Nine South Whidbey School District teachers were presented with $200 classroom stipends at the September 1 teacher and staff assembly in preparation for the new school year. The recipients are either new to the district, or have been given a new classroom assignment.
“We wanted to welcome and support the new teachers, as well as those in new classroom positions this year,” said South Whidbey Schools Foundation President Chris Gibson. “Many teachers use their own money to help outfit their classrooms, and this was our way of showing them that the Foundation cares.”
Michele Sakaguchi, one of the teachers who received a stipend and is making the transition to teach 8th grade math at Langley Middle School shared that “not only are the funds helpful in purchasing materials and supplies for my new classroom, but it’s also great to feel the support that the stipend represents from the South Whidbey Schools Foundation and our community that supports the Foundation.”
In addition to these “kick off” stipends, the Foundation invites all District teachers to apply for classroom grants through the annual South Whidbey Schools Foundation grant program. Last year, nearly $30,000 in classroom grants were awarded to 26 local teachers to support creative and innovative learning projects that would not otherwise be within district funding allocations.
Pictured left to right are: Kayla Phillips, Leah Tormey, Michele Sakaguchi, Michele Zisette, Heidi Marshall, Charlies Davies, Jillian Cain, Laura Spear, and Michael Washington. Schools Foundation Board members Linda Racicot and Susie Richards (far right), presented the stipends.
