Everyday throughout Fayette’s schools innovative, creative and talented teachers are enriching the minds of future leaders.

Teachers are using dynamic lessons and projects such as cooking food in chemistry labs to demonstrate chemical reactions, sewing literary quilts to reinforce a theme or point made by a famous author and sponsoring American Sign Language classes before or after school to help students better understand and interact with the deaf and hard of hearing classmates. Projects such as these open the doors to learning for many students by capturing their attention, appealing to their interests and tying what they learn to real life.

These lessons have all occurred in Fayette’s classrooms and are just a sampling of the educational innovation happening throughout the county, but none of these projects would have been possible without the support of the Fayette County Education Foundation.

Since Spring 2002, the foundation has funded nearly 300 teacher minigrants totaling over $100,000. These mingrants have helped creative teachers implement innovative classroom projects and programs that otherwise would not have received funding due to budget constraints. The foundation is a cooperative effort of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and the Fayette County School System.

Minigrants totaling a maximum of $500 per application are awarded to winning teachers each spring. The foundation relies on donations from businesses, individuals, Fayette County school employees and annual fundraisers to generate enough funds to cover grant awards.

Beginning in November, the foundation will launch its Enjoy the City coupon book fundraiser. The 2007 book features a multitude of buy one, get one free offers from fast food chains and local restaurants like Pascal’s Bistro, La Hacienda and City Café. There are also entertainment and retail discounts from local businesses such as Tires Plus, Great Clips, Enterprise Rent A Car, Foot Locker and Six Flags.

The Enjoy the City books can be purchased for $15 at the Fayette County Board of Education (210 Stonewall Avenue, Fayetteville) Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For every book sold, $7.50 will go directly to the foundation.

“These books are hot sellers every year. People love the idea of saving money at their favorite restaurants and supporting their local schools at the same time. In just one or two dining visits, the book pays for itself,” says Melinda Berry-Dreisbach, foundation board member and public information specialist for Fayette County Schools.

The foundation has been selling the coupon books for three years and each time has raised enough money to fund approximately 20 minigrants.

“These are 20 additional grants that we otherwise would not have been able to fund since competition for the grant money always outweighs the amount we have to award,” adds Berry-Dreisbach.

The books will be sold at the board of education office as long as quantities last. They usually sell quickly since they make great holiday gifts, so residents are encouraged to stop by and get their books as soon as possible. As an added bonus, anyone who purchases a 2007 book by November 30 will also be able to purchase the 2006 book for an additional $2.

For more information about the Enjoy the City coupon books or the Fayette County Education Foundation, contact Melinda Berry-Dreisbach, 770-460-3535.

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