Florida DKG Educational Foundation
2026
Professional Development Award
Recipients
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Carol Dumas
Crystal River, FL Attending: Certified Certiport Educator Conference Nashville, Tennessee |
Carol Dumas, from Crystal River, Fl, a member of Mu Chapter in District III, is one of the Professional Development recipients for 2026. She teaches digital information technology and business and entrepreneurial principles to grades 9-12 at Crystal River High School in the Citrus County School System. She plans on attending the “Certified Certiport Educator Conference” this summer in Nashville, Tennessee. Carol states that “in Career and Technical Education (CTE), industry certifications are a major part of her curriculum.” The conference is designed to bring together educators, administrators, and industry experts to collaborate and strengthen instructional strategies that will help prepare students for college and career success. She will be able to gain new certifications and teaching techniques to help her students to become more career ready. She plans to share the strategies she has learned with fellow CTE teachers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Sharon Thomas
Sleepy Hill Elementary School Attending: Ron Clark Academy Experience Atlanta, Georgia |
Sharon Thomas is a DKG member of Lambda Chapter in Lakeland, Florida. She has master’s degree in “Curriculum and Instruction” and another in “Educational Leadership”. She serves at Sleepy Hill Elementary School in Lakeland, Florida, as a Reading Interventionist and is the Title One
Facilitator K – 5. She will attend the Ron Clark Experience (RCA EXP) at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at
Centennial Park, Atlanta, Georgia, November 18 – 20, 2026.
Sharon wants to use the strategies from the seminar as a tool to show a direct correlation to making learning more fun and engaging. She has a set group of 40 students she sees daily in grades K – 5. As part of the leadership team, she provides ongoing professional development to the staff and plans to share the Ron Clark methods of engaging students for success.
Facilitator K – 5. She will attend the Ron Clark Experience (RCA EXP) at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at
Centennial Park, Atlanta, Georgia, November 18 – 20, 2026.
Sharon wants to use the strategies from the seminar as a tool to show a direct correlation to making learning more fun and engaging. She has a set group of 40 students she sees daily in grades K – 5. As part of the leadership team, she provides ongoing professional development to the staff and plans to share the Ron Clark methods of engaging students for success.
2026 Educational Grant Recipients
|
Elliott Arpin
Dunnellon High School Project: The Key to Success is a Magical Keyboard |
Elliott Arpin, District II (non-member), was awarded a $ 1,000 Education Grant titled "The Key to Success is a Magical Keyboard." Elliott is the music director at Dunnellon High School, located in Dunnellon, Florida.
Dunnellon High School is a Title I school, where funding is limited for non-academic curriculum needs. Elliott says, “The last time I had a good electronic keyboard was when it was donated to the school, and it has since broken. The purchase of a state-of-the-art keyboard will be used for all school performances and for off-site performances.” The keyboard will affect students in grades 9-12. Elliott writes, “As the size and quality of students’ musical ability increases, the standard of the equipment becomes even more valuable.”
Dunnellon High School is a Title I school, where funding is limited for non-academic curriculum needs. Elliott says, “The last time I had a good electronic keyboard was when it was donated to the school, and it has since broken. The purchase of a state-of-the-art keyboard will be used for all school performances and for off-site performances.” The keyboard will affect students in grades 9-12. Elliott writes, “As the size and quality of students’ musical ability increases, the standard of the equipment becomes even more valuable.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Nancy Bentz
Training for 10 Florida Schools Project: Be a Buddy |
Congratulations to Nancy Bentz, a very active member of Beta Xi Chapter, District V, and current Florida State DKG Bylaws Chair. She is a recipient of a grant to enable online training for educators to implement the project Be a Buddy in schools across Florida. Also working with Nancy in the training mode will be her project co-creator Loverly Sheridan. They will use Zoom to train 10 educator participants to use the Be a Buddy curriculum, a behavior intervention program with the following MISSION statement:
Students will learn character traits that foster a culture of kindness, empathy, compassion, and inclusion within and beyond educational institutions.
