Hood River County Education Foundation awards teacher grants

“I'm grateful we were awarded the grant,” said Adam Smith, a science teacher at the Hood River Middle School, whose grant will pay for 64 new microscopes to augment the existing group of older instruments. “It's a game-changer for my students that will allow them to experience science in a more interactive and engaging way. I know firsthand how much hands-on learning increases student engagement, and I’m eager to see the difference these microscopes will make.”

At Parkdale Elementary School, students can soon look forward to a new kiln to fire their clay and ceramics projects. According to Elise Tickner, the grantee, the existing kiln is more than 30 years old and the company that made it is no longer in business, so parts were difficult to come by. “When I asked the teachers and the instructional assistants if they would be interested in learning to use a kiln and do clay projects with students, it was a resounding ‘Yes’!”, said Tickner. “That kind of enthusiasm is what gave me the desire to go ahead and give it a go. A kiln is a fairly big ticket item and not in the regular budget.”

For Nicole Sibert, Leah Yost, and Lacy Gries, Student Support Specialists at May Street Elementary, Westside Elementary, and Cascade Locks Elementary Schools, respectively, the grants they received will purchase books and other materials to bolster social and emotional learning (SEL) for Kindergarten through 2nd Grade. “This grant will be used by all grade level teachers, so every student will benefit,” said Sibert.

“Knowing that we have the support to bring these valuable resources into our schools is both encouraging and validating,” said Gries. “It reinforces the importance of social-emotional learning and how it can transform a student’s experience at school.

Yost added, “These books give teachers a way to introduce big concepts—like kindness, perseverance, and responsibility—in a way that feels natural and engaging for students.”

HRCEF has been granting money to students and teachers at HRCSD since 1991, with last year being their most successful to date. In the 2023-2024 school year, the foundation awarded more than half a million dollars, of which $388,000 went to scholarships for graduating high school seniors and college students from Hood River County. They also awarded $64,000 in teaching grants, $25,000 for equitable funding of after school programs, and $30,000 for field trips. The foundation sponsored swim lessons for kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 4th grade students in the elementary schools in conjunction with Hood River Parks and Recreation. They also provide an online platform for free to 26 community scholarship grantors, such as The Rotary Club, the Gorge Community Foundation, and Hood River Lions.

“We’re so proud of our ability to support our public schools and the teachers that make them so wonderful,” said Aspen McKenna, Chair of HRCEF’s Board of Directors. She cited the generous support of the scholarship grantors and donors as key to the foundation’s success, but also noted that there were more than $150,000 in teaching grant requests this year. “It’s our goal to raise even more money from our community to provide even more support to our schools. We have a lot of work yet to do.”

While SEL books will help students with social and emotional regulation, Benjamin Tell will use his grant for a decidedly more raucous objective. Tell is the music teacher at Hood River Middle School and he wanted to bring as much volume as possible to their sporting events. Their Pep Band had been borrowing drums from the High School, but their grant will mean they can expand the availability of instruments for their program. “It feels validating that people care about what I am doing in our school to get students stoked about music," he said. “It also shows that our community supports music, which is a great feeling.”

A number of HRCEF teaching grants will bring cultural experiences to students at their schools. In coordination with Hood River Reads at the Hood River Library, HRVHS art teachers Matthew Gerlick and Amirra Malak are working with The Yakima Nation to bring Native American elders to teach beading as part of a week-long workshop. The grant underscores “the importance that art education has on the lives of students,” said Gerlick. “Students will learn a life skill they can take with them and share with others throughout their lives. They will connect with one another, while building empathy and creative understanding by learning a creative and artistic process taught by local native people.”

Jillian Jarvis, a learning specialist at Wy’East Middle School, saw the need for her students with disabilities to have options for movement while learning. “I applied for the grant to purchase equipment that would modernize work stations for students that are asked to do seated work when they are impacted by an exceptionality or disability,” she said. “I am confident that the opportunity to stand up while learning as well as the option to move their legs while doing desk work will improve the classroom environment.”

Jen Durand, HRVHS Yearbook Coordinator, worked with a number of students to apply for a grant to purchase digital cameras to improve the quality of photos for the annual yearbook publication. “I applied for the grant to expand access to high-quality equipment for student growth and the ability to capture our moments of fun and accomplishments,” said Durand.

Kendra Thurner, one of the students in Ms. Durand’s class, said students would have greater opportunities to get involved in preserving memories of their high school experiences. “I think this grant helps every student wanting to hold a camera and learn how to capture a moment through photography,” she said.

To learn more about the work of the Hood River County Education Foundation and become a supporter, visit hrcef.org/.