Community ClicksSEQUIM — The Sequim Education Foundation made history when it announced it will be able to fund every one of the record 20 grant applications received from Sequim public school teachers.
“Everyone was a winner this year, especially the kids,” said Kathy Schock, Sequim Education Foundation grant chair.
The grant committee — composed of board members Jodi Olson, Elna Kawal and middle school representative Kelly Anders along with community members Ray Robinson and Bryce Fish — listened to teachers’ presentations on everything from technological assistive devices to field trips to books and science materials to new after school clubs to help reach out to inspire children.
Funding for these projects is made possible by the financial support of the Sequim community.
“Our donors really stepped up to the plate this year, and by the time of the announcements, SEF had acquired all of the funds necessary to make this historic event happen,” said Sequim Education Foundation President Dick Hughes.
More than $12,000 will be presented to five schools and will help benefit more than 2,400 children this school year alone.
“Sequim Education Foundation is all about quality education, and these projects will elevate that quality significantly,” the committee said in a statement. “We are all on the same team, to grow our youth.”
Sequim Education Foundation continues to track each of the grant recipients with mid-term and follow-up reports.
“We have a responsibility to our donors to ensure that the money is being well-spent and reaching its maximum potential,” the committee said.
“The best part for me is seeing the money hard at work in the classroom,” said Schock. “The entire committee wanted to thank those teachers who put so much time and effort into their grant packets.
“Those teachers who go above and beyond to search out those tools and ideas to light a fire in the minds of our kids are the real treasure of the Sequim School District.”
Tax-deductible donations for teacher grants may be made to Sequim Education Foundation at P.O. Box 3065, Sequim, WA 98362.
For more information, visit www.sequimed.org.