Teachers, counselors, and/or afterschool staff will be trained to promote the “Buddy” mission using 19 lessons. Each lesson has an objective that meets the mission. Such topics include how to recognize a bully, random acts of kindness, standing up for others, effects of bullies, how to be kind to yourself, affirmations, how to be a peacemaker, building healthy relationships, and creating boundaries. Students are given a simple pre- and post- questionnaire to facilitate the measurement of their growth. Each lesson includes a discussion on a character topic, an implicit activity such as role play with scenarios, and games and activities that go along with the objective.
Students will learn character traits that foster a culture of kindness, empathy, compassion, and inclusion within and beyond educational institutions.
Teachers, counselors, and/or afterschool staff will be trained to promote the “Buddy” mission using 19 lessons. Each lesson has an objective that meets the mission. Such topics include how to recognize a bully, random acts of kindness, standing up for others, effects of bullies, how to be kind to yourself, affirmations, how to be a peacemaker, building healthy relationships, and creating boundaries. Students are given a simple pre- and post- questionnaire to facilitate the measurement of their growth. Each lesson includes a discussion on a character topic, an implicit activity such as role play with scenarios, and games and activities that go along with the objective.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Karen Krawchuk
Minneola Charter School Project: Exploring Florida |
Karen Krawchuk's project “Exploring Florida” aims to promote learning of the state of Florida for 40 kindergarten learners. Students will learn how to find Florida on the map, learn about the state flag, Florida’s nickname, animals that call Florida home (including endangered species), weather, terrain and what makes Florida special! Students will keep a keep a science journal with weekly entries specific to Florida (weather, animals, plant life…). They will be assigned an animal to learn more about. The students will each do a class presentation to tell their classmates about their animal. The culminating project will be to visit Homosassa Springs State Park in November 2026, where the students will be able to see their animal. How excited they will be to experience this in person! Anticipated costs are for transportation ($939) and admission to the park ($35) for a total of $974.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Marilyn Lay
Neptune Middle School St. Cloud FL Osceola County Project: Starbooks Café |
Marilyn Lay a member of Beta Eta Chapter, District 4 and teacher/mentor of 6th - 8th grade students at Neptune Middle School, in Kissimmee was approved for her grant proposal titled, The Starbooks Café which is a student-run “Coffee Shop”
The grant will enable Ms. Lay to purchase many needed supplies and resources to keep the Starbooks Café operational, such as a coffee maker, toaster oven, coffee, tea, Hot Cocoa Mix, Lemonade mix, cups, bakery items, and more. These items will keep the café open, enabling the students who are responsible for the operation of the café to prepare the bakery items and the drinks, serve the students, and clean up and store the inventory. This project has increased the confidence level of the students and develops leadership skills as they take responsibility for the running of the café.
The grant will enable Ms. Lay to purchase many needed supplies and resources to keep the Starbooks Café operational, such as a coffee maker, toaster oven, coffee, tea, Hot Cocoa Mix, Lemonade mix, cups, bakery items, and more. These items will keep the café open, enabling the students who are responsible for the operation of the café to prepare the bakery items and the drinks, serve the students, and clean up and store the inventory. This project has increased the confidence level of the students and develops leadership skills as they take responsibility for the running of the café.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Brittani Mandrell The Light Preparatory Academy Miami Gardens, FL Project: STREAM Horizons |
Brittani Mandrell, member of Pi Chapter, District V, is one of the 2026 project grant recipients. She is a curriculum support specialist in the Miami-Dade County School System, and a board member and the education committee lead member at The Light Preparatory Academy in Miami Gardens, FL.
The “STREAM Horizons” project aims to transform the school’s existing curriculum by integrating high quality, tactile STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading and Writing, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) resources into daily Montessori “work cycles” and expanding its STREAM Saturdays. On second Saturdays each month the students engage in “Grand Challenges” (collaborative, large-scale engineering and art projects that require the students to apply mathematical concepts and literacy skills to solve real-world problems). The grant will allow the school to purchase the STREAM kits (Robotics, Hydroponics, Structural Engineering) to help establish a permanent “STREAM Resource Library” accessible to all staff for curriculum integration.
