Fifty-two Hillsborough County teachers were awarded Splash! school grants through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.
Mary Margaret Hull, District lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Hillsborough County to the strong partnership with Hillsborough County Schools. Four school district staff serve as the District's liaisons to teachers: Pam Caffery, middle school science supervisor; Karen Folsom, Nature's Classroom administrator; Dan McFarland, high school science supervisor; and Shana Tirado, elementary science supervisor. These liaisons helped get the word out to classroom teachers.
"The District recognizes the critical role STEM education – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – plays in preparing students for the future," said Hull. "With the help of the grant program, students will learn the importance of protecting and conserving Florida's water resources through STEM-based education projects."
The Hillsborough County awardees include:
* Sara White, *A.T. Jones Math, Science & Technology Academy*, will receive $2,600. Students will conduct a field study, learning about the estuarine and freshwater ecosystems of Tampa Bay.
* Christine Lindbak, *Alonso High School*, will receive $1,200. Students will conduct field studies and perform water quality testing, learning about the Hillsborough River watershed.
* Charlene Stouffer, *B.T. Washington Elementary School*, will receive $1,486. Students will construct a water filtration system, learning about water pollution and how humans impact watersheds.
* Roland Jackson, *Bailey Elementary School*, will receive $2,462. Students will observe pond organisms and plant life and conduct water quality testing to determine the health of the pond.
* Julie Barnes, *Bellamy Elementary School*, will receive $1,340. Students will study local water supplies and will use District educational materials to understand the water cycle and the importance of water conservation.
* Autumn Balthazor, *Benito Middle School*, will receive $1,710. Students will test water quality in the Hillsborough River watershed to prepare for the Science Olympiad.
* Alice Rutland, *Brandon High School*, will receive $2,879. Students will develop a self-sustaining aquaponic and aquaculture system, testing nutrient levels, plant growth and fish survival.
* Lori Hanson, *Chiles Elementary School*, will receive $1,250. Students will learn about the Hillsborough River and freshwater resources.
* Jane Kemp, *Chiles Elementary School*, will receive $1,707. Students will conduct a field study of an organic farm and create Florida native plant, hydroponic and container vegetable gardens.
* Leigh Crosson, *Colleen Bevis Elementary School*, will receive $1,624. Students will maintain hydroponic and container gardens, comparing them to traditional gardening.
* Nancy Deringer, *Davidsen Middle School*, will receive $2,996. Students will test water quality in the field to learn about the Hillsborough River watershed.
* Melissa Triebwasser, *Doby Elementary School*, will receive $608. Students will travel to a water treatment facility and design educational board games focusing on water stewardship.
* Susan Ferrell, *Dowdell Middle Magnet School*, will receive $1,935. Students will participate in camping trips to Hillsborough River State Park to sample water quality and study the watershed.
* Michelle Lee, *East Bay High School*, will receive $2,650. Students will take a Florida Aquarium eco-tour where they will observe biodiversity and test water quality.
* Rebecca Rouch, *East Bay High School*, will receive $1,200. Students will learn about the technologies of desalination and wastewater treatment.
* Laura Franklin, *Foster Elementary School*, will receive $2,190. Students will create a greenhouse to learn about the water cycle.
* Gina Mason, *Frost Elementary School*, will receive $2,081. Students will create a water-efficient garden, learning about water resources and water conservation.
* Jennifer Fritz, *Gaither High School*, will receive $1,400. Students will conduct field studies, performing water quality and soil tests and taking biological surveys.
* Tim Harris and Paul Thomas, *George Steinbrenner High School*, will receive $2,995. Students will conduct water quality testing, biological index surveys and elevation studies in the Hillsborough River watershed.
* Cheryl Pahl, *Hunter's Green Elementary School*, will receive $1,250. Students will conduct a field study at Crystal Springs Preserve, where they will survey wildlife populations and investigate natural systems in the Hillsborough River watershed.
