School of education provides grant writing professional development
Teachers at North Elementary School in Morgantown recently attended professional development courses at Fairmont State University, including a grant writing course in which teachers researched and wrote grants for projects at their schools.
As a result of these courses, the West Virginia department of environmental protection awarded North Elementary School a grant to begin a recycling program. The grant will enable the school to purchase new recycling bins and recycling cube trucks.
"We plan to roll out this student-driven program slowly over the next year, involving
more teachers each year," said Kevin Keifer, fifth grade teacher who was part of the
team that wrote the grant. "Currently, a small group of fifth graders are in charge
of collecting recyclables from the group of teachers who have started the program.
The students sort through the materials to ensure that they are recyclable, estimate
the weight of the recycling materials each week, and will eventually work to help
educate other classes as they join in the efforts."
"My co-teacher, Lori Ashcraft who is a technology integration specialist and academic
coach at Mountaineer Middle in Monongalia county, and I are excited for this teacher
team because they worked very hard last summer, researching and writing this grant,”
said course instructor, Dr. Pam Pittman. “I'd like to encourage more teachers to
take advantage of the professional development courses offered through the school
of education and the PDS partnership at Fairmont State."
The Fairmont State University School of Education and Professional Development School
(PDS) partnership will once again offer non-degree graduate courses to teachers this
summer for renewal credit and/or salary advancement. Please contact Mrs. Barbara Owens,
partnership director, in the professional development schools (PDS) office at (304)
367-4886 for more information.
