Over $16,900 in grants have been awarded to educators by the Fayette County Education Foundation to help fund innovative teaching ideas at public schools throughout the county.
Educators receiving grants were honored at a special reception held at Glendalough Manor in Tyrone on April 24. Over 40 grants were funded for 2007.

The grants give teachers the monetary assistance they need to bring innovative and creative programs into their classrooms to help enhance the curriculum that is already in place. These programs are in addition to what is funded by the school system. Without assistance from the Fayette County Education Foundation, funding for many of these programs would not be possible.

In addition to the grant awards, the foundation also honored this year’s paraprofessional scholarship winner. For the third consecutive year, the foundation has awarded scholarships to paraprofessionals who are working toward their education degree at an accredited college or university. This year’s recipient, Melissa Puckett of Robert J. Burch Elementary, came full circle, having been one of the initial awardees of the first round of scholarships given in 2005. Scholarships of $500 are awarded to help offset tuition expenses. Staples of Fayetteville also honored Puckett with a $25 gift card to use toward purchasing school and classroom supplies. Puckett will graduate from Mercer University in May 2008 with a degree in Early Childhood Education.

Other scholarship recipients recognized include the winners of the Taliaferro Scholarships, given by Fayette residents John and Betsy Getreu in honor of Betsy’s mother and father. Since 2003, the Getreu’s, through the education foundation, have awarded laptop computers to four graduating high school seniors who have excelled in math and art and are continuing their education at a college or university. This year’s Taliaferro Scholarship recipients are Zachary Williams, Whitewater High (math), David Zitelli, Fayette County High (math), Lindsey Gunter, Fayette County High (art) and Christina Levesque, Whitewater High (art).

Counting this year’s grants and scholarships, the Fayette County Education Foundation has funded nearly $130,000 in grants to 302 recipients and has participated in awarding over $50,000 in scholarships since the foundation awarded its first grants in 2002.

The foundation has been able to offer this funding for teachers and students thanks to the generous support of individual and community donors. Donations to the foundation are tax deductible. The foundation is a cooperative effort between the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and the Fayette County Public School System.

Grants up to $500 are awarded to applicants each spring on a competitive basis. Anyone interested in becoming a supporter of the Fayette County Education Foundation can contact Melinda Berry-Dreisbach at the Fayette County Board of Education, 770-460-3535.

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