* Judy Der, *J.S. Robinson Elementary School*, will receive $1,120. Students will test water quality, monitor water use, create a butterfly garden, restore native plants and tutor younger students.
* Deborah Flock, *Jackson Elementary School*, will receive $2,677. Students will share water-saving practices with their families and use their water bills to verify results.
* Michael Hutchison, *King High School*, will receive $2,540. Students will test water quality in a riparian ecosystem at Crystal Springs Preserve.
* Margaret Oggero, *Lennard High School*, will receive $732. Students will canoe in two campus ponds where they will conduct a field study to compare several aspects of water quality.
* Jessica Addington, *Lockhart Science Centre*, will receive $2,060. Students will develop a hydro-organic growing system, learning about the water cycle and the importance of conservation.
* Sarah Thompson, *Lomax Elementary School*, will receive $2,113. Students will create a hydro-organic garden and an aquaponics system, tracking water use.
* Nanette Dailey, *Mabry Elementary School*, will receive $1,032. Students will observe rain runoff from school rooftops, install rain barrels and irrigation systems, and conduct water quality testing.
* Jane Gucciardo, *Martinez Middle School*, will receive $2,537. Students will learn where their tap water comes from, what happens to wastewater in their homes and what measures they can take to conserve water.
* Kathy Dimitrievski, *Muller Magnet Elementary School*, will receive $2,693. Students will investigate local water supplies and learn to use collected rainwater to grow plants in the school's Florida-friendly landscape.
* Kelly Jay, *Newsome High School*, will receive $1,155. Students will conduct soil, water and biodiversity studies of the Crystal Springs Preserve ecosystem.
* Deborah Seto, *Orange Grove Middle Magnet School of the Arts*, will receive $2,589. Student will display science projects alongside artwork of native flora and fauna from the Crystal Springs Preserve area.
* Casey VanVaerenbergh, *Pizzo Elementary School*, will receive $2,995. Students will compare the water use of a traditional garden to a hydroponics garden.
* Jennell Graham, *Pride Elementary School*, will receive $3,000. Students will learn about the Tampa Bay watershed on field studies and use technology tools to educate the school community about water stewardship.
* Georgianna Trowbridge, *Riverview High School*, will receive $2,450. Students will complete a biological survey of the Crystal Springs Preserve and assess the health of the Hillsborough River system.
* Patricia Velazquez, *Roland Park School*, will receive $2,640. Students will study water resources and build a water-efficient garden. They will also create a rain barrel system.
* Deborah Gwyn, *Sheehy Elementary School*, will receive $300. Students will engage in hands-on learning about water using the District's K–3 Watershed Resource Box.
* Anthony Leotta, *Sickles High School*, will receive $2,688. Students will be in charge of the day-to-day maintenance of the school's aquaponics systems, and work with other classes in the upkeep of the hydroponic garden.
* Amy Stockard, *Springhead Elementary School*, will receive $1,179. Students will design a rain barrel, create a raised vegetable garden and document water savings.
* Pamela McFarlin, *Stewart Middle Magnet School*, will receive $999. Students will integrate science, technology and math to conduct aquatic field studies of the Hillsborough River.
* Krista Morehead, *Stewart Middle Magnet School*, will receive $778. Students will build a water-efficient school garden, designing the automatic watering system, and educate the school community about water conservation.
* Mark Taylor, *Stewart Middle Magnet School*, will receive $980. Students will perform water quality testing and conduct a field study at Crystal Springs Preserve.
* Andria Keene, *Strawberry Crest High School*, will receive $2,999. Students will conduct field studies and perform water tests, creating public service announcements about what they discover.
* Nicole Weingart, *Sulphur Springs Elementary School*, will receive $1,175. Students will use weather monitoring equipment and the District's 3–5 Watershed Resource Box to learn about the water cycle.
* Julie Sackles, *Tampa Bay Technical High School*, will receive $1,182. Students will learn how to evaluate water quality and aquatic biodiversity and the impact of land use on water quality.
