News

The North Central Education Foundation was thrilled to increase the number of teacher classroom grants that were awarded at the 2019 Teacher Classroom Grant Award reception held at Confluence Technology Center in Wenatchee.

During this tenth year of teacher grant awards, over 145 teachers from four counties were presented with grant awards in the categories of literacy, STEM, STEAM, Music/Fine Arts, College Preparation, Chelan-Douglas Land Trust Foothills and Financial Education through the Young Adult Consumer Education Trust (YACET). A new partner added this year was Friends of Lower Grand Coulee (FLGC).

The Foundation is also pleased to announce that teachers in 27 out of the 29 school districts included in the North Central ESD region received grant awards this year. PJ DeBenedetti, North Central Education Foundation Board member, served as emcee for the award presentation and awards were presented by President Rufus Woods, Board members Mary Jane Ross, and Kyla Allen, along with NCESD Board representative Marcia Henkle and NCESD Superintendent Michelle Price. Guest speaker, Regional Teacher of the Year Malia Renner Singer from Cascade School District, shared inspirational words of encouragement with the attendees, and Kristin Umbarger-Keene and students from Vale Elementary, Cashmere School District, demonstrated balance boards that are being purchased with her grant award.

The Foundation is working to make a difference in the future of the children in the North Central ESD region by providing teachers with opportunities to enrich their classroom environments. This is due to the generosity of the North Cascades Bank, Woods Family Music & Arts Fund, Confluence Health, Community Foundation of NCW, Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, Wenatchee Rotary, LASER Science/Pacific Science Center, Clear Risk Solutions, Young Adult Consumer Education Trust (YACET), PlanMember Services, Clear Risk Solutions, Friends of Lower Grand Coulee, and generous board members, ESD staff and community members who also donated to the fund. A generous donation by the Washington Association of Educational Grants Managers was also a huge boost to the program.

North Central ESD Superintendent Michelle Price commented, “It has been inspirational to see the Foundation grow, in just ten short years, from awarding eight teacher grants in our region the first year, to giving out over 145 grants, including several adopted by businesses or individuals. We are fortunate to have generous new corporate sponsors with a heart for education and dedicated Board members who are passionate about the work of the Foundation.”

North Central Education Foundation 2019 Teacher Classroom Grant Award Winners can be found here: Award winner list