Assistance League Mid-Missouri has awarded more than $95,000 in funding for programs proposed by teachers. The programs -- designed by teachers -- emphasize new approaches to learning that could enrich the current curriculum.
Assistance League Mid-Missouri leads the Links to Learning awards as part of their community-based philanthropic efforts. Columbia Public Schools spokesperson Michelle Baumstark said the awards support activities teachers wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.
“It helps pay for those little things that can’t necessarily be covered out of pocket for a teacher or out of the school district operating budget, so it really does enhance the learning in the classroom” Baumstark said.
Teachers had to submit applications for the funds. Many of the submissions requested funding for technology said Links to Learning Chair Mary Humlicek. She said it’s something that is constantly expanding and changing so it’s very difficult to keep up with.
Second grade teacher Kristen Ventrillo received the maximum grant of seven hundred dollars to purchase iPods for her second graders. The students will use the iPods to increase vocabulary, improve reading comprehension and fluency.