* Emily Petrilli, *Tomlin Middle School*, will receive $1,020. Students will take water quality samples and learn about freshwater species, documenting their results in newsletters and sixth-grade curriculum units.
* Virginia Frissell, *Twin Lakes Elementary School*, will receive $2,385. Students will engineer planting beds for vegetable gardens and recycle food scraps and yard waste to return nutrients to the soil.
* Russell Wallace, *Valrico Elementary School*, will receive $979. Students will test water quality and design a drain filter, learning how stormwater pollution affects freshwater resources.
* Wendy Weber, *Walker Middle Magnet School*, will receive $2,913. Students will simulate the Floridan and Tampa limestone aquifers using rain barrels and soaker hoses.
* Kristy Carew, *Wharton High School*, will receive $1,530. Students will develop lessons, activities and games to use while teaching preschool students the importance of protecting watersheds.
* Ken Wood, *Wharton High School*, will receive $1,367. Students will set up a river tank in the classroom and try to simulate conditions found in the field.
In addition to the county's public schools, two private organizations were awarded Splash! grants.
* Teresa Gonzalez-White, *Florida Environmental Education Center*, will receive $1,342. Students will learn how to create a garden using Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles and design and install a micro-irrigation system.
* Sharon Mejia, *Lee Academy for Gifted Education*, will receive $1,241. Students will compare the water use of hydroponic, container and conventional gardens.
This year 157 Splash! grants were awarded across the District's 16 county region to educate students on Florida's water.
The goal of the Splash! school grant program is to provide teachers with funding to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources issues. Splash! school grants provide up to $3,000 per school on a reimbursement basis and are available to public, charter and private school teachers.
Past Splash! grant projects include student monitoring of local water quality, environmental field studies and outreach campaigns designed to encourage water conservation.
In addition to Splash! grant funding, the District offers free teacher professional development workshops and curriculum materials. The publications are correlated to Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards and can also be ordered on the District's website at "WaterMatters.org/publications/.":/publications
Mary Margaret Hull, District lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Hillsborough County to the strong partnership with Hillsborough County Schools. Four school district staff serve as the District's liaisons to teachers: Pam Caffery, middle school science supervisor; Karen Folsom, Nature's Classroom administrator; Dan McFarland, high school science supervisor; and Shana Tirado, elementary science supervisor. These liaisons helped get the word out to classroom teachers.
"The District recognizes the critical role STEM education – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – plays in preparing students for the future," said Hull. "With the help of the grant program, students will learn the importance of protecting and conserving Florida's water resources through STEM-based education projects."
The Hillsborough County awardees include:
* Sara White, *A.T. Jones Math, Science & Technology Academy*, will receive $2,600. Students will conduct a field study, learning about the estuarine and freshwater ecosystems of Tampa Bay.
* Christine Lindbak, *Alonso High School*, will receive $1,200. Students will conduct field studies and perform water quality testing, learning about the Hillsborough River watershed.
* Charlene Stouffer, *B.T. Washington Elementary School*, will receive $1,486. Students will construct a water filtration system, learning about water pollution and how humans impact watersheds.
* Roland Jackson, *Bailey Elementary School*, will receive $2,462. Students will observe pond organisms and plant life and conduct water quality testing to determine the health of the pond.
* Julie Barnes, *Bellamy Elementary School*, will receive $1,340. Students will study local water supplies and will use District educational materials to understand the water cycle and the importance of water conservation.
* Autumn Balthazor, *Benito Middle School*, will receive $1,710. Students will test water quality in the Hillsborough River watershed to prepare for the Science Olympiad.
* Alice Rutland, *Brandon High School*, will receive $2,879. Students will develop a self-sustaining aquaponic and aquaculture system, testing nutrient levels, plant growth and fish survival.
* Lori Hanson, *Chiles Elementary School*, will receive $1,250. Students will learn about the Hillsborough River and freshwater resources.
