LUMBERTON — Five local educators received grants to enhance learning opportunities for students.
The following Public Schools of Robeson County educators were awarded funding from the Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation Bright Ideas grant: Kayla Hendrix, Peterson Elementary; Trezur Grafton, Tanglewood Elementary School; Robert McLean, Southside Ashpole Elementary School; Ashley Clark, Pembroke Middle School; and Deborah Lee, South Robeson Middle School.
Pembroke Middle School Media Coordinator Ashley Clark was awarded $2,500 for “Makerspace Magic in the Media Center.”
The funding will allow the school to “purchase STEM materials for my media center such as Sphero Robots, Little Bits Snap circuits, and merge cubes,” Clark said.
Peterson Elementary School educator Kayla Hendrix received a $1,950 award for her project called “I bot, You bot, We bot, Beebot.”
“It will be used to purchase a class set of beebot robots to help introduce coding to my first-grade class! Many students will find a new skill they love and a skill that will open up so many future job opportunities!” Hendrix said.
Southside-Ashpole Elementary School Physical Education Teacher Robert McLean’s $1,983 grant award will help the school purchase equipment to enhance its Physical Education program.
Tanglewood Elementary School first-grade educator Trezur Grafton received $2,000 for the “Bears’ Station Upgrade Project.” The funding will allow the school to purchase supplies and equipment for reading, math, writing, word work, and science stations in Grafton’s classroom.
South Robeson Middle School 6th-grade Math teacher Deborah Lee received $2,000 for her project “Walkthrough Learning.” The funding will allow her to take 6th-grade students on a trip to EdVenture Children’s Museum in Columbia, South Carolina.
The funds were a part of more than $33,000 awarded to educators in Cumberland, Hoke Robeson and Scotland counties, according to LREMC. There were 17 grant recipients in the areas.
“As a community-focused cooperative, Lumbee River EMC is committed to building a brighter future for our region,” said Walter White, LREMC VP of Corporate Services. “We’re proud to continue our long history of supporting educators and the students who will become our future leaders.”
The cooperative awards the grants each year “for projects that improve classroom instruction and utilize innovative teaching methods,” according to LREMC.
“Projects must provide ongoing benefits to students, achieve clearly defined goals and learning objectives, use innovative and creative teaching methods, and have measurable results evaluated upon completion. Applications are accepted by LREMC each year from April through September. Winning proposals are selected in a blind evaluation process by an independent panel of judges,” according to LREMC.
PSRC Superintendent Dr. Freddie Williamson shared words of gratitude for the grant program.
“The Public Schools of Robeson County is grateful for opportunities through programs like Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation’s Bright Ideas grants that help support our efforts to educate our students and prepare them to work and thrive in an ever-changing global society,” Dr. Williamson said.
The header photo is courtesy of LREMC.