By Carmen Rodgers
Elmore/Autauga News
The Autauga Education Foundation was established in 1995. Since that time, the organization has awarded $161,000 in teacher grants. These grants enhance educational programs and student experiences throughout the county.
“Autauga Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides sustainable resources and community support to ensure academic excellence and strong character development in for Autauga County Schools,” Autauga Education Foundation’s Eric Jacks said. “The foundation is a separate independent organization that supports Autauga County schools to provide support for its goals and objectives.
This year the foundation gave $15,000 in teacher grants. In addition to that, Southern Power Plant Harris funded almost $8,500 of the grants that were received.
AJ Hester and Josh Brooks, with Southern Power Plant Harris, presented checks to the grant recipients during Thursday night’s grant award ceremony.
AEF is a nonprofit organization, and it relies on fundraising events such as the popular Tailgating for Education event that was held last summer.
“These funds could not be made possible without the generosity and support of our sponsors and attendees. The funding and the community assistance is to attract and support excellent teachers, promote outstanding student academic achievement and character development, and strengthen the region’s economic vitality and reputation,” Jacks said.
Autauga Education Foundation’s Pam Frederick announced this year’s grant recipients.
“Whether the need is for extended learning problems. Like the arts career readiness, technology, or character development. The Autauga Education Foundation wants to provide an avenue to explore and develop refined ideas for improving education for our students,” Frederick said.
Autauga County Superintendent Tim Tidmore was present for the award ceremony. Tidmore announced that the Autauga County Board of Education would match the AEF grants.
“It is always good to be able to do extra things for our deserving faculty and staff. Particularly when they spend the time to write a grant, and receive a grant,” Tidmore said.
Principal Devin Stewart and music teacher Donna Finch from Daniel Pratt Elementary School were presented with the first grant of the evening. This grant will be used to purchase supplies that will enhance the school’s music program.
“It will be a more fun and interesting way to introduce drumming into the classroom that will be fun, something kids like, on a safe platform,” Finch said.
The next grant recipients were Stephanie Rowell from Pine Level Elementary School, with Principal Kristen Harry. Rowell wrote a grant to fund LCD writing tablets that will be used in small group instruction especially for students who need extra intervention.
Debbie Langham from Prattville Primary School along with Principal Joseph Cochran accepted a grant from AEF that will fund books for classroom libraries.
“This is all about books,” Langham said. “We rely heavily on books from the beginning of our day to the end, everything revolves around our classrooms, themes, books, and we are just trying to get the classroom library more equipped for some of our harder to explain things like magnets and weather and space. So, we are hoping to expand and just enjoy a lot of books this year.”
Instructional Technology Coach, Christie Johnson, and Information Technology Supervisor, Raymond Thebo, accepted the grant for Autauga County Schools that will fund the Dot and Dash program that will intro STEM activities to students.
“They are robots to help bring computer science and coding into those classrooms,” Johnson said. “That is what I am excited about bringing to our elementary.”
Next, Marbury High School Principal, Lyman Woodfin, and anatomy teacher, Kristen Peek, accepted an AEF grant that will allow more students to learn lifesaving skills.
“’I do CPR certification with my students every year,” Peek said. “With this grant, I’m going to buy more CPR dummies and stuff like that so we can get more of our students certified to hopefully help other communities as well.”
Pine Level Elementary School’s Pre-K instructors, Danielle Allen, Jennifer Cannon, Rachel Shoupe, and Sheila White accepted an AEF grant that will fund playground equipment.
“Things that we don’t have like a basketball goal, a bubble station and play bus for the kids to play on,” Allen said.
Several teachers were present from Prattville Elementary to accept a grant that will the fund a sensory room for the school’s Special Education Department.
Prattville High School Principal Dr. Daniel Ferris, and science teacher, Tiffany Ann Borton, accepted a grant that will fund environmental science activities.
“I teach environmental science,” Borton said. “A lot of these kids don’t get outdoors. Let alone go and hike around in Lanark, and I actually take them to the creek to hike in the water.”
Prattville High School science teacher, Natalie Warren, and Principal, Daniel Harris accepted a grant that provide virtual reality software in the classrooms.
“For virtual reality headsets, and also the software to go with that to do virtual dissections for my anatomy and physiology classes,” Warren said. “Not only can we use that in anatomy and physiology, but also any of the science classes in our department will be able to see so it will impact the entire school.”
Autauga County Special Education’s April Baker, and principal Kim Holloway accepted grants that will fund new toys for added interaction and conversation.
“This grant is for all kinds of different toys because I want joined attention,” Baker said. “I want them to talk about language. I want them to learn how to play and get them talking, instead of just staring at an iPad all day.”
To close the ceremony Fredericks thanked everyone in attendance and organization supporters.
“Thank you all for coming. This is my favorite part of being on the Autauga Education Foundation Board,” Fredericks said. “I love giving money to teachers to use in the classroom because as all of you know, they do not have enough.”
Jacks also showed appreciation to teachers, supporters, and everyone in attendance at the grant award ceremony.
“Thank you all for coming. As a parent of a kid at Prattville Elementary, I appreciate each and every one of you. I know how hard and how hard it is,” he said.
To donate to AEF, for more information about the Autauga Education Foundation, go to https://www.autaugaef.org or call 334-312-7047.