* Jane Kemp, *Chiles Elementary School*, will receive $1,707. Students will conduct a field study of an organic farm and create Florida native plant, hydroponic and container vegetable gardens.
* Leigh Crosson, *Colleen Bevis Elementary School*, will receive $1,624. Students will maintain hydroponic and container gardens, comparing them to traditional gardening.
* Nancy Deringer, *Davidsen Middle School*, will receive $2,996. Students will test water quality in the field to learn about the Hillsborough River watershed.
* Melissa Triebwasser, *Doby Elementary School*, will receive $608. Students will travel to a water treatment facility and design educational board games focusing on water stewardship.
* Susan Ferrell, *Dowdell Middle Magnet School*, will receive $1,935. Students will participate in camping trips to Hillsborough River State Park to sample water quality and study the watershed.
* Michelle Lee, *East Bay High School*, will receive $2,650. Students will take a Florida Aquarium eco-tour where they will observe biodiversity and test water quality.
* Rebecca Rouch, *East Bay High School*, will receive $1,200. Students will learn about the technologies of desalination and wastewater treatment.
* Laura Franklin, *Foster Elementary School*, will receive $2,190. Students will create a greenhouse to learn about the water cycle.
* Gina Mason, *Frost Elementary School*, will receive $2,081. Students will create a water-efficient garden, learning about water resources and water conservation.
* Jennifer Fritz, *Gaither High School*, will receive $1,400. Students will conduct field studies, performing water quality and soil tests and taking biological surveys.
* Tim Harris and Paul Thomas, *George Steinbrenner High School*, will receive $2,995. Students will conduct water quality testing, biological index surveys and elevation studies in the Hillsborough River watershed.
* Cheryl Pahl, *Hunter's Green Elementary School*, will receive $1,250. Students will conduct a field study at Crystal Springs Preserve, where they will survey wildlife populations and investigate natural systems in the Hillsborough River watershed.
* Judy Der, *J.S. Robinson Elementary School*, will receive $1,120. Students will test water quality, monitor water use, create a butterfly garden, restore native plants and tutor younger students.
* Deborah Flock, *Jackson Elementary School*, will receive $2,677. Students will share water-saving practices with their families and use their water bills to verify results.
* Michael Hutchison, *King High School*, will receive $2,540. Students will test water quality in a riparian ecosystem at Crystal Springs Preserve.
* Margaret Oggero, *Lennard High School*, will receive $732. Students will canoe in two campus ponds where they will conduct a field study to compare several aspects of water quality.
* Jessica Addington, *Lockhart Science Centre*, will receive $2,060. Students will develop a hydro-organic growing system, learning about the water cycle and the importance of conservation.
* Sarah Thompson, *Lomax Elementary School*, will receive $2,113. Students will create a hydro-organic garden and an aquaponics system, tracking water use.
* Nanette Dailey, *Mabry Elementary School*, will receive $1,032. Students will observe rain runoff from school rooftops, install rain barrels and irrigation systems, and conduct water quality testing.
* Jane Gucciardo, *Martinez Middle School*, will receive $2,537. Students will learn where their tap water comes from, what happens to wastewater in their homes and what measures they can take to conserve water.
* Kathy Dimitrievski, *Muller Magnet Elementary School*, will receive $2,693. Students will investigate local water supplies and learn to use collected rainwater to grow plants in the school's Florida-friendly landscape.
* Kelly Jay, *Newsome High School*, will receive $1,155. Students will conduct soil, water and biodiversity studies of the Crystal Springs Preserve ecosystem.
* Deborah Seto, *Orange Grove Middle Magnet School of the Arts*, will receive $2,589. Student will display science projects alongside artwork of native flora and fauna from the Crystal Springs Preserve area.
* Casey VanVaerenbergh, *Pizzo Elementary School*, will receive $2,995. Students will compare the water use of a traditional garden to a hydroponics garden.
