SPANISH FORT — The Spanish Fort Educational Enrichment Foundation lifted a few spirits Thursday with the allocation of seven grants totaling more than $5,000 to supplement classroom instruction at Spanish Fort Elementary School.

The SFES allotment represents about one-sixth of the total $30,043 in 21 Teacher/Student grants SFEEF distributed this week for the four schools in the feeder pattern to use by May 31.

“With the continued cutback of educational funding for our schools this is a very small way to help provide for the current educational needs along with future needs of our students and schools,” said SFEEF Executive Director Sandra Bostrom.

From multi-sensory programs designed specifically for visual learners to document cameras and math fluency tools, the SFES projects receiving grant funding were selected for their ability to reach the largest number of students and, therefore, have the most impact on improving the overall learning environment.

The grants awarded, listed in ascending order, are as follows:

• Third-grade teacher Jennifer Prater received $126 for the purchase of electronic math tools to improve fluency in math facts. Prater’s request stated the tools are designed to provide “the needed visual and auditory feedback for the learner in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Kindergarten teachers Mandy Gipson, Shelia Lambert, Julie McGough, Ashlee Milstead, Myra Schram, Camille Sizemore and Kelly Smith were awarded $500 for the purchase of an activity program that boosts reading skills by building phonemic awareness.
• Music teacher Sarah Walley, with the assistance of students Brantley Rhodes and Avery Wilhite, was awarded $600 for the purchase of a document camera which will grant students improved access to learning materials such as an iPad to create and provide visual learning experiences.
• Third-grade teacher Nancy Klooz, with the assistance of students Cole Davis and Lizzie King, was awarded $650 for the purchase of a document camera intended to help reach students with “varied learning styles using cutting-edge technology in an equitable way to all students.”
• Third-grade teacher Catherine Lane, with the assistance of student Kate Deaton, was awarded $895 for the purchase of a document camera that will allow “the entire class the opportunity to view science experiments, social studies maps, pictures, diagrams and literature…with added clarity and color.”
• Reading coach Dana Walker received $1,240 for the purchase of “Child 1st Publications,” a multi-sensory program designed specifically to help visual learners achieve grade-level progress.
• Teacher Sondra Gentry, with the assistance of student Grace Li Glassie, was awarded $1,250 for the purchase of iPads to provide an “effective, interactive resource” for elementary-level English learners eager to achieve “expanding levels of proficiency in English and attain academic success in the classroom.”