Since 1992, the Verona Area Education Foundation (VAEF) has awarded more than $110,000 in grants to encourage innovative education for students in the Verona Area School District (VASD).
Whether the grants come to fruition as musical instruments, rollerblading aids or robotic kits, VAEF Secretary Jana Schroeer said certain aspects remain the same: each grant supports projects that build creativity, community ties and leadership skills for students.
Throughout her time participating in the grant program, Schroeer has enjoyed hearing about successes students have as the projects come to life.
“I love their expressions when they see our oversized check we bring along for photos with the grantees, (and) the candid photos staff members send us of students using new learning tools,” she said.
VAEF President Errin Welty said her favorite thing is the partnerships grants foster between Verona area schools and the community.
VASD teachers and staff can apply for VAEF grants annually. This year, VAEF awarded a total of $10,155 to 18 applicants. Schroeer said this is the second highest total the foundation has awarded in one year, with the average being around $4,500.
The Press is running a Q&A series to highlight the 2024 VAEF grant recipients and their work in the classroom, such as Verona Area First Five Years early learning coordinator Jennifer Skibba.
Background Information
Name: Jennifer Skibba
School: Verona Area First Five Years
Job Title: Early Learning Coordinator
Years at VASD: 25
Questions
Q: Why did you apply for a grant from the Verona Area Education Foundation?
A: “Since COVID we have noticed more children coming to school with delays in communication and literacy. The CORE Word Boards provide everyone in the classroom the tools they need to communicate simple phrases to teachers and/or peers, learn common words used in daily conversations as well as write phrases and sentences.”
Q: Can you describe your grant and what it will be used for?
A: “The CORE Word Boards were created from resources by the company PRC-Saltillo and printed by Postal Connections in Verona, then installed in all the Pre-K classrooms districtwide. Our team laminated the interactive pieces and prepared the boards so the students could use them in the Pre-K classrooms. The grant helps fund the materials purchased and created to be able to provide this tool to all Pre-K sites.”
Q: In what ways does this grant enhance the educational experience of students?
A: “This grant allows us to provide tools for children at any developmental level to communicate with teachers and/or peers. The boards support students’ ability to extend their early literacy and writing skills in preparation for elementary school social and academic expectations.”
Q: What was your reaction, and your students’ reaction, to receiving a grant?
A: “The students and teachers LOVE the boards. The students were naturally curious during the installation process. They were asking about the pictures, words and even reading some of the words the first day. Educators would model making a sentence from the words on the board and read the sentence, and the students would immediately try it on their own.”
Q: Looking beyond this school year, what impact will this grant have on future generations of students?
A: “The CORE Word Boards are installed for future students to use in upcoming years. Next year the students will start the year with the boards in their classroom. This will help students transition into the classroom if they are shy or have communication delays. Teachers will continue to get training and support on optimal ways to utilize this valuable tool in their classrooms.”
Q: Is there anything else you think is important to add?
A: “We are hoping to expand this to younger classrooms in the future so children have these tools at a younger age, in hopes to keep building a rich literary environment for all students. The boards are currently provided in English and Spanish as we have a large Spanish speaking population in our school district, which further increases accessibility and promotion of literacy for all our students.”
