The Nebo Education Foundation is composed of 20 volunteer board members who live in cities serviced by Nebo School District. Board members meet each month to review and award grant requests, consider fund-raising avenues and other items that advance the educational opportunities for Nebo School District students. Many of the donations received are for selected projects, yet a substantial amount is available for the greatest need. Greatest need monies are considered for grants submitted by area schools.
Congratulations to the following teachers that continue to bless the lives of students.
Mapleton Junior – Melissa Heaton
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your support of the teachers and students of Nebo School District--especially your support of me and my students. I'm thankful to you for taking the time to read, discuss, and accept my grant application. I plan on using the money to purchase a class set of No Barriers (Young Adult Adaptation): A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon. This is a high interest, nonfiction novel about Erik Weihenmayer’s adventure kayaking down the Grand Canyon. While my students read this inspirational novel, I hope they will see how they may navigate their own challenges in life as well as learn essential reading and writing skills,” stated Melissa Heaton, English teacher at Mapleton Junior. “It’s challenging these days to find novels that meet learning standards, motivate and connect with students, and fit the values of surrounding communities. When I discovered and read No Barriers, I knew it met all of those requirements. Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for a class set of the novels. But, thanks to the generosity of the Nebo Education Foundation and matching funds from Mapleton Junior High, I’m now able to share this inspirational book with my students. Thank you! The generosity of your time, talents, and desire to make a difference has made a difference to me and my students now and in the future.”
Brookside Elementary – Kara Richins
Kara Richins, music teacher at Brookside said, “Thank you so much for approving Brookside's grant request! We are so grateful for this opportunity. We will be purchasing the rights to the show, The Jungle Book, for our fourth and fifth graders to perform in April for our students, our parents, and our community. The Nebo Education Foundation is an exceptional program that benefits so many in our school district and we are extremely grateful to be recipients this year!”
Spanish Fork Junior – Charlotte Whiteside
“THANK YOU Nebo foundation for supporting Spanish Fork Junior High. Our idea is to provide a collaborative, STEM focused after-school program that will help students to feel more invested in their education/school work, curious about STEM, and belonging in the SFJH community. Starting in January, this program will meet once a month after school and feature a build challenge, a bio for an individual in a STEM field, and reading enrichment (STEM related). Y'all believed in our program and gave us our starting point. We can't wait to share more about topics such as physics, magnetism, technology assisted art, robots, and basics of electricity with our students,” explained Charlotte Whiteside, STEM teacher at Spanish Fork Junior.
Mt. Nebo Middle – Kaylee Pehrson
Kaylee Pehrson, English teacher at Mt. Nebo Middle said, “I am so honored and grateful for the Nebo Education Foundation approving my grant request. We are very excited to receive our new classroom novels, A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park and Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Reading novels together brings so much joy to my students, when we can rally together to really understand and comprehend a text, it is life changing. The novel, A Long Walk to Water, will help me teach my students about hope, compassion, gratitude and perseverance. Words on Fire, is an incredible book that teaches children how to be empathetic, show kindness to others who are different and how to be a light in dark times. Thank you for this amazing opportunity to get new books into the hands of my students and for the opportunities it will give us to learn and grow together.”
Mt. Nebo Middle – Emma Houghton
“With our Nebo Education Foundation Grant we will be able to raise trout in our classroom in partnership with US Fish and Wildlife and Trout Unlimited. My 7th graders are exploring living organisms this year. We will be able to witness the stages of life through our trout from eggs to embryos to little fish fry. What a unique opportunity to raise trout to feed into our local bodies of water. In the future when my students go fishing or visit a body of water they will be reminded of the life cycle of trout they were able to witness up close. This project matches our community. It gets students comprehending beyond the basic textbook definitions of cell membranes and mitochondria to the biology happening in their backyard. This grant is an investment in the future generation to care about the ecosystems in their communities.” said Emma Houghton, science teacher at Mt. Nebo Middle.
Mt. Nebo Middle – Riley Daniels
“This grant means so much to me and the seventh-grade students as a whole. Being able to enhance learning and growth through hands-on, engaging material is truly what science is all about. Having the chance to be involved in the community is also a unique experience and one that will mean a lot to many who don't have the same opportunities. This grant provides our school with the opportunity to raise trout in our classrooms and observe their growth. This project will help seventh-grade students learn and understand organisms from the earliest life stage all the way through,” said Riley Daniels, science teacher at Mt. Nebo Middle.
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