Fund for Excellence in Education Grants are awarded to recognize the important contributions that teachers make in our community; support the personal and professional enhancement of teachers; and champion teacher initiatives to improve learning opportunities for teachers and students.  The following Funds contribute to the Fund for Excellence in Education.  We gratefully acknowledge their generous support.

Bank of New York Fund	Dennis J. Markle Community Service Fund
Dorothy's Marionettes and Puppets Fund	Mildred McManus Fund
Irene G. Gatanis Fund	David Kennon Moody Fund
HSBC Donor Advised Fund	John J. and Margaret M. Mulvey Fund
Roy C. Ketcham Fund	Robert Polhill Fund
Donald P. and E. Lorraine Love Fund	Poughkeepsie Savings Bank Fund
Margaret W. Mair Education Fund	Premier National Bank Endowment Fund
Marine Midland Bank Education Fund	World Affairs Council – Mid Hudson Valley Global Studies and World AffairsTeacher Award Fund

2009 Grantees
2009 Fund for Excellence in Education Winners

Carol M. Becker - Regina Coeli School    
Anansi the Spider & the Music of Ghana

The school community has an association with the people of Sunyani, Ghana, whose clergymen come to live in the parish and visit the school.  In an effort to increase students understanding and appreciation for the people and culture of Ghana, they will read folktales and learn the rhythm of the music of Ghana. 

Daniel P. Flanagan and Jacob A. Lawrence - Arlington High School                 
Biodiesel Mixer

Purchase of a biodiesel mixer for use by the students in the transportation (auto mechanics) and energy courses.  Students will be able produce large quantities of biodiesel to be used for diesel vehicles.

Alexis L. Glick - Elm Drive Elementary School  
ESL Family Nights

This program will to allow ESL families to participate in school activities which include meeting with school teachers and staff, acquiring necessary information about services available to them in the school and the community, as well as sharing their culture and experiences.

Denise C. Hains - Millbrook Middle School       
Web-Wise Kids

Students and families will participation in an Internet safety program sponsored by "Web-Wise Kids” which instructs children on how to avoid Internet predators and make an Internet Safety Plan.

Alison MacFarlane - Dutchess Day School                          
Multi-School Art Show

The activity is the creation of an annual Multi-School Art Show for schools in the Hudson Valley; grades PK through 8th.  It is a venue for children to display their artwork together under one roof with non-juried acceptance and a setting for equality no matter what art talent, type of school, ethnicity and socio-economic background.

Judith Muir - Hawk Meadow Montessori School              
Sing Out! Reach Out!

Sing Out! Reach Out! is an innovative music program that teaches children old time popular songs and trains them to interact with residents of senior homes and hospitals using music as the primary focus.

Maribel M. Pregnall - Arlington High School                      
Biological Sampling Adventure - Wading in the Wetlands

Students will assess the diversity and density of native and introduced non-native vegetation and animals by correlating the biodiversity data that they obtain with water quality parameters that they will measure.  They will compare data that they collect in natural wetlands that are glacial remnants to man-made wetlands that the school had to build in order to mitigate for a construction project.

Barbara A. Rizzolo - Chancellor Livingston School            
A Chair for Mr. Bear

Third grade students will experience the eight steps of the engineering design process through several activities of increasing complexity, using Legos.  Students will begin by building a “Chair for Mr. Bear” and then study and build the six simple machines, a major component of the third grade science curriculum.

Christine A. Scott and Caryn J. Claar - Traver Road Primary School
Creating a Weather Station

Students in grades K-2 will design and implement a weather station for their school.  Students will study the weather and how it affects the world. 

Dennis J. Markle Community Service Fund Awards

Dutchess County United Teachers’ Community Service Grants are awarded to public school teachers for projects involving their students in community service.  These community service awards are made in memory of Dennis Markle. 

Sarah Burrows - Red Hook High School                             
School Memorial Garden

Funds will be used for the continuation of the beautification, development, and collaborative use of the school memorial garden.

Erin O'Brien - Chancellor Livingston School
Walkway Over the Hudson - Virtual Field Trip

Fourth grade students will visit the Walkway Over the Hudson site to create a DVD "virtual field trip".  They will also learn the rich and important history of this bridge and its future. 
^{*Also funded in part by the Fund for Excellence in Education Funds.}

Dorothy’s Marionettes and Puppets Award

Grants are awarded to public school teachers for projects which incorporate student and/or teacher-made marionettes and puppets in the curricula. 

Melinda A. Spooner and Nicole A. Teed - Governor George Clinton Elementary School
Children's Marionette Opera

Fifth grade students will create marionettes and a performance stage, and will perform a puppet performance of "Hansel & Gretel" for kindergarten students at their school.

David Kennon Moody Award

Grants are awarded for either professional development in the field of teaching writing or for a specific program designed to enhance the writing abilities of a teacher’s students.

Erin E. Scott - Dutchess County BOCES
Creating a Yearbook for Special Needs Students

Special needs students will create a yearbook.  They will take pictures throughout the year, and work to organize and write summaries and quotes regarding the pictures.  Students will also learn word processing skills to help write in their yearbook and learn how to use internet based programs such as Snapfish to organize and create their yearbook.

The World Affairs Council - Mid Hudson Valley Excellence in
Teaching Global Studies and World Affairs Award

This award is given to a high school teacher who strives toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment in teaching Global Studies and World Affairs. 

Maryann Williams - Franklin Roosevelt High School