Florida DKG Educational Foundation
Meet Our
2025 Recipients
2025 Professional Development Award
|
Florida DKG Educational Foundation provided these Florida Educators with an opportunity to participate in professional seminars that relate to their professional aspirations and/or current assignment. 2025 recipients will complete the professional development training between the dates of April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026
|
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
|
Cynthia Plesner Belleview-Santos Elementary Belleview, Florida Attending American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference October 16-18, 2025 |
Cynthia Plesner will attend the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference in St. Louis, MO, from October 16-18, 2025. The conference will provide school librarians with insights on integrating emerging technologies, improving information literacy, and refining research strategies. Cynthia plans to share information from the conference with her colleagues in the media field and with the staff at Belleview-Santos Elementary by:
- Organizing workshops and/or lunchtime presentations to share new tools and strategies for improving student engagement and research skills
- Attending district meetings to discuss how the ideas from the conference can be incorporated into the curricula to encourage a collective effort to enhance teaching practices.
- Create a curated list of helpful resources (articles, tools, websites) and best practices. Publish the list of resources on the shared drive and through email.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Heather Taylor Bay Haven Charter Academy Panama City, Florida Attending Florida Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference June 12-14, 2025 |
Heather Taylor will attend the Florida Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference in Orlando, Florida from June 12-14, 2025. The conference provides a comprehensive selection of sessions, covering topics ranging from middle school standards to data analysis and intervention strategies for students who require additional support. Despite Heather's 17 years of teaching experience, this is her inaugural year working with middle school students. She is enthusiastic about attending the three-day professional development conference. It will provide her with an opportunity to expand her teaching toolkit at a significant time for her students. She intends to learn new approaches to make math more engaging and accessible for middle schoolers. The strategies and resources will assist Heather in developing lessons that can address various learning styles and ability levels. She is confident that this training will greatly improve her capacity to effectively serve her 110 students.
Heather’s commitment to ongoing professional development motivates her to pursue opportunities that enhance the growth and success of both students and colleagues. She is particularly enthusiastic about applying new methodologies that can invigorate her students' learning experience. Indeed, the most effective educators continuously seek opportunities for their own professional growth.
Heather’s commitment to ongoing professional development motivates her to pursue opportunities that enhance the growth and success of both students and colleagues. She is particularly enthusiastic about applying new methodologies that can invigorate her students' learning experience. Indeed, the most effective educators continuously seek opportunities for their own professional growth.
=============================================================
2025 Educational Grant
|
The Florida DKG Educational Foundation provided funds to the following Florida educators to cover the costs associated with the implementation of an educational project in a school or community. 2025 recipients will begin their project between the dates of April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
|
|
Marcelle Farley Lake Stevens Elementary Miami Gardens, Florida Project: The STEAM Dream Lab: Learning Without Limits |
The "STEAM Dream Lab" at Lake Stevens Elementary allows students to engage in hands-on, collaborative learning activities that integrate science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The purchase and integration of the Active Chair wobble stools and the stability balls into the lab will support a dynamic environment where students can work comfortably and efficiently in various group sizes and configurations, while creating adaptable spaces that cater to diverse learning preferences and student needs.
The Lab allows students to work in small groups to build, code and test robots in real-world scenarios. In addition to robotics, the lab is used for students to collaborate on a variety of STEAM-focused projects including water bottle rockets, mousetrap cars, bridge-building, coding tasks and art-integrated engineering designs, all of which prepare them to participate in STEAM competitions and exhibitions. Integrating flexible seating into the lab will create adaptable spaces that cater to diverse learning preferences and student needs.
The Lab allows students to work in small groups to build, code and test robots in real-world scenarios. In addition to robotics, the lab is used for students to collaborate on a variety of STEAM-focused projects including water bottle rockets, mousetrap cars, bridge-building, coding tasks and art-integrated engineering designs, all of which prepare them to participate in STEAM competitions and exhibitions. Integrating flexible seating into the lab will create adaptable spaces that cater to diverse learning preferences and student needs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Joy Floyd Franklin County School Eastpoint, Florida Project: Sensory Spot for Special Needs |
The project: “Sensory Spot for Special Needs” will create a sensory wall in a Franklin County Pre-K-12 school hallway that will help regulate students' nervous systems and promote self-regulation and advocacy. The wall panels include small fine motor activities, kinesthetic elements and gross motor sensory path activities.
The sensory wall gives students an opportunity to use space in a centralized hallway when they need a sensory break while not disrupting others in the classroom. The wall will be in a hallway in front of a self-contained PreK and K-2 Special Education classrooms and provide activities that will help high needs students to have a safe, reliable outlet to help regulate themselves. The sensory wall resources will also be available to students in OT (Occupational Therapy) and PT (Physical Therapy).
