Women United of Knox County is proud to announce the winners of the 2022 Classroom Champion Grants!
This year, Women United announced ten $1,000 grants for our local teachers to support their work in helping our children grow and thrive. The grants were open to all Knox County school teachers and were evaluated by Women United members, based on creativity, innovation, and impact. We would like to congratulate the following teachers from around our community:
Amy Bings, Pleasant Street Elementary, will utilize funds to expand Pleasant Street’s toolkit for addressing sensory concerns amongst students that can impact behavior and school success.
Sara Burke, Twin Oak Elementary School, will design “calm kits” for each classroom at Twin Oak that will include fidgets, sensory items, and self-regulation strategies for students to use as needed.
Olivia Glass, Columbia Elementary School, is excited to purchase a portable sink for art classes in the cafeteria, allowing students more opportunities to be messy and creative.
Nick Gotschall, Columbia Elementary School, plans to create a sensory space with supplies that can be used to provide tactile, visual, olfactory, and auditory inputs for students and will promote regulation, increase focus, and improve fine and gross motor skills.
Darcy Miller, Columbia Elementary Schools, will be purchasing green screen kits and recording supplies for the Columbia Morning Announcement News Crew.
Lisa Muncie, Danville Local Schools, runs an equine therapy program with students in cooperation with PELIA Equine. This program supports children in self-esteem, team building skills, problem solving, and basic horsemanship. Funds will be used to purchase safety equipment, grooming tools, and other items for this program.
Suzanne Springer, Pleasant Street and Wiggin Street Elementary Schools, will purchase ukuleles and tuners for her 4th and 5th grade music classes. The ukuleles will be used in unit lessons to enhance student experiences and provide a fun, modern-music classroom learning environment.
Shae Strouse, Mount Vernon Middle School, teaches students who have unique abilities and will utilize funds to help them be successful in the classroom. Wiggle stools and mini trampolines will be used to support students with ADHD and sensory items will help students who have Autism or other sensory needs.
Kris Tier, Mount Vernon Middle School, will be creating a student food pantry at the Middle School for students who are hungry and need a snack to help them be successful in class.
Alyssa Urban, East Knox Elementary School, will purchase items for a sensory station for her K-3 Intervention students. Items will help with self-regulation and social-emotional support.
We extend our biggest “thanks” to everyone who applied for this grant, and to everyone who volunteered their time to evaluate each application. Thank you, as well, to everyone who donates to Women United. It is because of your generosity that we can make a difference for our families, neighbors, and friends in our community.