— Wagoner students soon could get new furniture, new rhythm instruments, even new critters to enhance their learning.

The Wagoner Education Foundation distributed 16 grants totaling $7,659.02 to Central and Ellington teachers earlier this month. Central received seven grants; Ellington, nine.

Foundation President Carolyn Cooper said the foundation seeks to fund projects not always included in school budgets.

“Funds have been cut from the budget over the past three years,” she said. “We’re trying to get something teachers might need in the classrooms. We needed to have teachers thinking outside of the box. We were looking for anything we thought would help kids learn in a different manner.”

Recipients quickly ordered their supplies after receiving the grants.

New furniture for a cozy reading area already has arrived at Central’s library, assistant librarian Lisa Neagle said.

“We have ottomans shaped like jigsaw puzzle pieces and multicolored baseball mitt-shaped chairs,” she said. “Once we get Scotchgard on them, they should be ready for the kids.”

Ellington music teacher Marilyn Tubb said she’s ordering new rhythm instruments.

“Music can help us teach the children early learning skills,” said Tubb, who teaches pre-kindergarten through first grade.

She said music helps kids learn through rhyme and rhythm.

Kindergarten teacher Randi Charboneau said she’s using her grant for a turtle and a hamster, plus food and supplies for the new classroom pets. “The students can learn science skills, as well as how to care for the animals,” she  said.

Cooper said the foundation had several fundraisers — including a fashion show, garage sale and cookbook sales  — over the past year. The foundation also received a $4,500 grant from the Walton Foundation, she said.

In addition, Kevin Grover GMC donated $100 for every vehicle a Wagoner patron bought, she said.

This is the third group of grants the Wagoner Education Foundation gave since it was formed in July 2010, she said.

The foundation will have a fundraising country music concert with Justin Smith and the Kountry Knights 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Wagoner High School Performing Arts Center.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at (918) 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogeephoenix.com.

You can help



Donate to the Wagoner Education Foundation by mailing checks to Box 926, Wagoner OK 74477.

The recipients

Ellington Elementary

• Marilyn Tubb, music, The Impact of Music Exploration.

• Virginia Christy, Lindsay Butler, Natausha Stevens, kindergarten, Learning to Read Through Science & Social Studies.

• Brenda Zehr, kindergarten, Every Child is an Artist.

• Teddisu Spriggs, kindergarten, Developing Writers.

• Randi Charboneau, kindergarten, Pet Science.

• Angie Lancaster, first grade, Rewarding PAWsitive Behavior.

• Melisa Nail, reading lab, Reading On Level.

• Renee Murphy, first grade, Magic Carpet Ride.

Central Intermediate    

• Brandi Rhodes, math, Math Centers Galore.

• Jenni Charboneau, math, Having Fun with Math & Science.

• Brenda Yates, social studies and science, Manipulating Math.

• Amy Cantrell, reading, Reading Across the 50 States.

• Bobbi Bigby, social studies and science, Hands-on Math Centers.

• Randi Stanley, social studies and science, Teaching Resources.

• Cheryl Blair, librarian, Fascinating Furnishings.

• Katherine Dietzel, music, Smiles in Music.



Source: Wagoner Education Foundation