JPEF provides classroom grants in partnership with generous donors
Through our Educator Relief Funds, JPEF is supporting teachers, schools and students.
5/8/2020
Photo: Ms. Lora Emel of Abess Park Elementary received classroom supplies for her young learners through JPEF's Educator Relief Funds.
During this unprecedented crisis, JPEF is committed to supporting educators in partnership with generous donors through our Educator Relief Funds. It’s not too late to contribute and help support teachers! Any gift is appreciated.
Over the last month, JPEF has provided 80 classroom grants to teachers serving low-income students and students with special needs -- supplying materials, technology and other critical resources to support the transition to home learning.
The classroom grants are just one component of JPEF’s Educator Relief Funds, which are also providing crayons for elementary school students, coolers for food distribution, supplemental income for teachers who have lost work. So far, this work has impacted about 44,000 students in 120 schools.
“It’s an honor to support public school teachers, who are rising to the challenge of home learning,” said Rachael Tutwiler Fortune, JPEF President. “We are so grateful to our partners and donors who stepped forward during this crisis to make this possible.”
About 70 percent of the classroom grants are benefiting Title I schools, which serve a high proportion of students living in poverty, and the remaining projects are benefiting special needs classrooms. About 86 percent of the projects are benefiting our community’s youngest learners, at elementary schools.
The funding for the grants was made possible by the generosity of Jaguars owner Shad Khan, Truist and community supporters who gave to JPEF’s Educator Relief Funds during Teacher Appreciation Week. Community contributions were matched by JPEF board and staff, doubling the impact of our generous local donors.
Here are a few examples of the projects we funded through a selection process involving teachers, community leaders and donors. Scroll down for a full list of grant recipients and their schools. It’s not too late to contribute and help support teachers! Any gift is appreciated.
Ms. Lora Emel, Abess Park Elementary
Ms. Emel teachers autistic children and others with special needs in a public Pre-K program at Abess Park Elementary. She helps students learn language skills, so the COVID-19 distance learning reality has been particularly difficult. "Every child deserves the opportunity to communicate, expand their language, and show the world how wonderful individual and unique they are," Ms. Emel says. The classroom supplies she received will help children express themselves, use their imaginations and practice turn-taking. She also received a microphone and speakers so her students can hear her while she sits on the floor and engages them in play. "Children shouldn't have to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders and stress about how to get the resources to participate in their lessons. Thank you for helping to remove that pressure and helping me to send educational, therapeutic, and creative outlets into their homes."
Mrs. Luevano, Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary
Mrs. Luevano teachers fourth-grade math at Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary. She says her class has some of the hardest-working students she has taught. To help her teach essential math skills virtually, Mrs. Luevano asked for a portable white board and an iPhone tripod so she can project her lessons and her students can easily see what she's communicating. "These items will help me fully bring the math they are used to virtual learning," Mrs. Luevano said. "It will never be the same as the classroom but I am trying my best to give them the closest thing to a classroom experience."
Mrs. Haug, Henry F. Kite Elementary
Mrs. Haug, who was honored as a semi-finalist for 2020 Duval County Teacher of the Year, teaches low-income students in grades 3-5. She will receive some teaching essentials, such as a whiteboard and flip chart from her virtual lessons, as well as supplies to reach out to each of her students personally, to provide some encouragement during this difficult time.
“I would like to maintain positive relationships with students and families by sending each child their own pair of earbuds and a personalized letter to let them know that I am here for them and will support them in their learning no matter the circumstances,” Mrs. Haug says. “These items will greatly impact our day-to-day virtual learning. Thank you!”
Mrs. Leatherbarrow, River City Science Academy
Mrs. Leatherbarrow’s kindergarten class will receive education toys, including Play Doh and ABC stamps, as well as beginning readers, to make sure they have toys and books at home to stay engaged in learning through play.
“Kindergarten should be a time of fun, making messes, learning our letters, sounds, numbers and building the foundation to becoming fluent readers,” says Mrs. Leatherbarrow. “Most of our students do not have the books they need, on their level, to read at home.”
Ms. Fernandez, Waterleaf Elementary School
Ms. Fernandez teaches deaf and hard-of-hearing students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, so virtual learning has been especially challenging. Her class will receive hands-on phonics activities to help her facilitate one-on-one virtual lessons during home learning.
