Nonprofit hands out grants to 11 teachers

Eleven teachers in northern Beaufort County public schools earned grants totaling more than $5,000 this week from the Northern Beaufort County Public Education Foundation. The funds will be used for lessons in the fall semester.
Foundation board members delivered balloons and good news to the winning teachers on Wednesday, May 23. The grant money will be handed out when school resumes in August.
“We were pleased with the quality of the applications and the creativeness we are seeing,” said Jim Grimsley, chairman of the nonprofit foundation. “It’s good to be back in the business of giving money to help teachers.”
A group of local residents and parents formed the Northern Beaufort County Public Education Foundation about 20 years ago. The goal then — and now  —  was to provide outside, private financial support to teachers in northern Beaufort County public schools.
After a hiatus of about five years, the foundation re-organized earlier this year. About two dozen teachers applied for grants in April. Another round of grants likely will be made available after the new school year starts and will be awarded for the second semester.
Artscapade, the Northern Beaufort County Public Education Foundation’s primary fundraiser, is rising again and will be held in February. Additional fundraising events may be scheduled between now and then to support more grants.
“We value the support of the community, and we exist solely to support our teachers in all the good work they do,” Grimsley said. “It’s a great feeling to hand out even a little bit of money that can help a teacher do his or her job just a little better.”
Grant funds must be used between the start of school in August and Dec. 31, and all recipients must submit an after-action report detailing their project.
Award recipients for Fall 2012 include:
• Josefina Blanc, Whale Branch Elementary, Animal Figures.
• Robert Carlin, Whale Branch Early College High School, TV Productions.
• Shelia Cato, Beaufort High, Passing End of Course Exam.
• Patricia Girard, Broad River Elementary, Shutterbug Books.
• Yolanda Goethe, Beaufort Middle School, Waking Up Students with Graphing.
• Cassandra Menning, St. Helena Elementary, Healthy Habits for Careful Kids.
• Kelly Pulaski, Coosa Elementary, Coosa Leadership Initiative.
• Scott Shipsey, Lady’s Island Middle School, LIMS Junior Leadership.
• Harry Smith, Lady’s Island Elementary, Sport Stacking Upgrade.
• Melissa Welch, Beaufort High, Perception Goggles.
• Renee Woods, Lady’s Island Elementary, Cookie Sheet Comprehension.