As students and staff prepare to wrap up the 2024-2025 school year, the Education Foundation celebrated educators at Roosevelt High School earlier this week. Since late February, staff and Education Foundation Board members have been announcing Public School Proud Grant winners throughout the district, and Roosevelt had seven grants funded, more than any other school in the Sioux Falls School District. Below is a list of Roosevelt High School teachers who received grants and a brief description of their projects:
Andrea Straus received $2,000 for her proposal, “Aquaponic System.” With grant funds, she will purchase an aquaponic system that can grow lettuce and other leafy greens and also includes a fish farming component. In the application, she wrote, “The aquaponic system enhances the AP Environmental Science curriculum by allowing students to have hands-on immersive learning while managing a closed-loop ecosystem. Students will study nutrient cycles, interaction between species, biodiversity and food webs, water quality, different agriculture practices, sustainable food production, and fish farming. A large part of the AP curriculum is experimental design as well as scientific inquiry. Students will be able to conduct experiments and analyze data to better understand this standard” (https://www.facebook.com/SFPSEF).
Janet Martin will use $367.02 for her proposal, “Manipulating with the Mole.” She plans to purchase white boards, magnetic strip tape, and laminating sheets. In the application, she wrote, “The project will allow students to use magnetic pieces with numbers and labels to set up stoichiometric problems (reactional and molar conversions). With the manipulatives, students can mimic setting up a problem by putting in labels first then numbers. Students will solve for the correct answers and then find that answer among the pieces provided.”
Brittany Hamann received $1,599.60 for her proposal, “Heart Rates and Homeostasis.” She plans to purchase 40 heart rate monitors. In the application, she wrote, “Homeostasis is a continuous thread throughout biology. However, students struggle with understanding its importance and involvement within living organisms. A reinforcement activity like a heart rate lab will allow students to witness and observe how homeostatic processes maintain equilibrium. By using heart rate monitors, students will track the changes of their heart rate continuously and precisely under varying conditions. By accurately monitoring the changes a body experiences, specifically during and immediately following exercise, students can analyze how body systems like the respiratory and circulatory system overlap and function to maintain internal body conditions.”
Skyler Kidd will use $1,146 for his proposal, “3D Art and Ceramics.” He plans to purchase a compressor, grinder, kiln shelf and posts, and gloss glazes that will be used by 350 students. In the application, he wrote, “The goal is to rebuild the ceramic studio at Roosevelt. We had an air compressor, but it recently broke down. This has prevented students from creating work at the highest level possible. By purchasing a new air compressor, angle grinder, kiln shelves, posts, and glazes, students will have the means to create highly functional and decorative ceramics that meet industry and university standards. Furthermore, the angle grinder and kiln shelves will help prolong the lifespan of the kiln.”
Mearah Miedema received $185.96 for her proposal, “Printmaking.” She plans to purchase wood blocks. In the proposal, she wrote, “Students will be able to experiment with a different printmaking medium that is not accessible to many students outside of the classroom. They will design artwork and then physically carve their work into wood. It can be reused to print many times or stand alone as an art piece. Most students have already used linoleum as a printmaking medium, and this will give them a new option to try.”
Ruth Hillman will use $3,958.97 for her proposal, “Exploring Art Mediums.” She plans to purchase supplies for paper quilling, cross stitch, weaving, drawing and painting, needle felting, card making, origami, and calligraphy. In the application, she wrote, “Each one of these items fits into a higher order thinking art. Students are still able to work through the process of creation and share their imaginative ideas, but now they will get to use new materials. With each new art form that students try, they might discover something that they really love or something at which they excel. When young minds discover new art forms that they can take into adulthood, they have a higher chance of continuing to be creative throughout their life.”
Erin Taphorn received $906.72 for her proposal, “Photo Supplies.” With grant funds, she will purchase camera bags, card readers, UV lens protectors, photo props, light stands, and a light painting kit that will be used by 130 students in Photo 1 and 2. In the application, she wrote, “I teach using the Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) model. With this, students are able to explore photography at their own pace. They are encouraged to go more in-depth into areas of interest. These supplies will allow students more options to deepen their understanding and allow them to be practicing artists.”
Funding for the four art teachers was provided by the Winker family. They donated $100,000 in August 2024 to enhance visual arts programming throughout the Sioux Falls School District (https://sfeducationfoundation.org/education-foundation-receives-100000-gift-to-enhance-visual-arts/). The Education Foundation gave all art teachers $200 Replenish the Room Grants in the fall, and then they could apply for Public School Proud Grant funding this spring.
This has been a record year for the Education Foundation. The organization awarded 110 Public School Proud Grants to 130 teachers during the 2024-2025 school year. Last year, the Education Foundation surpassed $1 million in overall funding for the Public School Proud Grant Program.