Susan Gleason Award Fund
The Susan Gleason Award honors the memory of a Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, founding director, and is the most prestigious grant the foundation presents. The Award is presented to the teacher or team whose proposal meets the highest level of grant criteria each cycle, and which the committee determines symbolizes the innovative and compassionate commitment to children and academic achievement that Susan modeled.
Contributors to the Susan Gleason Award Fund are honored as members of the Great Educators’ Circle and receive all the benefits of membership.
To contribute to the Susan Gleason Award Fund, click here.
Our deep appreciation to the following contributors:
Michael and Elizabeth Noling
John and Simonne Ketchum
Rachel S. McKeown
Stephen and Jill Zanolli
Elizabeth and Hill Snellings
George and Pamela Ketchum
Mary and James County
Susan Gleason Award Winners
2008-09
Blogamundo Project - $2,746
Teacher(s): Megan Garcia and Rebekah Engle
School: Roberts High School
Grade Levels: 10-12
The Blogamundo Project is a motivational literacy project. Students will use camcorders and digital cameras to record images and interviews as a basis for reading and writing skill development. Both images and writing will be posted to a school blog where students will be able to comment on each other’s work, keep a portfolio, and write for a real audience.
2007-08
Heliocentric Learning
Teacher: Terry Tucker
School: Keizer Elementary School
Grade Levels: K-5
In this project, teachers develop interdisciplinary curriculum about solar energy. K-2 students learn about its relation to plants and photosynthesis. Third graders design solar ovens and experiment with htet. Fourth anf fit grade students make model cars, boats, and homes with solar cells and panels. Scientific investigations are shared via technology with parents, classmates, and the community.
2006-07
Early Childhood-Road to Literacy
Teachers: Laura Foley and five additional Salem-Keizer high school teachers
School: South Salem High School, Sprague High School, McKay High School, McNary High School, West Salem High School, North Salem High School
Grade Levels: Preschool and High School
This project aims to teach the importance of family interactions in child development. The grant provides dual language resources to the preschool programs at all Salem-Keizer high school. Preschool parent involvement is enhanced, and preschoolers develop readiness skills necessary for kindergarten and high school students are the link.
2005-06
Education for Positive Behavior, Not Punishment
Teacher: Patti Togioka
School: McKay High School
Grade Levels: 9-12
A program was designed by high school teachers and staff to teach students postivie behavior strategies, instead of emphasizing punishment for misbehavior. The goal is to diminish negative behaviors and develop good citizenship. This is part of a nation-wide program.
2005
Family Literacy Project: “Open a Book, Open a Mind”
Teacher: Kathy Martin
School: Roberts High School/Structured Learning Center
Grade Levels: 6-12
Students choose books to share with younger siblings and parents. This promotes family literacy and encourages students to be literary role models for siblings. Families experience a stronger school/home connection by participating in Structures Learning Center family literacy nights.
2004
Teacher: Julie James A World Tour of Cinderella
School: Schirle Elementary
Grade Levels: 3-4
The teacher leads students through ten different versions of the classic Cinderella story, as told around the glove. Along the way students sharpen their reading comprehension, geography skills, and cultural awareness. They also publish their own Cinderella stories.
Susan Gleason Award Winning projects automatically become eligible for grant replication funds.
Grant Replication Fund
Created in 2007, recognizes that previous SKEF grant awards have fostered the creation of some of the most effective and innovative instructional programs in the district. We want to provide even more opportunities for teachers and schools to learn from one another, to replicate best practices, and to impact student learning while taking advantage of the projects and programs that have gone before them.
"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."
—Sir Winston Churchill
Join the GEC Movement for Greatness.
