2024 Ellison Education Grant Recipients

Terri Ainardi – North Hill Elementary – Highline School District

Project Title: Art Docent Program
Although Washington State schools have visual art standards the Highline School District does not provide art curriculum. The Art Docent Program will build skills in cultural awareness, critical thinking, communication, creativity, fine motor skills, self-expression and problem solving. All students will receive monthly lessons and virtual interactive visits to art galleries. Students will then develop their own artistic skills using a wide variety of media and techniques.

Stephanie Aragon – Thorndyke Elementary – Tukwila School District

Project Title: Science Kits for Greater Engagement
15% of students at Thorndyke Elementary currently meet statewide science standards and 22% in math. As a result of a high number of multilingual students, hands-on science lessons are often where students are most engaged. High quality hands-on science lessons promote inquiry and promote student discussion. Science “Kits” will be purchased to be used by all students.

Kaitlyn Beesley – Grand Mound Elementary – Rochester School District

Project Title: Inclusive Intervention
One of the 4th grade teams’ top priorities is finding curriculum that is equitable for all learners. The current curriculum does not reflect the diversity of students and learning styles. The 4th grade teaching team will introduce “Time for Kids” reading materials to better serve their students.

Anabela Bernardo – Amboy Middle School – Battle Ground School District

Project Title: Read Naturally Update
Ana works with special education students who are below state reading standards. She has he’s worked successfully with “Reading Well” curriculum, but her current materials are severely outdated. Unhe The Ellison Grant will allow her to update her materials fro the coming year.

Jeana Diaz – Pleasant Valley Primary School – Battleground School District

Project Title: Literacy Enrichment
Many MLL students are searching for ways to continue reading while they learn a new language. Multilingual students who are used to reading a variety of books come to school to find a very limited selection. Having a variety of grade level texts in their home language will have a huge impact on their educational engagement.

Molly Fairweather – Highland Elementary – Clarkston School District

Project Title: Transforming District Literacy Instruction
Highland Elementary is seeing a significant gap between research and practice when it comes to teaching students to read. They will implement “The Science of Reading” in two phases starting this summer as they attend the “Literacy Summit” in Big Sky, Montana. Phase two consists of implementing their professional development plan during the 2024 – 2025 school year.

Allison Geer – McKenna Elementary – Yelm Community Schools

Project Title: Dash Robot Enrichment
As the technology teacher at McKenna, Allison has been using code.org to teach coding to students. With the purchase of Dash Robots, students will be able to move from virtual to physical creations. Dash Robots allow students to understand in real time the impact of decisions they’ve made in building their creations.

Cecilia Guzmán-Marrón – Madison Elementary – Mt. Vernon School District

Project Title: The World is our Playground
Madison Elementary is home to a transition kindergarten program for 4- and 5-year-old students. To enhance learning, Madison Elementary will purchase equipment to create an outdoor learning experience. The hope is to create a space that promotes creativity and exploration through a natural environment.

Katherine Hanson – Nob Hill Elementary – Yakima School District

Project Title: SEL Through Music
To address the ongoing social and emotional needs of students, the “specialist” team would like to dive deeper into the use of QuaverReady curriculum and professional development. They will put a special focus on the “self vs. others” attitude so many of their students struggle with.

Jaime Heim – Ridgefield Middle and High School – Ridgefield School District

Project Title: Co-Teaching Inclusionary Practices
Ridgefield High School and View Ridge Middle School began “co-teaching” practices in 2017 and Jaime has played a large role in designing what those practices look like. Although the district has provided training opportunities there’s a greater need to better understand each teacher’s role and responsibilities within a “co-taught” classroom. Stipends for substitute teachers will allow “teams” to learn from each other in a more effective environment.

Kim Hollopeter – La Center Middle School – La Center School District

Project Title: Student Engagement Through SIOP
Recognizing the need for enhanced engagement among students (especially MLL students). teachers at La Center MS want to prioritize professional learning around “Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol”. SIOP fosters inclusivity and dynamism in the classroom. By boosting student engagement, they hope to see improved academic success.

Gretchen King – Graham Elementary – Bethel School District

Project Title: Culturally Relevant Literature
As the population at Graham Elementary evolves they'll address the lack of high quality, authentic stories representing diverse cultures. By adding current books about Polynesian, Somali, Pakistani and other BIPOC authors, students will see themselves represented in books they can access in the library.

Kat Messersmith – Cooper Elementary – Spokane School District

Project Title: Immersive Experiences through Music
Although students have access to technology, the music program will upgrade her classroom equipment to provide students ways to use technology in creative ways. With the purchase of new 10th generation iPads they’ll be able to implement curriculum using QuaverReady and Class Dojo.

Susan O’Leary – Beachwood Elementary – Clover Park School District

Project Title: STEM Building Challenges
As the librarian at Beachwood Elementary Susan will provide STEM challenges and hands-on opportunities when students visit her. With the purchase of appropriate materials, students will be challenged to replicate ideas and structures they’ve only read about in books. The idea is to encourage them to be an active participant in their reading with the use of STEM concepts.

Jodi Olson – Sequim Highly Capable Coordinator – Sequim School District

Project Title: Highly Capable Enrichment
It’s often difficult for highly capable students to have their needs met using district curriculum. Hi-cap students need to be challenged and learn strategies helping them develop perseverance. Students will be challenged by introducing “Art of Problem Solving” from Beast Academy. The Art of Problem Solving provides academic challenges needed to develop resilience and a growth mindset

Debora Ortner -Ridgefield School District – Ridgefield School District

Project Title: Foundational Reading Skills for Kindergarten Teachers
Debora recognized all kindergarten teachers within the Ridgefield School District need to have a solid foundation regarding the “Science of Reading”. Research shows 95% of all students can learn to read by the end of 1st grade using the LETRS curriculum. By immersing themselves in the LETRS training and curriculum, they hope to reach that goal at Ridgefield.

Janelle Phillips – Amon Creek Elementary – Kennewick School District

Project Title: Bring Balance Back to Literacy Classroom
Janelle and her team will increase their student’s phonemic awareness and phonic recognition skills using myHeggerty digital curriculum. Amon Creek currently uses written curriculum but digital allows access to English and Spanish versions of tutorial videos with 1,000 different lessons and professional development.