2014 ORPSEF Grant Recipients Announced

The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation recently announced the recipients of their 2014 Grant Awards Program.  

We very much appreciate their generosity to our teachers and congratulate those who received awards.

Cherie Adcock (WD); Leah Henry (WB); Leandra Hill (LN/RMS); Jennifer Long (JMS/ORHS); Yi Ching 'Kat' Sakovich (GW) - ESL Titanic trip and materials

Lisa Buckner, Linden - LEGO Mindstorm robotics set and peripherals

Julie Clemens, Preschool - STEM stations and manipulatives

Janice Farr, ORHS - Pharmacy Tech Industry Certifications for Health Sciences Students

Cathy Ginel & Melissa Jeter, RMS - Science Lab docking stations and monitors

David Goforth & Mardee Miller, RMS - Promethean boards & projectors for 6th grade classrooms

Sean Greene, RMS - Tuba replacement

Jennifer Little, Woodland - Camp Invention scholarships

Lisa Meidl, Willow Brook - Adobe Photoshop license for Library

Leigh Monger & Jackie Laney, RMS - ActivTable for Special Education classroom

Michael Mott, RMS - CPS clickers for 7th grade Math classrooms

Janie Shanafield, JMS - FIRST LEGO League program at JMS

Emily Sheppeard, RMS - Dragon Naturally Speaking licenses

Brian Smith, JMS - GIS mapping STEM manuals

Scot Smith, RMS - eBooks from Follett (for seven schools)

Anna Wakefield, ORHS - Computers for Art Lab

Words of Appreciation from Superintendent Borchers

This is a special recognition week for many of our employees. First is Teacher Appreciation Week. When I am out in the community I have stated countless times that the Oak Ridge Schools’ teaching staff is the best I have ever seen. I say that as superintendent…and I say it as a father of an Oak Ridge Schools’ student. Our community, parents, and students are so fortunate to have the caliber of professionals that we have teaching in our classrooms.

This week is also Nurse Appreciation Week. We are also very fortunate to have such an exceptional group of nurses at our schools. These professionals help keep our students healthy and well throughout the year. 

It is also School Nutrition Employee Week. This is the perfect opportunity to recognize the hardworking professionals in our school cafeterias who prepare healthy school meals for our students and ensure that they get a nutritious breakfast and lunch each day!

Please join me in thanking all of these staff members for the excellent service that they provide to our district and all they do to help our students be successful.

The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth."  ~Dan Rather

If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job.  ~Donald D. Quinn