MLEF Announces the 2020 Spud Impact Teacher Grant Awardees

At this year's SpudTacular Gala, the Legacy Foundation announced the recipients of 2020's Spud Impact Teacher Grants. The grants will fund 14 hands-on, innovative opportunities and will impact student learning during the 2020-21 school year. Congratulations!

Marc Wilson, 8th gr. LA teacher at Horizon East - books to expand classroom library to include more new titles, especially those by nonwhite authors.
Patty Schmidt, 6th gr. Science teacher at Horizon West - Science World magazine subscription print and digital tool with articles on current science and engineering developments.
Sayra Crary, 5 - 8th gr. ELL teacher at Horizon West - high interest and appropriate readability level books for ELL students.
Michaela Backlund, 1st gr. teacher at SG Reinertsen - letter trays to support 1st grade phonics and phonemic awareness instruction.
Alyssa Halverson, 3rd gr. teacher at SG Reinertsen - supplies to create a motion track in the school hallways to support movement breaks & emotional self regulation during classroom learning time.
Kristin Peters, Physical Therapist at all Elem. Schools - materials to support core and upper body strength of students with disabilities to improve fine motor skills.
Kristen Paschke, 5th gr. Rdg & Science teacher at Horizon West - purchase Whoo's Reading app. to support reading comprehension and writing skills & provide immediate feedback.
Amy Serck, Social Studies Teacher at RRALC - cooktop to enable students to learn to cook foods of countries/world regions being studied; these students cook for themselves outside school, this will help them gain skills and knowledge of value.
Rena Sailer, Chemistry Teacher at MHS - liquid nitrogen to make ice cream demonstrating gas laws & phase changes; end of year celebrations are not generally supported - award to support classroom content objectives. 
Brooke White, Early Intervention Services at Probstfield EIS - developmentally appropriate toys for pre-verbal children to support development of a range of physical, motor and communication/language skills.
Lyndsay Coulombe, 5th gr. Math & Soc St. teacher at Horizon West - subscription to Scholastic News to support reading skill development and engagement with current events topics.
Jen Nelson, Art Teacher at Dorothy Dodds & all elem. - art supplies (crayons, markers, model magic & baggies) for take home bags for all elementary students.
Maret Kashmark, Counselor at MHS - cost to attend Mindfulness training program.
Samantha Saarion, Art Teacher at Horizon West - semi-permanent art installation: Mural project that reflects and promotes the culture of our school community, exploring the district motto of Excellence through Equity.