JACKSON, Tenn. (October 27, 2021) – Leaders Education Foundation, a non-profit 501C-3, is pleased to award nineteen West Tennessee educators with the L.E.A.D.S. Educator Grant. This program awards $1,000 grants to area educators whose initiatives empower students to Learn, Experience, Advocate, Dream, and Serve.
“The L.E.A.D.S. Educator Grant embodies who we are as an organization because our organization exists to Make Lives Better, Together,” said Leigh Anne Bentley, President of Leaders Education Foundation. “We know that by supporting these educators’ projects that students’ lives will be made better in the classroom and beyond.”
Grant proposals range from funds for a school-wide garden to a frog dissection project for students, mathematic graphing tablets, to tv production equipment. Grant submissions included a short video explaining the need and use of the grant money. Dozens of proposals were submitted, and nineteen recipients were chosen by the community via social media voting. Winners include:
- Robyn Hicks- Andrew Jackson Elementary School
- Cheryl Currie- Isaac Lane Elementary
- Kyle Gehring- Bradford High School
- Aimee Evans- Arlington Elementary School
- Calandra Ellison-Williamson- Liberty Technology Magnet High School
- Mary Hicks- Chester County High School
- Tamara Jones- George Washington Carver College & Career Academy
- Calandra Ellison- Williamson- Denmark Elementary School
- Selina Bradley- Bartlett High School
- Gretta Aldrich- Jackson-Madison County Schools
- Debra Nichols- Elmore Park Middle School
- Matthew Barker- Freed-Hardeman University
- Kelly Williams- Isaac Lane Elementary
- Cara Pruett- Carroll County Technical Center
- Sharon Rees- Ellendale Elementary
- Geneva Storey - Obion County Central High School
- Tiffany Matzek- Arlington Elementary School
- Libby Lynch- East Elementary School
- Shemon Reaves- Arlington Elementary School
In addition to the nineteen grants awarded, a $1,000 donation was made to Humphreys County School System for disaster relief efforts from the flooding in August. Mr. Robert Martin, Assistant Superintendent for Humphreys County Schools, received a standing ovation as the presentation was made to support educators affected by the flooding.
“We’ve been amazed by the creativity of each grant submission we received,” Bentley said. “We’re glad we’re able to support the teachers through their creativity because that’s our passion. We are an education foundation, after all, so anything we can do to support students and teachers, that’s what we strive to do.”
