State grants will upgrade math, science classrooms

by Marie Saavedra, KY3 News

State grants will upgrade math, science classrooms

Story Published: Sep 10, 2007 at 4:50 PM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 10, 2007 at 5:03 PM CDT

By Gene Hartley

Video

NIXA, Mo. -- Gov. Matt Blunt says tech-savvy classrooms are necessary to prepare students for the high-tech job market. Today, the governor announced $2.9 million in grants, divided among 100 schools, for new equipment in math and science classrooms. The governor made the announcement at High Pointe Elementary, which is one of two Nixa schools to receive the grants.

Science is Kim Brubaker's favorite subject to teach and, judging by the 3rd grade enthusiasm, science is her students favorite subject to learn.

“It's a lot of activities. They get to do writing, sing songs, learn how the plants make food, so it's one of the higher interests they have,” said Brubaker.

But every teacher has a wish list for more learning tools.

"Probably just more of an ability to get more hands-on experiences,” is on Brubaker’s list.

And her kids agree.

"I like to do science experiments and I like to get messy with my hands when I do it,” said one student.

The school district found a way to make it happen.

“We decided to apply for a grant, hoping we could get a piece of the pie and, fortunately, we got two pieces."

In an afternoon assembly at High Pointe Elementary, Blunt said the school and Nixa Junior High would receive more than $50,000 for a high tech classroom in their buildings.

"We certainly want all mo children to have an exciting and fulfilling career, and virtually every job in the future will require higher degrees, skill sets and proficiency in math and science and the use of technology,” said Blunt.

Brubaker's students continue their studies on plants and pollination but, in 4th grade, they'll use computers, projectors, wipe boards and other tools to study -- something to anticipate, along with their next lesson.

Here are the 100 schools that will get the Math, Engineering, Technology and Science grants in this fiscal year.

