The Hempfield Foundation has awarded 13 teacher grants totaling nearly $25,000 for a wide array of innovative projects submitted by 21 teachers from throughout the Hempfield School District.

These grants, combined with the more than $40,000 awarded to teachers at the start of the school year, will benefit students in all seven of the district's elementary schools, its two middle schools and its high school.

At Centerville Elementary School, a $2,087 grant was given for teachers Julie Engle and Amy Saporetti to provide beginning readers with decodable texts (books). Decodable texts aim to help readers build basic phonics skills and improve reading fluency.

At Farmdale Elementary School, teacher Lisa Sempsey received $2,910 to purchase drums to enable students to explore pulse/beat, rhythm, layering ostinatos, music composition, improvisation, ensemble work, and world music.

The team of Amy Grube, Cheryl Hudson-Kasun, and Christina Hoover at Landisville Primary Center received $3,000 to purchase books for all students and staff members so that everyone can participate in the school's One School/One Book program.

Hoover was also granted $1,260 to continue access to the Headsprout app for first-grade readers in the school. This resource is used to help children improve their reading skills.

At Rohrerstown Elementary School, fifth-grade teachers Kathryn Kapchinske, Kristi Miller, and Aubree Lockard received $266 to purchase magazines to help their students better understand the 2020 election as well as $3,000 to support their project "Robotics, Circuits, STEM, OH MY!"

At Centerville Middle School and Landisville Middle School, $500 went to teachers Nancy Schnelli and Patrice Hazlett to arrange a virtual visit with graphic novelist Matt Phelan for their students.

English language arts teacher Melissa Kreider at Landisville Middle School received $1,400 to purchase books to help students better understand the events of the Holocaust through literature.

Hempfield High School counselors Stefanie Scarborough and Kimberly Romero were granted $1,750 to create a relaxion lounge to help students catch their breath.

Also at Hempfield High School, the Hempfield Foundation awarded business teacher Chris Hanusa with the first Tom A. Albright Memorial Teacher Grant for Career Development. Albright was a 1996 graduate of Hempfield High School, and the grant was made possible through a gift from fellow 1996 alumnus Daniel Ritzman. Hanusa will use the grant of $1,354 to bring the BizInnovator curriculum to Hempfield High School, giving students the opportunity to earn three transferable college credits from the University of Iowa.

High school counselors Logan Albaugh, Lindsey Bauer and Greg Dietz received $2,600 to bring the program 5 Radical Minutes to Hempfield High School. This program helps students navigate the big issues they face each day.

Also at the high school, English language arts teacher Steven Lied was granted $2,436 to purchase essential equipment for his introduction to film course that he will teach through the College in High School Program associated with the University of Pittsburgh. Juniors and seniors who take this course can earn college credits.

High school English language arts teachers Mike Pollis and Adam Hinde received $2,000 to purchase texts and audiovisual materials for their new class, Exploring Literature and Writing Through Sports.

For more information about these grants or the Hempfield Foundation, readers may email hempfieldfoundation@gmail.org.