Abraxas Receives Richland County Foundation TAP Grants
Launch the media gallery 1 playerThe Richland County Foundation recently awarded educational program grants for the upcoming school year to local teachers across Richland County for their creative or supplemental programs not covered by school funding. The Teacher Assistance Program (TAP) Grants are awarded to individual classroom teachers or small teams of classroom teachers. The maximum grant amount is $1,500.
This year, three Abraxas teachers received TAP Grants:
$1,483.42 Intervention Supplies - Kimberly Hall
$1,440 ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate Assessment Funds - Cassandra Lowery
$1,500 Academic & Career Readiness Resources - Dorothy Sharrock
Additionally, Julie Pfeifer received a Gorman Fund gift from the Foundation in the amount of $1,485.11 for Save a Life with CPR.
Kimberly Hall, an Intervention Specialist, said the grant is a blessing for her classroom. “This is my first year being a full-time teacher. The grant has given me the opportunity to provide my students with tools that will make them successful in class. This is very exciting for a new teacher to be able to provide these tools at the beginning of a school year.”
Cassandra Lowery is an ELA (English/Language Arts) teacher and teaches Career Connections and Multi-Media. She said many of her students are not planning on attending college. “I'm really excited to be able to provide this ACT WorkKeys opportunity for our students. I'm extremely grateful for the Richland County Foundation and their continued support in providing real-world opportunities for our unique student population!”
Dorothy Sharrock, a GED teacher and an Intervention Specialist said her grant will also help students be ready for the workplace. “I’m very thankful to the Richland Foundation grant for providing our students with the opportunity to earn WorkKeys Certifications. The National Career Readiness Certification proves to employers that our students are prepared in applied math, workplace documents, and graphic literacy. Any certification our students can earn will help them secure employment upon completion of our program.”
Julie Pfeifer, Math and Life Skills teacher and also an Intervention Specialist, and the recipient of the Gorman Fund gift, said, “I am extremely grateful to The Richland County Foundation for seeing the importance of students learning CPR and am excited to see the difference that having real manikins will make for my students understanding!”
Shelly Patrick, the Abraxas School of Ohio principal, said, “Abraxas School of Ohio is blessed to have amazing teachers who always choose to go above and beyond for our students. A prime example would be writing grants to provide unique opportunities for our student population. I’m also very grateful for the Richland County Foundation and their continued support to our school through the grant funding.”
Private Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) Programs include the Abraxas School and FIRST School, which are funded through the Ohio Department of Education Private Residential Treatment Facility Pilot Program to operate the academic program at two of the three PRTF sites: Abraxas, located east of Shelby and FIRST, located west of Lucas. These programs are also supported through Title 1-D (Delinquent) funds administered by Mid-Ohio ESC. Mid-Ohio ESC partners with the residential treatment program administration and staff to deliver an educational program that meets the requirements of the Ohio Department of Education for students in correctional facilities.
The Richland County Foundation is one of the largest private sources of grant making in Richland County and administers over 375 charitable funds established by businesses, families and individuals. The mission of the Richland County Foundation is to improve and enhance the quality of life in Richland County through strategic philanthropy and community leadership.