Two Harper Creek Community Schools teachers were awarded mini-grants for the 2022-23 school year from the Guido A. and Elizabeth Binda Foundation and coordinated by the Calhoun Intermediate School District.
Sonoma Elementary STEM teacher, Julie Mathis, and Middle School STEAM teacher, Erica Jenkins, each received $1,000 grants to fund projects at their schools.
Mathis has been piloting a Science STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) special during the current school year. Her project titled, Coding for Student Success, served all 379 students in grades K-4 at Sonoma Elementary.
With these funds, eight Sphero Indi Coding Robot kits were purchased along with five picture books to enrich the science and building experiences for Elementary students at Sonoma.
Jenkins has been teaching and developing a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) elective at the middle school for the last five years. Her project titled, 3D Printers Don’t Print Themselves, served 9 classes (280 students) in grades 6-8 who take the STEAM elective at the middle school.
With these funds, two FlashForge Adventurer 3 Pro 3D printers, filament and tools were purchased to increase the capacity to print student-designed projects in the STEAM classroom.
Both teachers and Harper Creek Community Schools are grateful for the financial support they received from the Guido A. and Elizabeth Binda Foundation and the Calhoun Intermediate School District.
