Five school districts benefit from $5K in WCCU grants

NARRAGANSETT SCHOOL District officials, recipients of Westerly Community Credit Union Teacher Grant awards, celebrate with WCCU staff. Back row, from left: Kim Gates, WCCU financial education officer; Steve White, WCCU president and CEO; Peter Cummings, Narragansett superintendent; Marianne Kirby, principal of Narragansett Pier Middle School; and Gerry Gleason, former WCCU board director and Teacher Grant Committee member. Front row, from left: Meg Sisco, WCCU vice president of marketing; Vanessa Miller, enrichment teacher at Narragansett Pier Middle School; Leah Mitchell, teacher at Narragansett Elementary School; Jennifer Loiselle, teacher at Narragansett Pier Middle School; Laurie Kaufman, parent/grant writer at Narragansett Elementary School; and Gail Dandurand, principal of Narragansett Elementary School. / COURTESY WESTERLY COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION
NARRAGANSETT SCHOOL District officials, recipients of Westerly Community Credit Union Teacher Grant awards, celebrate with WCCU staff. Back row, from left: Kim Gates, WCCU financial education officer; Steve White, WCCU president and CEO; Peter Cummings, Narragansett superintendent; Marianne Kirby, principal of Narragansett Pier Middle School; and Gerry Gleason, former WCCU board director and Teacher Grant Committee member. Front row, from left: Meg Sisco, WCCU vice president of marketing; Vanessa Miller, enrichment teacher at Narragansett Pier Middle School; Leah Mitchell, teacher at Narragansett Elementary School; Jennifer Loiselle, teacher at Narragansett Pier Middle School; Laurie Kaufman, parent/grant writer at Narragansett Elementary School; and Gail Dandurand, principal of Narragansett Elementary School. / COURTESY WESTERLY COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

WESTERLY – Local teachers and staff at the Chariho Regional School District, Narragansett School District, South Kingstown School Department and Westerly Public Schools, as well as Stonington Public Schools in Stonington, Conn., received 12 Westerly Community Credit Union Teacher Grant awards totaling more than $5,000.

Steve White, WCCU president and CEO, said he was pleased by the caliber of applicants in this year’s cohort.

“We look forward to supporting these professionals and their innovative teaching projects through our new Teacher Grant program,” he said.

Of the 22 applications made to WCCU, 12 were successful and will receive grants of up to $500. The recipients are:

- Advertisement -
  • Chariho Regional School District:
    • Peter Faggella (Chariho Career and Technical Center)
    • Christine Haberek (Chariho Career and Technical Center)
  • Narragansett School System:
    • Vanessa Miller (Narragansett Pier Middle School)
    • Leah Mitchell (Narragansett Elementary School)
    • Jennifer Loiselle (Narragansett Pier Middle School)
  • South Kingstown School Department:
    • Rita Toolin (South Kingstown High School)
  • Stonington Public Schools:
    • Diane Gallo (Pawcatuck Middle School)
    • Elaine Temel (Pawcatuck Middle School)
  • Westerly Public Schools:
    • Kristin Almeida (Westerly Middle School)
    • Kristen Federico (State Street School)
    • Rebecca Mason (Springbrook Elementary School)
    • Mary Kay Patton (State Street School)

Grants will help fund both educational and social programs and initiatives, including a New York City art-inspired field trip, a buddy system for high school students with special needs and a pop-up mobile library, among other projects.

Looking ahead, applications for WCCU Teacher Grant awards for the 2016-17 school year must be submitted no later than Oct. 31 for distribution by Nov. 30. Those applying for the award will be judged on educational focus, promotion of skills and excellence, creativity and innovation, community connection, and the clarity and attainability of their goal. Projects that support student excellence and improve the relationship between schools and the greater community will be given “special consideration,” according to the application guidelines.

No posts to display