A duck race in July led to smiling faces in December.

With Santa Claus by their side, members of the Kingfi sher Educational Foundation made their way through the various Kingfisher Public Schools campuses just before the holiday break.

They weren’t just spreading cheer, but good fortune as well.

The KEF was delivering the good news to teachers who were being awarded grants through the foundation.

All told, the KEF announced the disbursement of $60,934.01 in teacher grants.

The grants support innovative classroom teaching tools and materials which provide teachers the opportunity to enrich and supplement their basic curriculum.

The 37 teacher grants were awarded from the following funding sources: $56,251.46 from KEF, $1,489 from KPS funds and $3,193.55 through taxpayer investments in the GO Public Schools Innovation Fund.

“It’s an honor to serve our public school system here in Kingfisher by raising funds that we can give back to our teachers to invest in their students to enhance learning inside and outside the classroom,” said David Blair, KEF president.

While teachers are no doubt happy to see KEF members - and Santa - on “award day,” it’s also a rewarding experience for the KEF members.

“I love watching the teachers’ faces light up when we knock on their door with Santa to deliver some good news right before the Christmas break,” Blair said.

“I recognize this means a lot to them, and I can’t wait to see its positive impact on them and their students.”

The KEF’s main fundraising mechanism is the annual Duck Race held annually on July 4 at the Vernie Snow Aquatic Center.

“I want to thank our community for their continued support of KEF and to all who bought a duck or donated this past year,” Blair said.

“It means a lot, especially right now when our school system’s budget is tighter than in previous years.”

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization also accepts donations (See advertisement on Page 3).

Projects funded this year include:

Gilmour Elementary

Janie Erwin (PreK/TK team) - IT materials replacement and storage ($184.64) Becky Hart - PreK/TK playground ($15,268.26) Janet Hood - Mold and play sensory sand/10 lbs ($198.75) Teri Hopkins - Philosophy Gym-half balance ball exercise trainers ($131.98) and horizontal climbing wall holds ($531.40) Rachel Ince - Listening center and books on CD ($1,162.65) Samantha Ingram - Math manipulatives, games and centers ($2,368.43) Maria Jimenez - Listen and read ($898.58) Carla Marshall - Getting to the Core of Things ($304.52) Steffanie Stephenson and Amanda Upchurch Lakeshore ($3,210.71) Melissa Warren - STEM learning ($755.40) and Magnetic design center ($427.39)

Heritage Elementary

Lesley Redwine - Books for Bookworms ($1,000)

Upper Elementary

Katy Buckner - Fifth grade science supplies ($267.30) Lorie Denton - Flexible seating ($2,000 of $8,412 requested) Katelyn Dissinger - Enriching students minds with class sets of novels ($419.65) Morgan Finley - Using technology to facilitate creativity in art ($669.85) Sierra Harney - Enhancing math education through interactive technology: LCD tablets and Jeopardy ($594.74) Lara Kostka - Game On: Nurturing SEL in Small Groups ($690.07) Melody Kuehn - Spheros intheClassroom($3,518.89) and Robots and Rockets ($2,580.50) Jannason Long - The “Art”ofLanguage($841.72) Mandy Owens - Recorder Quintet ($757.47) Tracy Stephenson, Katelyn Dissinger, Mark Redwine, Jannason Long and Sierra Harney - Enriching Curriculum with Virtual Reality Headsets ($1,589) Liz Walter - Library books for classroom ($208.49) Liz Walter, Misty Blundell, Coni Kitchens, Amanda Matthews and Katy Buckner - Gaga Ball ($1,489/KPS funded)

Junior High School

Micah Daugherty - Geography Continent Study ($342) Whitney Hauser - Student Novel Study ($971.25) Mandy Horn - Novel Classroom Set ($1,665)

High School

AJ Johnson - The Bill of Obligations ($1,200) Mandy Owens - Stand racks ($1,390) Jan Swart - Anatomy, Zoology and STEM materials/ curriculum training ($3,863.17)

Multi-school

Lesley Redwine - Bibliobus ($3,723.99) Steffanie Stephenson, Amanda Upchurch, Starla Wittrock - printer and furniture ($2,515.66) Kayla Voth, Lacey Kuehn, Nikki Young - Take Flight Therapist continuing education training ($630), Take Flight Therapy classroom ($500) and Take Flight Therapy classroom and supplemental therapy program resources ($2,063.55) all funded by GO Public Schools