Sixty-nine Hillsborough County teachers are among the record number of educators who applied for and received Splash! mini-grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
This year the District awarded Splash! mini-grants to 209 educators totaling more than $413,000. That’s 72 more grant recipients than last year.
Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the increase in awardees to an increase in promotion among the District’s school board contacts and classroom teachers, as well as decreases in school budgets.
“These teachers are receiving a small amount of money but are able to accomplish so much,” said Hull. “Mini-grant recipients also utilize the District’s great collection of curriculum materials as well as learn about other opportunities, including teacher training and District-funded field trips in their region.”
The Hillsborough County awardees include:
- Jennifer Adriani,The Learning Gate Community School, will receive $1,160.47. Students will learn about the importance of Florida-friendly landscaping and the benefit of drought-resistant plants by creating and maintaining a garden. They will educate the community based on what they have learned.
- Michelle Anderson,Doris Ross Reddick Elementary School, will receive $2,660.44. Students will learn how to properly collect and reuse rainwater for irrigation purposes, which they will use on a garden they will plant. They will also record the amount of rainfall collected and document the growth of their plants, as well as create booklets based on their experiences.
- Kelly Apple,The Learning Gate Community School, will receive $1,799.75. Students will learn about the benefit of native amphibian populations by assessing current populations and creating a native frog sanctuary. They will also test water sources on campus and discuss the importance of having clean water for all living things.
- E. Balthazor,Louis Benito Middle School, will receive $1,707. Students will visit the Museum of Science and Industry’s (MOSI) WeatherQuest interactive exhibit to learn about local weather patterns. They will also work cooperatively to record and manage a campus weather collection and produce an informative, reader-friendly brochure.
- Bronwyn Bayless,Lockhart Elementary Magnet School, will receive $1,016.22. Students will take field trips to Tampa Water Works Park and McKay Bay Nature Park to perform water quality testing. They will also use water-related resources in the classroom including kits and supplemental materials.
- Peggy Carey,Willis Peters Exceptional Center at Dover Elementary School, will receive $1,275. Students will learn about the importance of water conservation and alternatives to traditional growing techniques by creating a hydroponic garden on campus. They will record the progress of their project through a photo album.
- Rewa Chisholm,Robles Elementary School, will receive $321.04. Students will research ways people can reuse, recycle and reduce their use of water resources by using a variety of supplemental books. They will also participate in several Project WET activities and record their experiences in their own water log journals. Students will share what they have learned through brochures they will create.
- Kelli Coleman,Walter S. Yates Elementary School, will receive $1,212.74. Students will create a butterfly garden where they will be able to observe and learn about the lifecycles of butterflies and plants, as well as the parts of a plant, the water cycle and water conservation.
- Joann Collings,Riverview Elementary School, will receive $1,625. Students will learn about the impact pollutants have on the Alafia River. They will take a field trip and document their experiences.
- Krista Corbin-Keith,Grace M. Ippolito Elementary School, will receive $500. Students will participate in a Florida Aquarium traveling program that will teach them about wetlands and the life that lives within them. They will also use the District’s Watershed Education Resource Box and Water Conservation Kit.
- Leigh Crosson,Colleen Bevis Elementary School, will receive $1,885. Students will use various classroom kits and a groundwater model to learn about the factors which impact the water quality within the Floridan aquifer system.
- Gale Crowe,Freedom High School, will receive $2,071. Students will learn about the Tampa Bay Estuary. They will conduct water quality testing that will focus on common pollutants. Students will also participate in shore-specific activities.
- Sharon Cutler,Lawton Chiles Elementary School, will receive $742.80. Students will construct a solar hydroponics system and conduct water quality testing.
- Hilary Dee,Dover Elementary School, will receive $1,712.95. Students will learn about the value of local ecosystems by constructing a garden and pond. They will label the plants and identify unique characteristics by using microscopes.
- David Denny,Wimauma Elementary School, will receive $3,000. Students will learn how wildlife populations and people depend on the same water and a healthy habitat by creating a riverine (coastal river) model on campus.
- Judy Der,J. S. Robinson Elementary School, will receive $2,595. Students will participate in a restoration project that will involve lost native plants and habitats at Crystal Springs Preserve. They will create books and posters based on their experiences and share them with other members of their school and the community.
- Meg Edwards,St. Johns Episcopal Day School, will receive $1,920. Students will take a field trip to Nature’s Classroom where they will learn about the history of the Hillsborough River and human development over the last 100 years. They will also study the human impact on the water quality at the river’s edge and throughout the watershed.
