Thanks to the generosity of Kingfisher Public School supporters and an effective collaboration with school administration, the Kingfisher Educational Foundation and Santa delivered a total of $46,756.76 in teacher grants last week.

The primary focus of KEF, the grants support innovative classroom teaching tools and materials, allowing teachers to enrich and supplement their basic curriculum.

The 35 teacher grants were awarded from the following funding sources: $31,674.36 from KEF, $13,175.99 from the KPS funds and $1,906.41 through taxpayer investments in the GO Public Schools Innovation Fund.

KPS Superintendent Dr. Daniel Craig and Gilmour and Heritage school principal Shane Hood also were on hand for the grant award presentations.

“KEF is great to work with. They care so much about Kingfisher Public Schools and its staff and students,” Craig said.

“Our teachers are excited to apply for and receive the grants each year because they allow us to do so many things in the classroom.”

Some of the projects funded this year include:

•Yellow Jacket Café – Kingfisher High School teacher Aniessa Edsall requested funds for an espresso machine, programmable coffee maker and restaurant cart so that KHS special needs students in her life skills class can learn to prepare coffee and specialty beverages for faculty members. “The purpose of Yel

“The purpose of Yellowjacket Café is to give our special needs students the opportunity to learn vital life skills in a hands-on way,” Edsall wrote in her application.

•RealityWorks Butcher Beef Cut Model – FFA ad viser Megah Thormodsgard requested funds for a lifelike beef carcass consisting of four quartered sections with magnetic pieces that separate into different cuts of beef to be used by ag students in grades 8-12.

“Not only does this model give a great visual representation of what a carcass will look like on the rail or in a packing plant but accurately depicts all of the muscle anatomy and bone structures,” Thormodsgard wrote.

Among other projects funded are a STEAM lab, including equipment and consumables that will allow students to experience hands-on application of science, technology, engineering and arts principles.

Music teachers Diann Magnus and Teresa Greco were awarded funds for World Music Drumming training and equipment to expand a program that fosters cooperation and team building as well as music skills in students in that discipline.

A myriad of other projects designed to enrich and enhance classroom experiences also were funded.

“The record-breaking donations we’ve received the last couple of years have allowed us to provide encouragement and support to teachers and students during especially challenging times,” KEF board member Brooke Bollenbach said.

“The KEF board is so grateful to the community’s continued support of our mission to enrich KPS classrooms.”