Local public school teachers will again make their world their classroom this summer, thanks to nearly $100,000 in travel grants.Local public school teachers again will make their world their classroom this summer, thanks to nearly $100,000 in travel grants.
PEF granted awards to 31 Hamilton County teachers, who will travel to Africa, Costa Rica and the Mediterranean, among other destinations. The self-designed trips, to be made individually or in groups, are made possible by the national nonprofit Fund for Teachers. Organizers hope teachers' lessons learned will translate into enriched teaching back at home.
"Returning from their fellowships, we know that these teachers will change the trajectory of learning for their students through their new insights, skills, and experiences," PEF President Dan Challener said in a statement.
Last summer, 27 local teachers made such trips.
Local teachers winning awards this year are:
Elisabeth Zacha, Apison Elementary
Ann-Marie Blentlinger and Karen West, Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts
Vinnie Taneja, Clifton Hills Elementary
Brittany Harris and Mauriska Munroe, Hardy Elementary
Amanda Lafferty, Beth McCoy, Heather O'Brien and Jennifer Zeigler, Normal Park Museum Magnet Lower School
Jennifer Hartley, Spring Creek Elementary
Leigh Bain, Wallace A. Smith Elementary
Christy Baker, Jessica Carlton, Brenda Holmes, Jill Smith and Jami Standridge, Hunter Middle
Ann Souza, Loftis Middle
Trey Joyner, Normal Park Museum Magnet Upper School
Bryan Phillips, Hamilton County High
Maika Turner, Hixson High
Andrea McGuirt and Heather McIntyre, Ooltewah High
Chuck Jones, Red Bank High
Nozipho Moyo, Red Bank High
Erin Bas, Dan Morgan, Kawanna Potier, Jennifer Raulston, Deb Tucker and Jessica Ulloa Chinchilla, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences
Learn more about the trips at pefchattanooga.org.