Florida DKG Educational Foundation
Past Recipients
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
2021 Professional Development Award Recipient
Missy Jones
STEAM Coach
Winter Springs Elementary, Sanford, FL
“Space Academy for Educators”
Huntsville, Alabama, June 3 – June 7, 2021
As a STEAM Coach, Missy Jones is charged with finding and implementing new hands-on science, technology, and engineering activities to present to teachers and students at Winter Springs Elementary. Jones has created a special Space Lab in an empty classroom to engage students in hands-on Space Science Lessons in a “space” atmosphere. By attending the Space Academy for Educators, Missy experienced lessons and activities that can be conducted with the 600 K-5 students in the “Space” Lab at her school. Her goal is to foster an interest in Space Science and have a better understanding of the Space Science Standards. Jones plans to provide training to the staff at her school site. She is also willing to share her experience through Professional Development sessions.
Photos of "Space Camp for Educators" provided by Missy Jones
2021 Grant Recipients
Cyd Heyliger-Browne
Miami FL
Project: "Discovering Endorphins (Sports Konnected to Literacy and STEAM)"
Cyd Heyliger-Browne purchased and mail science kits to 30 elementary age students so that they could participate in an online standards-based integrated curriculum that included physical/mental fitness, literacy, science, technology, education, art, and mathematics activities. The one (1) hour online lessons were provided through the Miami Dade County Public Library System Zoom portal once a month. The organization Sports Konnect provided the content for the lessons. Content included an introduction to a book of the month, a mental health activity, a S.T.E.A.M. video-quiz-experiment and physical fitness activity. The program provides students with an outlet for desired activities along with a socialization component and created a safe space for students to learn the educational basics while having fun. The project is a collaborative effort between Sports Konnect (a 501(c)3) and the Miami Dade County Public Library system.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paula Nelson-Shokar
Homestead, FL
Project: "Supporting STEM Learning with iPad Technology"
Paula Nelson-Shokar, a middle school teacher recognized that science teaching and learning would benefit from teacher-led science field studies. Since her online class was unable to participate in actual field trips to conduct data collection, Nelson-Shokar purchased an iPad to use in conjunction with a Hot Spot which made it possible to conduct science field studies virtually to engage her students. The iPad allowed her to use Zoom technology with each class to collect the necessary data while she was in the field. She then uploaded and transferred data to students for them to immediately analyze. Nelson-Shokar communicated with her students while out in the field using the iPad camera which allowed students to see, in real time, what was being collected and analyzed. Students were able to extend their learning beyond the walls of the classroom/home and become engaged in real-world problems through collaboration.
Paula Nelson-Shokar
Homestead, FL
Project: "Supporting STEM Learning with iPad Technology"
Paula Nelson-Shokar, a middle school teacher recognized that science teaching and learning would benefit from teacher-led science field studies. Since her online class was unable to participate in actual field trips to conduct data collection, Nelson-Shokar purchased an iPad to use in conjunction with a Hot Spot which made it possible to conduct science field studies virtually to engage her students. The iPad allowed her to use Zoom technology with each class to collect the necessary data while she was in the field. She then uploaded and transferred data to students for them to immediately analyze. Nelson-Shokar communicated with her students while out in the field using the iPad camera which allowed students to see, in real time, what was being collected and analyzed. Students were able to extend their learning beyond the walls of the classroom/home and become engaged in real-world problems through collaboration.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kathleen Poe
Jacksonville Beach, FL
Project: "Help Me to Be Me"
Kathleen Poe worked through PossAbilities Plus, an educational center in Atlantic Beach, Florida that addresses the needs of young adults (age 14 and up) with Autism, Down Syndrome, and other social and intellectual diversities. One of the classes offered is Time Management and Interpersonal Communications. The time management class is designed to help these young adults prioritize their time; set goals; plan a to-do list and schedule using personal calendars and planners. Kathleen purchased items and supplies for students that helped them understand their strengths and weaknesses when communicating with peers as they worked through scenarios where they were required to read clocks, learn to set a time; plan with a time deadline; and plan for doing multiple tasks within a specified time frame.
Photos of Grant Project "Help Me to Be Me" provided by Kathleen Poe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melissa Whitson
Roulhac Middle School, Bonifay, FL
Project: “Check It Out”
Melissa Whitson is a middle school language arts teacher at Roulhac Middle School who has discovered that her students are becoming more disinterested in extra-curricular reading each year. Whitson purchased a list of current and popular books to add to her classroom so that her students would make stronger connections to the titles in the class library. Whitson felt that there is a vital need for expanding reading for all of her students. She knew that reading helps improve student vocabulary, communication, grammar and writing skills. The project impacted over 100 - 7th and 8th grade students.
2020 Educational Grant Recipients
|
Pam Ayers Project: “First Chapter Fridays Literature Circles in the High School Classroom” Port Charlotte High Port Charlotte, FL |
|
Diane Driggers Project: “Creating Future Scientists” Medart Elementary. Crawfordville, FL |
|
Desiraye Pulizzi Project: “Learning to 'Code' in Kindergarten” Lake Trafford Elementary. Immokalee FL |
|
Janie Register Project: “123, Community Helpers Are We!” Ft. Braden Community Center and Tallahassee Museum. Tallahassee FL |
|
Sharon Richardson Project: “Measurements Matter” First Christian Academy. DeFuniak Springs, FL |
|
Janice Tucker Project: “Flight to Freedom” Ft Mose' Historic Park and Lincolnville Museum. St. Augustine FL |
|
Debra Spradley Project: “BrainPOP” Tommy Smith Elementary. Panama City, FL |
2020 Professional Development Award Recipients
|
Jennifer Guarraia Trinity Catholic. Tallahassee, FL Professional Event: “Get Your Teach On” National Conference Orlando FL |
|
Stacey DeWolfe Lemon Bay High. Englewood, FL Professional Event: Coursework: “Set Theory”; Graduate Level Mathematics |
|
Kim Franklin Waller Elementary, Youngstown, FL Professional Event: “FAME” (Florida Association for Media in Education) Orlando FL |
Debbie Bohanan Zenith Accelerated Learning Academy, Kissimmee, FL Professional Event: “ISTE21”(International Society for Technology in Education National Conference) San Antonio, TX |
2019 Professional Development Award Recipients
|
Nancy Rosenbaum Teach/University School, Tallahassee, FL Professional Event: "Space Academy for Educators" Huntsville, Alabama |
|
Sarah Watters Riversink Elementary, Crawfordville, FL Professional Event: "Happy Teacher Revolution Facilitator Training" (online course) |
2018 Professional Development Award Recipient
|
Carol Hedrick Lehigh Elementary, North Fort Myers, FL Professional Event: "International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE18) Conference" Chicago, Illinois |
2017 Professional Development Award Recipients
|
Dr. Stephanie Lutton Carey University of South Florida, Tampa, FL Professional Event: "International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) 16th World Congress" Cape Town, South Africa |
|
Cara Dunford Holt Yankeetown School, Yankeetown, FL Professional Event: "Kagan Cooperative Learning - The Writing Process" Orlando, FL |
Thank you for your interest in the Florida DKG Educational Foundation Professional Development Award and Educational Grant.
|
Last Update: June 2022
Webmaster-D. Graff: fldkgef@gmail.com |