The “STREAM Horizons” project aims to transform the school’s existing curriculum by integrating high quality, tactile STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading and Writing, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) resources into daily Montessori “work cycles” and expanding its STREAM Saturdays. On second Saturdays each month the students engage in “Grand Challenges” (collaborative, large-scale engineering and art projects that require the students to apply mathematical concepts and literacy skills to solve real-world problems). The grant will allow the school to purchase the STREAM kits (Robotics, Hydroponics, Structural Engineering) to help establish a permanent “STREAM Resource Library” accessible to all staff for curriculum integration.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Cindy Millar Sarasota, FL Sarasota County Project: Imagine, Learn, and Grow |
Cindy Millar, a member of Gamma Upsilon in District VI is the recipient of a Grant titled, Imagine, Learn and Grow. Imagine, Learn and Grow will help to support the organization, Mothers Helping Mothers which serves the Sarasota/ Manatee area of Florida.
The grant will help the initiatives of the organization which supports the toddlers and preschool population in the area who may have a family currently homeless, or from low income or one parent families. The number of children supported will vary at any given time. The funding will provide furniture and age and developmentally appropriate materials. Stacking toys, magnetic blocks, building sets and sensory exploration tools will all help to promote early learning and foundational STEM skills.
The grant will help the initiatives of the organization which supports the toddlers and preschool population in the area who may have a family currently homeless, or from low income or one parent families. The number of children supported will vary at any given time. The funding will provide furniture and age and developmentally appropriate materials. Stacking toys, magnetic blocks, building sets and sensory exploration tools will all help to promote early learning and foundational STEM skills.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Terrye Mosley
Jacksonville, Florida Pablo Creek Regional Library Project: Books Build RELATIONships |
Terrye Mosley is a member of Alpha Beta Chapter, District II. Her project, “Books Build Relationships”, will focus on fostering literacy for 25 learners in grades K-3—using shared information, activities, and collaboration with educators, parents, surrogate parents, extended family, and other professionals in the community. Meetings will be held at Pablo Creek Regional Library. Those who register will receive lovely book bags and two new books which will be used in the sessions.
Her project
The “Books Build Relationships” project will focus on fostering literacy for 25 learners in grades K-3—using shared information, activities, and collaboration with educators, parents, surrogate parents, extended family, and other professionals in the community. Meetings will be held at Pablo Creek Regional Library. Those who register will receive lovely book bags and two new books which will be used in the sessions
Her project
The “Books Build Relationships” project will focus on fostering literacy for 25 learners in grades K-3—using shared information, activities, and collaboration with educators, parents, surrogate parents, extended family, and other professionals in the community. Meetings will be held at Pablo Creek Regional Library. Those who register will receive lovely book bags and two new books which will be used in the sessions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Kara Stocker
Largo, Florida Largo Middle IB World School Project: Build Your Own Textbook |
Kara Stocker is a Science teacher at Largo Middle IB World School in Largo, Fl. She is not a member of DKG. Because her district does not use a hard bound science curriculum textbook, her project, Build Your Own Textbook, will provide a tangible structured paper-based system that students can use to reference earlier lessons, labs and notes, strengthen their understanding and long-term mastery of Florida Science standards, and enhance their own organizational skills. Build Your Own Textbook will be used with approximately 150 science students at Kara’s Middle School. It will be initiated in August 2026 and used during the 26-27 school year. Each student will receive a binder and dividers in which to organize and file all science curriculum related materials.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Lesley Wickboldt
Yankeetown School Project: Curriculum Canteen |
Lesley Wickboldt is a member of the DKG Gamma Iota Chapter in District II. She teaches kindergarten at Yankeetown School, a K-8 school located in Yankeetown, Florida. Lesley earned an Educational Grant for her project called, Curriculum Canteen.
Curriculum Canteen will be implemented with the 17 kindergarten students enrolled in Lesley’s class this school year. Going forward, she will continue to implement this project annually with the kindergarten students she teaches.