* Jennell Graham, *Pride Elementary School*, will receive $3,000. Students will learn about the Tampa Bay watershed on field studies and use technology tools to educate the school community about water stewardship.
* Georgianna Trowbridge, *Riverview High School*, will receive $2,450. Students will complete a biological survey of the Crystal Springs Preserve and assess the health of the Hillsborough River system.
* Patricia Velazquez, *Roland Park School*, will receive $2,640. Students will study water resources and build a water-efficient garden. They will also create a rain barrel system.
* Deborah Gwyn, *Sheehy Elementary School*, will receive $300. Students will engage in hands-on learning about water using the District's K–3 Watershed Resource Box.
* Anthony Leotta, *Sickles High School*, will receive $2,688. Students will be in charge of the day-to-day maintenance of the school's aquaponics systems, and work with other classes in the upkeep of the hydroponic garden.
* Amy Stockard, *Springhead Elementary School*, will receive $1,179. Students will design a rain barrel, create a raised vegetable garden and document water savings.
* Pamela McFarlin, *Stewart Middle Magnet School*, will receive $999. Students will integrate science, technology and math to conduct aquatic field studies of the Hillsborough River.
* Krista Morehead, *Stewart Middle Magnet School*, will receive $778. Students will build a water-efficient school garden, designing the automatic watering system, and educate the school community about water conservation.
* Mark Taylor, *Stewart Middle Magnet School*, will receive $980. Students will perform water quality testing and conduct a field study at Crystal Springs Preserve.
* Andria Keene, *Strawberry Crest High School*, will receive $2,999. Students will conduct field studies and perform water tests, creating public service announcements about what they discover.
* Nicole Weingart, *Sulphur Springs Elementary School*, will receive $1,175. Students will use weather monitoring equipment and the District's 3–5 Watershed Resource Box to learn about the water cycle.
* Julie Sackles, *Tampa Bay Technical High School*, will receive $1,182. Students will learn how to evaluate water quality and aquatic biodiversity and the impact of land use on water quality.
* Emily Petrilli, *Tomlin Middle School*, will receive $1,020. Students will take water quality samples and learn about freshwater species, documenting their results in newsletters and sixth-grade curriculum units.
* Virginia Frissell, *Twin Lakes Elementary School*, will receive $2,385. Students will engineer planting beds for vegetable gardens and recycle food scraps and yard waste to return nutrients to the soil.
* Russell Wallace, *Valrico Elementary School*, will receive $979. Students will test water quality and design a drain filter, learning how stormwater pollution affects freshwater resources.
* Wendy Weber, *Walker Middle Magnet School*, will receive $2,913. Students will simulate the Floridan and Tampa limestone aquifers using rain barrels and soaker hoses.
* Kristy Carew, *Wharton High School*, will receive $1,530. Students will develop lessons, activities and games to use while teaching preschool students the importance of protecting watersheds.
* Ken Wood, *Wharton High School*, will receive $1,367. Students will set up a river tank in the classroom and try to simulate conditions found in the field.
In addition to the county's public schools, two private organizations were awarded Splash! grants.
* Teresa Gonzalez-White, *Florida Environmental Education Center*, will receive $1,342. Students will learn how to create a garden using Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles and design and install a micro-irrigation system.
* Sharon Mejia, *Lee Academy for Gifted Education*, will receive $1,241. Students will compare the water use of hydroponic, container and conventional gardens.
This year 157 Splash! grants were awarded across the District's 16 county region to educate students on Florida's water.
The goal of the Splash! school grant program is to provide teachers with funding to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources issues. Splash! school grants provide up to $3,000 per school on a reimbursement basis and are available to public, charter and private school teachers.
Past Splash! grant projects include student monitoring of local water quality, environmental field studies and outreach campaigns designed to encourage water conservation.
In addition to Splash! grant funding, the District offers free teacher professional development workshops and curriculum materials. The publications are correlated to Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards and can also be ordered on the District's website at "WaterMatters.org/publications/.":/publications