- Sylvia Ellis,Clair Mel Elementary School, will receive $2,439.60. Students will visit The Florida Aquarium and the Hillsborough Bay to see the effect water use has on the natural systems. Students will collect water samples and view them under microscopes.
- Angelina Ferlita-Spencer,Ernest E. Just Elementary School, will receive $2,600. Students will attend a field trip to Crystal Springs Preserve to see first hand the impact that they can have on the environment. They will apply their knowledge to become water conservation advocates and challenge members of the community to make a difference. Students will participate in traveling programs to teach, inspire and involve other students.
- Susan Ferrell,Dowdell Middle Magnet School, will receive $2,120.95. Students will use macro-invertebrates to determine the health of local water bodies, including the Hillsborough River. They will collect samples and record their findings in journals.
- Jackie Fletcher,Paul R. Wharton High School, will receive $3,000. Students will learn about the Tampa Bay watershed, its sources and the impact of the water’s journey on the health of Tampa Bay. They will conduct water quality tests and sample the biodiversity in and around the freshwater source and the estuarine ecosystem.
- Deborah Flock,Stonewall Jackson Elementary School, will receive $407. Students will read about water, its properties and the water cycle in a variety of books. They will document their own water usage and make reminder notices regarding water conservation to take home and share with their families. They will also investigate water conservation methods involved with hydroponic and traditional gardening.
- Michael Floyd, Jr.,Clair Mel Elementary School, will receive $1,056.92. Students will learn about the water filtering process found in nature (rocks), along with the importance of the water cycle by constructing a pond/ecosystem.
- Virginia Frissell,Twin Lakes Elementary School, will receive $1,407.57. Students will have an opportunity to study water quality and invertebrates by visiting The Florida Aquarium and Fantasy Island. They will collect water quality samples and create photo journals based on their experiences.
- Jennifer Fritz,Gaither High School, will receive $2,000. Students will take a field trip to Crystal Springs Preserve where they will focus on the health of the Hillsborough River.
- Melissa Gembarowski,Family of Christ Christian School, will receive $1,475. Students will participate in Nature’s Classroom and Florida Aquarium programs to learn more about their local watershed. They will read water- related books and conduct water quality testing.
- Kelly Geurts,Barbara Muller Elementary Magnet School, will receive $983.80. Students will learn about hydroponics and compare the water usage with traditional soil-based gardening.
- Teresa Gonzalez-White,Zoo School at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, will receive $1,953.60. Students will learn about water conservation, water quality and natural systems through hands-on experiences like creating a garden and conducting water quality tests. They will track their learning in journals.
- Theresa Graves,John R. Kenly Elementary School, will receive $2,485. Fourth-grade students will build their own water filters and observe and record data. They will also visit Tampa Bay Watch and document their experiences with photos. Their studies will culminate with producing color flyers promoting water conservation and other habits that benefit the environment. First-grade students will visit The Florida Aquarium to study Florida wildlife. They will design posters demonstrating what they have learned.
- Lindsay Green,Dr. Richard Ford Pride Elementary School, will receive $2,900. Students will take a field trip to Tampa Bay Watch where they will learn about estuarine habitats, biodiversity, animal adaptations, interdependent relationships and water quality. They will share what they have learned through educational signs.
- Neysa Grevert,Cambridge Christian School, will receive $2,379.76. Students will visit The Florida Aquarium and tour Tampa Bay. They will also conduct water quality testing and teach younger students at the school about what they learned through puzzles, drawings, model-making and stories about water and water-related topics.
- Jane Gucciardo,Bob Martinez Middle School, will receive $413.79. Students will continue the stormwater stencil and spray paint program they began two years ago. They will also take a field trip to the Brooker Creek Preserve. Based on their experiences, they will create Brooker Creek watershed adventure books for the fourth-grade class library at McKitrick Elementary School. They will also create brochures for the community.
- Rachael Heuer,East Bay High School, will receive $472. Students will learn about the importance of water quality by conducting tests on local sites and the surrounding soil.
- Tena Hopper,West Shore Elementary School, will receive $1,614. Students will learn about the value of Florida-friendly landscaping by visiting MOSI’s Bio Works Butterfly Garden and creating their own garden on campus. They will learn how to maintain a Florida-friendly landscape, and how to use rain barrels.
