Teachers Tracy Paro of Oshki Ogimaag (left) and Kathleen O’Neill of Sawtooth Mountain Elementary are the first recipients of a new scholarship, the Frank DiMaio Fund for Creativity and Experimentation. With them is Jordan, one of the students who will benefit from what the new fund will offer.
The Frank DiMaio Fund for Creativity and Experimentation was developed by Lyle Gerard in honor of a fallen fellow soldier from World War II and contributed to by Joan Drury. This fund is to allow Cook County teachers the opportunity to write a small grant between $100 and $1,000 to support a new or creative idea for use in the classroom.
This first year three grants have been awarded:
. Sawtooth Elementary teacher Kathleen O’Neill will be using her funds to help keep students and families motivated to stay healthy during their summer months away from school.
. Oshki Ogimaag teacher Tracy Paro requested funds to purchase snowshoes to include both the physical and cultural heritage of using snowshoes in her classroom.
. Great Expectations teacher Anne Mundell will be developing a new art program that will be taught in a Spanish immersion format and concentrates on Latin American masterpieces.
The fund is currently under the auspices of Cook County KIDS PLUS with three separate board members that include two rotating teachers and one permanent member. If you would like to donate to this fund or would like more information regarding the Frank DiMaio Fund, contact current board members Diane Booth, Sue Butter or Jana Larson.
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