and reach goals. Approximately 300 students are expected to attend the Leadership Event.

Alicia Stansell receives a class set of portable digital microscopes to benefit all seventh grade biology students at Four Points Middle School. Understanding that living things are comprised of cells is a foundational concept in seventh grade science that previews high school curriculum. These microscopes will allow students to experience nature on a cellular level outside of the classroom in an interactive, natural environment. The higher power USB capable microscope will allow teachers to show a greater variety of specimens to the class and also capture images for future use in instruction.

Brandi Bergeron receives funds to support C2 (C-Squared) at Four Points Middle School. C2 is an organization that is attempting to influence student behavior by using the power of student-led change. It is aligned with FPMS’ No Place for Hate designation. The goal of C2 is to build a culture in which students positively interact with their peers and unify the campus in a common cause. Over 600 students are expected to participate in C2. Look for their yellow shirts, the Wall of Kindness, and the C2 logo at FPMS as a symbol of change.

Christopher Yee receives funding to developing a leadership program for band called 6th Grade Roots. This program equips 25 sixth grade band students with the knowledge and tools needed to help shape the Four Points Middle School’s band culture. This program empowers students to create a positive and life changing organizational culture that is beneficial for themselves as well as the band. The program will begin in the Fall of 2012 and focus on instructional-based learning with group discussions. In the spring the group will meet monthly to foster students to demonstrate leadership and promote FPMS Band culture.

Laura Lebsack receives a subscription to the Renzulli eLearning System for Grandview Hills Elementary. This system encourages students to explore learning through inquiry-based experiences. This differentiation resource matches students with the right content at the right time while enhancing knowledge and thinking by making rigorous and relevant connections across curricula, including science, technology, and math. Teachers have access to materials for flexible instructional groupings. By increasing classroom engagement through personalized curricula and instructional strategies, learning becomes more meaningful. Ten classroom teachers will serve approximately 200 students with access to RLS (including 58 Quest students with personalized profiles for their in-depth studies.)

Bonnie Martin receives funding to complete the third and final phase of the Titan Garden Expansion for River Place Elementary. These funds will provide vegetable bed drip installation, plant installation in the native garden, installation of solar power system, and the creation of permanent educational materials on areas such as solar, rainwater harvesting, native plantings, herb plantings, water conservation, composting. Over 700 students, grades K-5th, will use the garden weekly as an instrument of their curriculum to reinforce math and science concepts.

Amy Soliz receives funding to purchase six class sets of mathematics manipulatives at River Ridge Elementary. These manipulatives will provide all third graders with hands-on materials that meet a wide range of math ability levels and cover all math objectives and TEKS. Kits would enable students to work independently, at their learning level, and at their own pace with many assessment options to allow for immediate feedback. Over 115 students will benefit from these manipulatives.

Cynthia Evans will receive five iPads for her third grade classroom at Laura Welch Bush Elementary. Her intent is to imbed technology directly into the curriculum in every subject, thus enabling the students to research, collaborate and present deeper levels of learning. Twenty-three students will use these iPads each year.

Colleen Welliver receives funding to expand the Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) program, which is currently available for kindergarteners, to include first and second graders at Steiner Ranch Elementary in the 2012-2013 academic year. HWT is a research-based program to improve the quality of handwriting so that students will become fluent, confident writers. This program supports math and science, which increasingly become more reliant on writing skills as teachers strive to attain deeper learning levels. Students write in their math and science journals to record their observations, findings, thoughts and questions.