- Loretta Joseph,King’s Kids Academy, will receive $1,883. Students will study and restore a local pond system. Their project will include water quality testing and viewing samples under microscopes. Students will share their findings with the community through a newsletter.
- Sarah Jane Kemp,West Tampa Elementary School, will receive $1,700. Students will visit MOSI and learn about the importance of sustaining a healthy water supply. They will record their experiences in journals.
- Heidi Koplin,J. R. Brooker Elementary School, will receive $1,025. Students will restore an area on campus by planting a Florida-friendly garden. They will monitor the decrease in stormwater runoff and erosion. A field trip to The Florida Aquarium will further enhance the importance of clean water and why stormwater runoff should be as clean as possible.
- Ruth Lasher,W.B. Dickenson Elementary School, will receive $2,791. Students will understand the importance of water conservation by measuring their own usage and recording their findings in journals. They will also maintain a garden and read supplemental books, as well as share what they’ve learned with their families through skits and posters.
- Jacqueline LeJeune,Lockhart Elementary Magnet School, will receive $1,538.78. Students will learn about the many fresh water systems in Florida by taking field trips to Cockroach Bay and The Florida Aquarium. They will also conduct water quality testing.
- Katherine Long,General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Elementary School, will receive $1,575. Students will expand their knowledge of watersheds by watching related DVDs and taking a field trip to the Brooker Creek Preserve. They will share what they have learned through a series of infomercials, which will be televised throughout the school. Students will also create posters to share their knowledge.
- Meichelle Long,Terrace Community Middle School, will receive $1,945. Student groups will work together to produce an interpretive walk along the Tampa Bay Bypass Canal, which borders the school property. Together they will research a topic, choose a focus and organize the information so they can write and illustrate interpretive signs and create trail guides and geo-cashing stations.
- Amanda Maduinc,West Tampa Elementary School, will receive $1,030. Students will visit The Florida Aquarium and learn about the biodiversity within a freshwater resource, as well as the critical need to preserve these precious resources.
- Gina Mason,Cypress Creek Elementary School, will receive $2,547.71. Students will learn about the value of hydroponics by constructing and maintaining their own garden on campus. They will share what they’ve learned through a printed newsletter.
- Denise Mcilwaine,Harold H. Clark Elementary School, will receive a District watershed education resource box to teach her students about the functions of watersheds.
- Karen Mears,Lillian Symmes Elementary School, will receive $985.50. Students will learn about the water cycle. They will read various non-fiction books and visit The Florida Aquarium.
- Rosanne Mennie,Harold H. Clark Elementary School, will receive $1,823. Students will construct a garden on campus and learn about the needs of local wildlife.
- Cindy Nagel,Northwest Elementary School, will receive $1,285. Students will construct a garden on campus and use rain barrels for irrigation. They will discuss water conservation methods and share their learning with their families and the community via a school-wide newsletter.
- Linda Norton,Sergeant Paul Smith Middle School, will receive $1,391.60. Students will gain an understanding of Tampa Bay, its history and the need for water conservation by visiting Tampa Bay Watch and participating in the Fort DeSoto Excursion. They will also use a District watershed education resource box and create displays based on what they learn.
- Brittain Ogle,Trinity School for Children, will receive a District watershed education resource box and water conservation kit to teach students about the Hillsborough River as a freshwater resource for people, animals and plants. They will also learn how the river has changed over time.
- Cheryl Pahl,Hunter’s Green Elementary School, will receive $2,970. Students will explore water’s role in a variety of environments by taking field trips to Dames Cave, Crystal Springs Preserve and the Veolia Water Treatment Plant. They will create books and posters as a result of their experiences.
- Linda Pittman,Lockhart Elementary Magnet School, will receive $450. Students will learn about Florida-friendly landscaping by creating and maintaining a garden on campus.
- Erin Pongrace,Booker T. Washington Elementary School, will receive $1,038. Students will learn the impact the water’s journey has on the health and biodiversity of the Everglades River and the ecosystems which depend on the river’s water source for survival. Students will conduct water quality tests and record results.
- Marion Pricher,Dorothy Thomas Center, will receive $1,450. Students will create a plant walk after visiting the Crystal Springs Preserve. They will also incorporate a garden with education signage and promote the walk through brochures and other related media.
