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Several local educators recently received grants from the Cheryl Lyn Welter Family Charitable Foundation to help provide underprivileged students with necessities which are not funded with tax dollars.
At Knox, Jessica McCan, elementary teacher, was awarded a grant to purchase a reading program called “Secret Stories Alphabet.” This program would help support students as they learn to read in a way that is educational and fun. Tracy Prater, special education paraprofessional, was awarded a grant to fund a field trip to Bellaboo’s Discovery Center. Charlene Libey, 4th grade teacher, was awarded a grant to cover the costs of transportation for their December field trip as well as various items needed to support their curriculum throughout the year. Kaitlin Miller, 6th grade teacher, was awarded a grant to purchase a set of scientific calculators to be borrowed by students who cannot afford them. Jennifer Allport, 8th grade
teacher, was awarded a grant to purchase the necessary equipment to implement the
OpenSciEd curriculum.
At North Judson-San Pierre, Breann Risner, Counselor, was awarded a grant to purchase personal hygiene items to be sent home to students. Jane Halvorson, 4th grade teacher, was awarded a grant to take 4th graders to the Challenge Learning Center at Purdue in Hammond. Marilyn Lukac, 1st grade teacher, was awarded a grant to create Homework Helpers Backpacks.
At Culver Elementary School, Courtney Good, 2nd Grade teacher, was awarded a grant
to purchase headphones to be used by students who are not able to afford their own. Students
use these headphones during testing and educational activities on the iPad.
At West Central High School Brittany Spoonemore, 9th and 10th grade English teacher
and Sunshine Society Sponsor, was awarded a grant to cover field trip fees, supply costs, club
dues, and activity costs.
At Kankakee Valley Schools, Penny Agee, School Counselor, was awarded a grant to
purchase needed clothes, shoes, and weather appropriate clothing. Rhonda Toppen,
instructional coach, was awarded a grant to purchase hands-on manipulation materials to
support the new phonics curriculum in the kindergarten through third grade classrooms. Sara
Terborg, Music teacher, was awarded a grant to purchase new percussion instruments, props
for the music programs, and other items to support student’s learning through the year. Dayna
Armstrong, 3rd grade teacher, was awarded a grant to purchase items for her class’ morning
STEM baskets. Olivia Bucher, kindergarten teacher, was awarded a grant to purchase a Secret
Stories classroom kit for each kindergarten teacher. Amanda Wright, Librarian, was awarded a
grant to purchase reading level appropriate books to be taken home and kept by students who
need them. Lisa Korniak, kindergarten teacher, was awarded a grant to purchase Secret Stories
products to enhance their Science of Reading program.
The Foundation was established in memory of Cheryl Lyn Welter who was killed in an
auto accident during her Senior year at Knox High School and works with teachers who work
with underprivileged students in rural Indiana Schools. Since 2018, the Foundation has awarded
over 240 grants to 197 recipients in 35 different schools from 18 school districts totaling over
$100,000.
More information about the Cheryl Lyn Welter Family Charitable Foundation can be
found at https://www.cherylskidsfund.org