“I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have all of these amazing new materials to help my students grasp phonological awareness concepts,” Ms. Fernandez said. “I am so excited to get started!”
Recipients of classroom grants
Ms. Affatato, Spring Park Elementary School
Ms. Ako, Biscayne Elementary School
Ms. Allen, Greenland Pines Elementary School
Mr. Altman, Alimacani Elementary School
Ms. Ashley, Abess Park Elementary School
Ms. Avera, J. Allen Axson Elementary School
Ms. Babb, Jacksonville Heights Elementary School
Mrs. Baldwin, Timucuan Elementary School
Mr. Beaman, Mandarin Middle School
Ms. Belanger, Woodland Acres Elementary School
Mrs. Booz, Ruth N. Upson Elementary School
Mrs. Brown, John Stockton Elementary School
Ms. Cassano, Waterleaf Elementary School
Ms. Collins, Kings Trail Elementary School
Ms. Crews, Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School
Ms. Cross, Beauclerc Elementary School
Ms. Delaney, Atlantic Coast High School
Ms. Dora, J. Allen Axson Elementary School
Ms. Mary Dunn, Windy Hill Elementary School
Mrs. Eddy, Whitehouse Elementary School
Ms. Emel, Abess Park Elementary School
Ms. Fernandez, Waterleaf Elementary School
Mrs. Fox, Loretto Elementary School
Mrs. Franklin, San Mateo Elementary School
Mrs. Thomas Gibson, Jacksonville Heights Elementary School
Ms. Hammonds, Wayman Academy of the Arts
Ms. Harris, Central Riverside Elementary School
Ms. Heffner, Brookview Elementary School
Mrs. Horter, Garden City Elementary School
Mrs. Haug, Henry F. Kite Elementary School
Mrs. Jeffries, Twin Lakes Academy Elementary School
Ms. Jernigan, Waterleaf Elementary School
Ms. Jones, Robert E. Lee High School
Mrs. Jones, Biscayne Elementary School
Mrs. Karasek, J. Allen Axson Elementary School
Dr. Keefe, Robert E. Lee High School
Mrs. Kirkland, Waterleaf Elementary School
Mrs. Lavelle, Oceanway Middle School
Mrs. Leatherbarrow, River City Science Academy
Mrs. Lechwar, John Stockton Elementary School
Mrs. Luevano, Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School
Ms. Makhtin, River City Science Academy Innovation
Mrs. Miller, Greenland Pines Elementary School
Mrs. Miller, Westview Prek-8 School
Mrs. Milton, Waterleaf Elementary School
Mrs. Monroe, Biscayne Elementary School
Mrs. Morrison, Robert E. Lee High School
Mrs. Morter, Jacksonville Heights Elementary School
Mrs. Orr, Spring Park Elementary School
Ms. Pacholl, Kings Trail Elementary School
Mrs. Pope, Chimney Lakes Elementary School
Mrs. Ragan, Spring Park Elementary School
Ms. Riche, Enterprise Learning Academy
Ms. Robinson, Timucuan Elementary School
Ms. Rusich, Kings Trail Elementary School
Mrs. Scarbrough, Mandarin Oaks Elementary School
Ms. Malone Simpson, Beauclerc Elementary School
Mrs. Staves, Kings Trail Elementary
Ms. Stelmach, Edward H. White High School
Mrs. Stoker, Chimney Lakes Elementary School
Ms. Stokes, Beauclerc Elementary School
Ms. Struble, Abess Park Elementary School
Ms. Talley, Brookview Elementary School
Ms. Tavolieri, Pinedale Elementary School
Ms. Tessmer, Kings Trail Elementary School
Mrs. Traci, Greenland Pines Elementary Schoo
Ms. Varona-Ellison, Chimney Lakes Elementary
Ms. Valenti, River City Science Academy Innovation
Mrs. Walls, Abess Park Elementary School
Ms. Whitsell, Merrill Road Elementary School
Mrs. Williams, John Love Early Learning Center
Mrs. Woodlief, Alimacani Elementary School
Mrs. Wiggins, Alden Road Exceptional Student Center
Mrs. Wiggins, Jefferson Davis Middle School
Mrs. Wright, Spring Park Elementary School