- Julie Sackles,Tampa Bay Technical High School, will receive $2,176. Students will learn about the Hillsborough River watershed, how water quality and aquatic biodiversity are evaluated, the impact of land use on water quality and the impact of nonnative vegetation on waterways and water supply by visiting the Crystal Springs Preserve. They will share their experiences by creating brochures and distributing them to the school community
- Nikki Schmidt,Grover Cleveland Elementary School, will receive $1,400. Students will learn about the flora and fauna of the Hillsborough River ecosystem. They will share their experiences with the school community by creating their own artwork.
- Gerry Ann Sciacca,Harold H. Clark Elementary School, will receive a District water conservation kit to teach students about the value of conserving Florida’s water.
- Robert Smith,Dorothy Thomas Center, will receive $2,112.67. Students will study local ecology using books, videos and a microscope. They will also use a field kit.
- Sharon Smith,Henry Claywell Elementary School, will receive $1,242.85. Students will learn about the function of a watershed and the animals that make their homes in the surrounding habitats.
- Betty Starling,Robles Elementary School, will receive $1,910. The first-grade students will visit The Florida Aquarium to learn about water conservation and the importance of clean water for humans and animals. Water savings surveys will be sent home for ways to save water at home and school. A selection of survey findings will be published in the school newsletter.
- Charlene Stouffer,Booker T. Washington Elementary School, will receive $1,659.10. Students will plan a campaign to clean-up the school campus and surrounding neighborhood. They will also use a pollution kit, a water cycle activity set and videos to supplement learning, as well as visit The Florida Aquarium.
- Jessica Strauss,Dale Mabry Elementary School, will receive $1,268.45. Students will understand the limited availability of water and methods to help reuse water through filtration and wastewater plants. They will conduct a series of experiments to simulate water filtration and purification techniques. Students will also have an opportunity to visit the Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- Sarah Thompson,Lockhart Elementary Magnet School, will receive $1,995. Students will learn about the benefits of hydroponics after visiting Grace’s Hydro-Organic Garden Center and creating their own garden. They will supplement their learning with related books.
- Terri Thompson,Florida College Academy, will receive $1,490. Students will introduce native plants into a garden to provide water saving habitats for wildlife. They will create programs and publicity letters to share what they’ve learned.
- Cathy Townsend,Lincoln Elementary Magnet School of Technology, will receive $1,512.76. Students will learn about water conservation and how to be “water-wise”. Nonfiction and picture books will be used in their studies, as well as a visit to The Florida Aquarium, where they will participate in several related hands-on interactive exhibits. Students will keep journals of their experiences.
- Matthew Turner,Mary Bryant Elementary School, will receive $1,327. Students will create mini-aquatic habitats to learn about the interdependent workings of ecosystems. They will also conduct water quality testing and soil sampling.
- Nikki Velez,Linda Hortense Mintz Elementary School, will receive $2,462. Students will attend a field trip to Lowry Park Zoo, which will emphasize wetland animals. They will explore the interaction between animals and their habitats. Through the use of supplemental books, students will research various habitats and animals’ need for clean water.
- Adam Wolford,The Learning Gate Community School, will receive $2,022.08. Students will use a variety of classroom kits, books, models and flashcards to study the effects pollutants can have on water quality and their impact on the overall surrounding environment. They will research methods to prevent or cleanup these materials safely and effectively.
- Patrice Woods-Skinner,Hillsborough County Head Start, will receive $4,998.10. Hillsborough County Head Start will target five centers (16 classrooms) across the county to participate in creating “nature green spaces” on their campuses. Students will learn to conserve water in these spaces, as well as in the indoor classroom.
- Judith Behrens,Kids Community College Charter School, will receive $1,000. Students will take a field trip to Nature’s Classroom. They will also learn about various methods to conserve water using the District’s water conservation kit and supplemental resource books. They will create fliers, brochures and posters, which they will share with members of the school community.
Last year 36 mini-grants were awarded in Hillsborough County.
The goal of the mini-grant program is to promote hands-on water resources education that teaches students about their local watersheds and the water resources within them. Splash! mini-grants provide up to $5,000 per school on a reimbursement basis only and are available to public, private and home school teachers.
Past mini-grant projects include water quality monitoring of local lakes and rivers, the development of water-conserving gardens on school properties, and outreach campaigns designed to promote awareness of water-conserving practices.
In addition to mini-grant funding, the District offers educators free teacher training workshops, speakers for classroom presentations and free educational materials. The publications are correlated to Florida’s Sunshine State Standards and can also be ordered on the District’s web site at www.WaterMatters.org/publications/ .