NEWS -- For Immediate Release
WESTFORD EDUCATION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES
2005 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT AWARD WINNERS
News Highlights...
WESTFORD, MA -- July 8, 2005 -- The Westford Education Foundation (WEF), today announced they have awarded five different PDP (Professional Development Programs) grants for 2005. The grants are designed to encourage Westford's professional educators to further expand their understanding of varying curriculums, to which they can apply them to next year's classrooms. With balloons and flowers in hand, representatives from WEF surprised six educators with grants that will allow them to take professional development courses over the summer. For more information on grant applications or WEF in general, go to www.westfordeducationfoundation.org.
2005 PDP Grant Recipients...
The winners of this year's WEF PDP grants are:
-- Stephanie Gosselin, Westford Academy, attended the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) held the week of June 27th in Philadelphia. This was an incredible conference that brought together teachers, technology directors, and administrators from across the country with a goal of "improving educational outcomes for 21st-century learners!". The four day conference, presented by the International Society for Technology in Education, was an unique opportunity to attend and learn from many speakers, sessions and exhibits that offered ideas in the use of educational technology;
-- Patricia Brumbaugh, Westford Academy, will attend a Spanish Immersion program at the University of Cadiz in Spain. This three week course entitled "Living the Spanish Language and Culture" will allow Ms. Brumbaugh to design a course to teach at Westford Academy that will enable students to communicate in realistic scenarios, while deepening their cultural knowledge of Spain and its society;
-- Susan Beers and Carol Lyman, Westford Academy, will be attending a Conference on Childhood Development Disorders including Autism. With the ever-increasing number of students in our system with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome, Susan and Carol will attend a professional development series, culminating in a presentation by Dr. Steven Berk, who has specialized in assessment and treatment of cognitive disorders in children, adolescents, and adults since 1972;
-- Carol Shestok, Westford K-5 Science Coordinator, will be offering teacher training for the 4th grade Seismology Project that will begin in the fall. The training will occur at the Living Lab located at the Day School and will be facilitated by a geologist from the Weston Observatory. This program is a joint effort between the Weston Observatory and Boston College. It will involve grade-4 teachers, as well as teachers from the art, computer, and library departments. Information learned from this particular Earth and Space Science program, as it pertains to the impact of natural processes (i.e. earthquakes), will be used to enhance the Living Lab initiative;
-- Elizabeth Benstead, Blanchard School, will be attending a National Association of Student Councils Conference in Chicago. As a student council advisor at Blanchard Middle School for six years and now as a newly elected board member of the National Association of Student Councils, Ms. Benstead appreciates that leadership is a skill and feels that by attending this conference, she will come away with renewed enthusiasm for student council involvement at the schools by learning about various new projects and ideas to implement in the Westford Public School System.
WEF Quote...
"We received so many grant applications this year, and we're thankful to all that applied," noted Foundation President, Jeannette Wilkinson. "The enthusiasm for these grants truly demonstrates the true professional nature of the educators in this town and their eagerness to expand their own horizons as teachers. We're thankful to have resources to support these six educators in their quest to offer their students even more in the next school year."
WEF Grants...
In the last year, WEF has awarded several grants that sponsor programs that have reached out to students and educators. From introducing the complexities of their environment and new technologies to the basics of reading and writing, WEF grants are helping to make a difference at all grades.
Grants are available to all Westford faculty, educational staffers and community members with an innovative solution to education. Interested parties are encouraged to start preparing grant applications for next Fall's innovation awards and next Spring's PDPs. Applications are available at the WEF website (www.westfordeducationfoundation.org).
About WEF...
The Westford Education Foundation, Inc. is an independent, non-profit organization that promotes innovative educational initiatives and champions life-long learning. They do this by building a wide community of support, fostering ideas, channeling resources, and funding exceptional learning programs. To learn more, please visit our website (www. westfordeducationfoundation.org).
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Press Contacts...
Jeannette Wilkinson
Board of Directors
Westford Education Foundation
T: 978-418-9179
E: jwilkinson@westfordeducationfoundation.org
Carol Shestok K-5 Science Coordinator Westford Public Schools T: 978-692-2516 E: cshestok@verizon.net Craig Kevghas Board of Directors Westford Education Foundation T: 978-392-9945 E: kevghas@aol.com