Lesley’s project centers on three interactive learning stations: the Collaborative Kitchen, the Mock Grocery Store, and the Creative Art Center. To support organization across all three stations, Lesley will purchase a wooden toy shelf for storing necessary materials. The name of the activity designed for the Collaborative Kitchen Learning Station is Collaborative “Family Meal” Role Play. Lesley will acquire a Little Tikes Home Grown Kitchen, a 168‑piece set of kids’ play kitchen accessories, and a large stainless‑steel toddler cooking set to support this station. To help her students achieve success with the “Shop and Solve” Math Challenge Activity at the Mock Grocery Store Station, Lesley plans to purchase a Best Choice Products wooden pretend grocery store. Menu & Currency Design is the name of the activity students will complete at the project’s Creative Art Center Station. Lesley will buy various art supplies such as watercolor paint sets, paintbrush sets, drawing paper, washable markers, and a three-sided activity easel for her students to use.
The goal of Lesley Wickboldt’s project, Curriculum Canteen, is to help bridge any gaps kindergarten students may have between theoretical instruction and real‑world application. She designed her project to help students at this age master foundational skills in a highly engaging learning environment.
Curriculum Canteen will be implemented with the 17 kindergarten students enrolled in Lesley’s class this school year. Going forward, she will continue to implement this project annually with the kindergarten students she teaches.
Lesley’s project centers on three interactive learning stations: the Collaborative Kitchen, the Mock Grocery Store, and the Creative Art Center. To support organization across all three stations, Lesley will purchase a wooden toy shelf for storing necessary materials. The name of the activity designed for the Collaborative Kitchen Learning Station is Collaborative “Family Meal” Role Play. Lesley will acquire a Little Tikes Home Grown Kitchen, a 168‑piece set of kids’ play kitchen accessories, and a large stainless‑steel toddler cooking set to support this station. To help her students achieve success with the “Shop and Solve” Math Challenge Activity at the Mock Grocery Store Station, Lesley plans to purchase a Best Choice Products wooden pretend grocery store. Menu & Currency Design is the name of the activity students will complete at the project’s Creative Art Center Station. Lesley will buy various art supplies such as watercolor paint sets, paintbrush sets, drawing paper, washable markers, and a three-sided activity easel for her students to use.
The goal of Lesley Wickboldt’s project, Curriculum Canteen, is to help bridge any gaps kindergarten students may have between theoretical instruction and real‑world application. She designed her project to help students at this age master foundational skills in a highly engaging learning environment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Jennifer Wilson
Plantation, Florida Tequesta Trace Middle School Project: Beyond the Book: Bringing Life Science to Life with Labs |
Jennifer Wilson is a dynamic educator from District V, Beta Alpha chapter. She teaches 7th grade Science at Tequesta Trace Middle School in Weston, Florida (Broward County). Jennifer received a Professional Development Award last year and this year she has been awarded Project Grant funding for her project titled Beyond the Book: Bringing Life Science to Life with Labs.
Her project will impact students in 7th grade. For the duration of Beyond the Book: Bringing Life Science to Life with Labs, students will use hands-on activities to enhance vocabulary and content knowledge of life science. She will be purchasing items such as literacy-based scientific investigation kits, organism classification cards, microscope slides, and scientific simulations and experiments. Her students will work together in small groups to demonstrate and grow their knowledge of the variety of middle school life science skills and standards. Some of the topics they will study are concepts such as fossils, modeling photosynthesis, measuring CO2 exhalation and observing cells under a microscope. Jennifer is very excited to have hands-on materials to make science relatable, real and fun for her students.
Her project will impact students in 7th grade. For the duration of Beyond the Book: Bringing Life Science to Life with Labs, students will use hands-on activities to enhance vocabulary and content knowledge of life science. She will be purchasing items such as literacy-based scientific investigation kits, organism classification cards, microscope slides, and scientific simulations and experiments. Her students will work together in small groups to demonstrate and grow their knowledge of the variety of middle school life science skills and standards. Some of the topics they will study are concepts such as fossils, modeling photosynthesis, measuring CO2 exhalation and observing cells under a microscope. Jennifer is very excited to have hands-on materials to make science relatable, real and fun for her students.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Elizabeth Youngs
Viera High School Project: Forensic Anthropology |
Past Grant & Award Recipients
Thank you for your interest in the Florida DKG Educational Foundation Professional Development Award and Educational Grant.
Last Update: April 2026
Webmaster: [email protected]
Webmaster: [email protected]