Glaxo, UNCP Give Mini-grants to 20 Teachers

By Sheri Sides

GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, and the UNC Pembroke School of Education awarded $20,000 in grants to 20 public school teachers in the region for innovative and creative teaching for improved student learning. It was the third year the action-research grants have been awarded.

The research proposals, including one called "Adventures in Robotics," came from all over the region from Columbus to Harnett counties.

Fodie Mitchell, of Red Springs High School (Robeson County), developed one of the wining projects.

"'Pit Stop, Putting it Together'" is a program to teach exceptional children basic living skills," Mitchell said. "It won't be taught through lecturing. Instead, grant money will be used to buy kitchen equipment, and students will cook to get hands-on math, science and reading skills."

Susan Williams of C. Wayne Collier Elementary School in Cumberland County is strengthening reading skills of her third grade students through a project entitled "Multi-Modality Reading" in which a Caliphone sis-position listening center will be set up in her classroom.

UNCP Chancellor Allen C. Meadors urged grant recipients to share their unique teaching techniques that show results. Other teachers can use those projects in their classrooms so more children can be reached.

"It's a wonderful program that allows teachers to do innovative and creative things," Chancellor Meadors said.

Dr. Warren Baker, interim dean of the School of Education thanked GlaxoSmithKline for it continued support.

"GlaxoSmithKline is a corporate leader in caring about the public schools of North Carolina," Dr. Baker said. "Grants like this help our teachers do more for their children, and we thank GlaxoSmithKline for their continued support of our region."

The following teachers received a grant:

• Chadbourn Elementary: Kathy Blake, LuAnn Johnston, Helen Gore
• Sandy Grove Elementary: Cindy LaRochelle, Sandra Horne, Tonya Caulder
• Devers Elementary: Vicki Griffith and Natalie DaSilva
• Irwin Middle School: Andrea Burns, Diane Levy, George Small
• Clarkton School of Discovery: Stephanie Norris, Jane Davis
• Tabor City Elementary: Wannetta Williams
• Guideway Elementary: Betty Worrell
• C. Wayne Collier Elementary: Susan Williams
• Acme-Delco Elementary: Agatha Brown
• Red Springs High: Fodie Mitchell
• Tanglewood Elementary: Gaile Boggs Carter
• Brentwood Elementary: Deborah Stone, Becky Capps
• Ashley Elementary: Christina Lee, Allison Walker, Janet Peterson

Pamela Carroll, interim director of UNCP's University-School Program, which coordinates the program, presented the awards.

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world's leading research-base pharmaceutical and health care companies, with North American operations based in the Research Triangle Park, N.C., and Philadelphia. The company's philosophy is to target support for selected programs that are innovative, sustainable and produce tangible results.

Sheri Sides is a junior mass communications major.

Return to University Newswire