The sensory wall gives students an opportunity to use space in a centralized hallway when they need a sensory break while not disrupting others in the classroom. The wall will be in a hallway in front of a self-contained PreK and K-2 Special Education classrooms and provide activities that will help high needs students to have a safe, reliable outlet to help regulate themselves. The sensory wall resources will also be available to students in OT (Occupational Therapy) and PT (Physical Therapy).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Lori Irwin Pinewood Elementary Eagle Lake, Florida Project: The Reading Nook Adventure: A Fun Path to Literacy and Fitness as Your Read & Ride |
The "Reading Nook Adventure" project will establish a Reading Nook with comfortable seating and a collection of books about sports and exercise. This specialized area is designed to foster student engagement with reading by offering a stimulating and motivating atmosphere. Students will sit in the reading nook and choose three books from the sports and exercise collection. After reading each book, students will complete an Accelerated Reader (AR) quiz, with a target score of 70% or higher to show comprehension. Upon achieving their reading goal, students receive a 15-minute session on a stationary bike where they can choose a book to read while riding.
This method integrates literacy with physical activity for a holistic learning experience. The reading nook provides a cozy and appealing space for students, promoting a positive attitude towards reading. The comfortable environment encourages students to read more often and with greater enthusiasm. This initiative is designed to foster enthusiasm for literature while simultaneously encouraging physical health through an engaging and rewarding experience. For students who find it challenging to sit still, using a stationary bike allows for movement and can help them concentrate and engage in the reading process.
This method integrates literacy with physical activity for a holistic learning experience. The reading nook provides a cozy and appealing space for students, promoting a positive attitude towards reading. The comfortable environment encourages students to read more often and with greater enthusiasm. This initiative is designed to foster enthusiasm for literature while simultaneously encouraging physical health through an engaging and rewarding experience. For students who find it challenging to sit still, using a stationary bike allows for movement and can help them concentrate and engage in the reading process.
UPDATE:
READING NOOK
|
|
|
Lori Irwin expressed her gratitude for being a member of DKG. She acknowledged that the establishment of this project would not have been possible without the support of the Florida DKG Educational Foundation Grant, and she is honored that her project application was selected. On behalf of the students at Pinewood Elementary, Lori extends her sincere gratitude and appreciation. |
STATIONARY BIKE RIDING TIME EARNED FOR ACHIEVING ACCELERATED READER CHALLENGES.
|
Photos provided by Lori Irwin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Marsha Mayers Trinity Preschool, Trinity United Methodist Church Sarasota, Florida Project: Ready, Set, Grow! |
The "Ready, Set, Grow" project teaches preschool students about growing food through hands-on gardening activities guided by their teachers. Students acquire knowledge about seeds and plants through practical activities conducted both indoors and outdoors. Students will compare different seeds and the plants they produce, measure the growth of the plants, and identify them by characteristics such as color, size, and the type of fruit, vegetable or flower each plant yields. Children will be invited to sample the fruits, flowers and herbs harvested from the garden. The project aims to help students connect with nature through hands-on learning.
The garden will enhance the educational experience for preschool students by offering opportunities to stimulate curiosity, improve communication skills, increase physical activity, and ultimately contribute to the development of a more nurturing child.
The garden will enhance the educational experience for preschool students by offering opportunities to stimulate curiosity, improve communication skills, increase physical activity, and ultimately contribute to the development of a more nurturing child.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Kimberly Meek Dundee Elementary Dundee, Florida Project: Read & Ride |
The purpose of the “Read & Ride” project is to encourage students to read and be involved in physical activity while reading. Students will utilize stationary bikes that have a desktop area on them. The bikes will be stationed in the cafeteria, the front office and the media center. Kinesthetic learners are likely to benefit from the use of stationary bikes, and the activity may also motivate reluctant readers to engage in reading while cycling. The project will be introduced to students during recess. Students who have not met their weekly Accelerated Reader word goal have “Reading Recess” with members of the leadership team. Students are required to read silently to themselves during recess.
With the bikes, students would not only be able to read during recess, but to also ride. The bikes will be used to read Accelerated Reader books, and as a reward for students that meet their Accelerated Reader goals.
With the bikes, students would not only be able to read during recess, but to also ride. The bikes will be used to read Accelerated Reader books, and as a reward for students that meet their Accelerated Reader goals.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Amanda Youngs Clarence Boswell Elementary Auburndale, Florida Project: Creating a Passion for Writing |
The “Creating a Passion for Writing” project will introduce the Florida Studio Theatre Write-A-Play Program to Clarence Boswell Elementary. The Write-A-Play program offers a year-round arts integration curriculum that inspires and equips students to write original plays. Students develop new life experiences and are encouraged to continue learning, being creative, staying curious, making meaningful connections, while enhancing critical thinking, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills. The program aims to foster a positive approach to learning by making it relevant and accessible, while enabling students to take responsibility for their learning process as they explore new ways to express themselves creatively.
This project enables students to develop a passion for creative writing, demonstrating that they have the capability to write and provide enjoyment to themselves and their readers. The initiative will promote the appreciation of writing for the students at Clarence Boswell Elementary.
This project enables students to develop a passion for creative writing, demonstrating that they have the capability to write and provide enjoyment to themselves and their readers. The initiative will promote the appreciation of writing for the students at Clarence Boswell Elementary.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Thank you for your interest in the Florida DKG Educational Foundation Professional Development Award and Educational Grant.
|
Last Update: August 2025
Webmaster: [email protected] |