Manatee County Teachers Awarded Grants for Water Resources Education Projects

News Release

Seventeen Manatee 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 Manatee County to the strong partnership with Manatee County Schools. Judy Griffin, curriculum specialist for Manatee County Schools, serves as the District's liaison to teachers and helped get the word out.

"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 Manatee County awardees are:

* Ellena Huston, *Ballard Elementary School*, will receive $3,000. Students will conduct on-site field studies of the Ballard Pond-Wares Creek ecosystem.

* MaryBeth Croome, *Bashaw Elementary School*, will receive $3,000. Students will explore the ecology of a watershed on a field study of Myakka River State Park.

* Diana Jorgensen, *Bayshore Elementary School*, will receive $1,680. Students will travel to Emerson Point Preserve for hands-on water education activities led by professional naturalists.

* Sharon Itts, *Braden River High School*, will receive $2,890. Students will visit the local water treatment plant and other locations to learn about water quality and watersheds.

* Jane Beach, *Braden River Middle School*, will receive $714. Students will plant a demonstration garden using native plants and compare its water use to traditional landscaping.

* Sarah Mitchell, *G.D. Rogers Garden Elementary School*, will receive $1,149. Students will study the school's retention pond to learn about watersheds and stormwater runoff.

* Jodie White, *Imagine School at North Manatee*, will receive $2,999. Students will conduct experiments to demonstrate the fragility of local watersheds and ecosystems.

* Deborah Peters, *Johnson Middle School*, will receive $2,238. Students will transplant marsh grasses and monitor water quality.

* Elston Brown, *Lincoln Middle School*, will receive $2,997. Students will conduct field studies of the Little Manatee River, performing water quality tests and observing natural systems.

* Kim Thomas, *Myakka City Elementary School*, will receive $3,000. Students will explore the ecology of a watershed on a field study of Myakka River State Park.

* Victoria Kocher, *Oneco Elementary School*, will receive $1,584. Students will maintain the school garden and collect water from rain barrels.

* Alyson Colosia, *Palmetto Elementary School*, will receive $2,990. Students will explore the ecology of a watershed on a field study of Myakka River State Park.

* Joan Ortiz, *R. Dan Nolan Middle School*, will receive $2,975. Students will survey the water quality of campus ponds.

* Amy Ross Bradl, *Robert E. Willis Elementary School*, will receive $2,733. Students will study slides of pond water, create working water filters, test water quality and build terrariums to illustrate the water cycle.

* Mindy Walsh, *Rowlett Elementary School*, will receive $2,919. Students will explore the ecology of a watershed on a field study of Myakka River State Park.

* John Schultz, *Stewart Elementary School*, will receive $2,139. Students will conduct field studies to learn about natural systems, watersheds, water quality and conservation.

In addition to the county's public schools, one private school was awarded a Splash! grant.

* Greg Beekhuizen, *Bradenton Christian School*, will receive $854. Students will monitor school retention ponds, preparing field guides of the organisms found in the ponds.

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