With this family-environment comes the strong need for and desire by the teachers to help their students in-need.  "Most of the students did not bring in supplies last year, and that's fine.  I set out supplies and give them on an as-needed basis," explains Teresa, "All of our kids sit in groups so there's a supply box in the center of their table with their markers, crayons, pencils, everything they need on a daily basis."

With the start of school this fall, Hillsborough County Public Schools will welcome 650 new teachers to the district.  To help ease their transition into our schools, Hillsborough County Public Schools and the Foundation hosted the annual New Teacher Orientation, a three-day event offering trainings in curriculum, classroom management, and instructional strategies.  Community businesses and organizations were also represented to introduce these new teachers to the services available to them in Hillsborough County.

We would like to thank those who participated in this year's orientation, including:

New Teacher Orientation Partner

Inspiration Sponsors

For nine weeks Maniscalco Elementary fifth graders participated in the "On the Boardwalk at Maniscalco" project, studying the wetlands located directly behind the school.  The students tested and analyzed the water quality and counted the different numbers of species living in the wetlands.  Using their findings, they designed, wrote, and taught mini-lessons on the water cycle and water pollution to all six of the school's kindergarten classes.

Before studies began, the fifth graders took a pre-test addressing many of the topics they would cover in the project, and averaged 70.9% as a class.  Through their hard work during the nine weeks of studies, they average 77.1% on their post-project exam.  The students also had the chance to serve as teachers one more time; writing, editing, and grading the pre- and post-tests they gave to their kindergarten pupils.

"My students gained so much from their involvement with these activities.  They became active, contributing scientists," says Maniscalco teacher Christine Leacock, "They increased their knowledge of many environmental issues and developed plans to address these issues by teaching younger students.  They realized that they had a voice and they chose to use their voice for the environment."

To read about other special projects funded throughout Hillsborough County Public Schools, click here.

No one understands the needs of our students better than the teachers and principals who see them each day during the school year.  Their dedication to these children cause them to constantly develop creative ways to teach their lessons and operate their school sites.  However, sometimes these new ideas require funding that simply is not there.

The Foundation's grant programs received more than 1,100 applications for the 2009-2010 school year.  Of these applications, 145 awards were made, totaling just over $339,000.  The selected projects covered a wide variety of curriculum, including: science experiments, math training, literacy, geography, and the arts.  Some provided technology resources such as camcorders and iPods to enhance learning.