District Name

School Name

Applicant Teacher

Affton 101

Gotsch Intermediate

Laura Pezzani

Albany R-III

Albany Middle

Tony Atkins

Arcadia Valley R-II

Arcadia Valley High

Jennifer Thornton

Ava R-I

Ava High

Jackie Carl

Bevier C-4

Joan C. Patrick Elementary

Amanda O'Brien

Bevier C-4

Bevier High

Carla Easley

Bolivar R-I

Bolivar Middle

Cassy Farmer

Bolivar R-I

Bolivar High

Clayton McCullah

Brunswick R-II

Brunswick High

Julie Fletcher

Brunswick R-II

Brunswick Elementary

Heather Sims

Carrollton R-VII

Carrollton High

Scarlet Horine

Carthage R-IX

Steadley Elementary

Velda Patton

Carthage R-IX

Carthage Senior High

Autumn Palmer

Cassville R-IV

Cassville Intermediate

Maria San Paolo

Cassville R-IV

Cassville Middle

Wendy Miekley

Center 58

Indian Creek Elementary

Amy Meirowsky

Center 58

Center Middle

Brad Piroutek

Charleston R-I

Charleston High

William McNeary

Columbia 93

Oakland Junior High

Beth Newton

Community R-VI

Community High

Bethany Curtis

Confluence Academies

Confluence Academy - ONSL

Angel Nave

Diamond R-IV

Diamond Elementary

Nicola Higgs

El Dorado Springs R-II

El Dorado Springs High

Frances Holder

El Dorado Springs R-II

El Dorado Springs Middle

Kim Bowmaster

Fort Osage R-I

Fire Prairie Middle

Ruth Skaggs

Ft. Zumwalt R-II

Dardenne Elementary

Amy Schwartz

Fulton 58

McIntire Elementary

Cami Webb

Fulton 58

Fulton Middle

Trish Gilman

Grain Valley R-V

Grain Valley Middle

Kathy Parrott

Grain Valley R-V

Prairie Branch Elem

Darby Rusher

Hallsville R-IV

Hallsville Elementary

Elizabeth O'Day

Hallsville R-IV

Hallsville Middle

Susan German

Hermitage R-IV

Hermitage Elementary

Denise Hawkins

Hickman Mills C-1

Smith-Hale Middle

Eric Hall

Holden R-III

Holden Intermediate

Robin Eissler

Holden R-III

Holden Middle

Patti Lott

Holden R-III

Holden High

Laura Meador

Independence 30

William Chrisman High

Katharine Sparks

Jefferson C-123

Jefferson C-123 High

Royce Cozine

Joplin R-VIII

McKinley Elementary

Tammy Hunter

Joplin R-VIII

Memorial Middle

Suzanne Chlanda

Knob Noster R-VIII

Knob Noster Middle

Michelle Tackett

Knob Noster R-VIII

Whiteman Elementary

Cheri Luehrs

Knob Noster R-VIII

Knob Noster High

Neva Allen

Lebanon R-III

Lebanon Senior High

Erica Cox

Lebanon R-III

Hillcrest Elementary

Glenda Admire

Leeton R-X

Leeton High

Brian Holmgren

Leeton R-X

Leeton Middle

Angela Strauss

Leeton R-X

Leeton Elementary

Theresa Schull

Lincoln R-II

Lincoln High

Rebecca Mueller

Maplewood Richmond Heights

MRH Elementary

Lauren Borger

Maries County R-II

Belle High

Travis Plume

Maries County R-II

Belle Elementary

Amy Stradford

Maries County R-II

Belle Middle

Jennifer Bacon

Marshall

Bueker Middle

Heidi Rogers

Marshall

Marshall High

Britta Zernicke

Mehlville R-IX

Oakville High

John Souris

Mexico 59

Mexico Middle

Becky Schafer

Monett R-I

Monett Intermediate

Teresa Huntress

Montgomery County R-II

Bellflower Elementary

Janice Edgar

Nixa R-II

High Pointe Elementary

Heather Pearce

Nixa R-II

Nixa Middle

Dorrie Harris

Northwest R-I

House Springs Intermediate

Susan Collins

Northwest R-I

Northwest Valley

Jennifer Schumacher

Northwest R-I

Northwest High

Michael White

Odessa R-VII

Odessa Middle

Dawn Griffith

Paris R-II

Paris Junior High

Deb Rinz

Paris R-II

Paris High

Suzanne Otto

Plato R-V

Plato High

Dawn Sprouse

Putnam County R -I

Putnam County Middle

Louis Spase

Ralls County R-II

Center Elementary

Kristie Darley

Raytown C-2

South Middle

Sarah Morales

Reeds Spring R-IV

Reeds Spring High

Tonya Lewis

Reeds Spring R-IV

Reeds Spring Middle

Jason Walworth

Reeds Spring R-IV

Reeds Spring Intermediate

Tricia Weydert

Richmond R-XVI

Richmond Middle

William Dooley

Ritenour

Hoech Middle

Dan Tripp

Ritenour

Wyland Elementary

Melissa Timmerman

Riverview Gardens

Highland Elementary

Matthew Williams

Riverview Gardens

Central Middle

Wayne Balk

Rockwood R-VI

Chesterfield Elementary

Lori Mathys

Rockwood R-VI

Summit High

Ted Gray

Sedalia 200

Heber Hunt Elementary

Amanda Jackson

Sedalia 200

Sedalia Middle

Rose Crawford

South Callaway County R-II

South Callaway Middle

Regina Van Patten

St. Charles R-VI

Coverdell Elementary

Dana Hayes

St. James R-I

Lucy W. James Elem

Melissa Keeney

St. James R-I

St. James Middle

Nancy Davis

St. James R-I

Hodge High

David Bond

St. Louis City

Gundlach Elementary

Francine Guilfoy

Strafford R-VI

Strafford Elementary

Joyce Graves

Waynesville R-VI

Freedom Elementary

Sharon Clayton

Wellsville-M