The University City Education Foundation (UCEF) awarded more than $20,000 in grants to teachers and staff to enhance student educational experiences during the 2022-23 school year.
Carrot, the beloved resident snake in Rubina McCadney’s Brittany Woods Middle School classroom, now has plenty of snacks to eat.
Students in Jessica Job’s pre-K class at Julia Goldstein Early Childhood Education Center will explore making intricate patterns and shadows on the wall with colored light blocks and light projectors.
The Golden Girls dance team at University City High School now has showy gold capes for performances and showcases.
Danny DuMaine’s music students at Pershing Elementary School will sound out notes and musical scores thanks to new electronic keyboards.
These are just a few of the many exciting learning and experiential opportunities made possible by the 2022 grant awards from the University City Education Foundation (UCEF). The volunteer nonprofit awarded more than $20,000 in grants to University City Schools teachers and staff on Dec. 7, 2022.
The awards and the actual items were presented by UCEF President Linda “Cookie” Jones and other board members during a celebration party for the awardees held in the library at Brittany Woods Middle School – the same place where the volunteer board meets regularly to fundraise and select grant awardees.
Every year, UCEF advertises the grants to District staff and students, who then apply with proposals for resources they need to enhance learning and social emotional experiences in classrooms or school buildings. The group further supports larger fundraising efforts for The School District of University City.
About 30 staff and board members attended the celebration. Guests enjoyed delicious snacks from Salt and Smoke. There was also a surprise visit from Carrot, a 3-foot orange and white snake who resides in McCadney’s classroom. Carrot was the lucky recipient of food and other habitat items from UCEF. Carrot often provides support and comfort in the classroom, as she likes to calmly snuggle with students.
To learn more about UCEF, check them out on Facebook.
UCEF Grant Awards for 2022-23
- A More Inclusive Library: Foreign Language Fiction for English Language Learners
$1,250 – Kim Deitzler, University City High School - Building Thinking Classrooms: White Boards on Wheels
$708 – Michael Dorsey, University City High School - Edible School Yard Comes to Brittany Woods
$1,753 – Anne Cummings, Brittany Woods Middle School - Exploring Light and Shadow Play
$1,244 – Jessica Job, Julia Goldstein Early Childhood Education Center - For the Love of Reading
$1,177 – Jaquin McBride, Pershing Elementary School - Language Growth in Young Learners
$1,200 – Kelsi Tatum, Barbara C. Jordan Elementary School - Maker Space Startup
$1,000 – Nancy Luebbers, Pershing Elementary School - Robolink Zumi
$920 – Michael Daly, University City High School - U Right Snack Services Business
$1,000 – Shannon Hayslett, University City High School - Opening Creative Minds Through Keyboards
$950 – Danny DuMaine, Pershing Elementary School - Literary Magazine
$625 – Patrick Gilligan, University City High School - To Kill a Mockingbird Live Experience at The Fox Theatre
$1,250 – Erin Bratkowski, University City High School - I Can BEE a Coder
$1,213 – Monique Hite-Patterson, Jackson Park Elementary School - Joyful Confident Readers Raise Their Voices
$983 – Jill Rogers, Pershing Elementary School - UCHS Golden Girls Dance Team Capes for Performances
$1,250 – Nicole Thomas, University City High School - Flourishing Families – Pershing Parents Support Connection
$1,250 – Stacey Miller, Pershing Elementary School - “Feed the Cats” Speed Program
$990 – Matt Keller, Brittany Woods Middle School - Book Battle: Building Skills and Nurturing a Love of Reading through Competition
$1,250 – Sarah Bailey, Pershing Elementary School - Carrot and Sticks – Feed the Classroom Snake
$587 – Rubina McCadney, Brittany Woods Middle School
