Organization gives back to educators who went ‘above and beyond’ during pandemic
For the Tomahawk Leader
TOMAHAWK – Tomahawk Extended Area Partners in Education (TEAPIE) last week announced that it had granted funds to three local teachers to help them enhance their students’ education.
“TEAPIE is a non-profit organization comprised of local business leaders working together to promote the vision that all students in our area are successful in the community, their careers, and their lives,” the organization explained. “Our mission is to develop and promote a business, education, and community partnership to fulfill our vision by initiating and supporting policies, programs, education, and training that will help all area students become successful adults.”
The organization noted that while it had been able to complete mock interviews virtually, all of its other events, including Mini Business World, Careers on Wheels, and Farm to Market, had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Knowing how difficult this last year has been, TEAPIE wanted to find a way to give back to our teachers who have had to go above and beyond to give their students the full school experience,” the organization stated. “TEAPIE is pleased to announce that we were able to help three area teachers do just that by granting them $100.00 each to support and foster our mission.”
Mrs. Walters from the Tomahawk Elementary Early Childhood Special Education department plans to update her music and movement instruments.
“Music and movement activities provide children with the opportunity to improve their physical skills such as fine motor, gross motor, and balance,” TEAPIE said. “Music can also help develop cognitive skills such as counting, phonemic awareness, patterning and sequence, and much more.”
Ms. Albright, St. Mary’s Catholic School Kindergarten teacher, was also a grant recipient.
“(Albright) loves that she can engage her class in stem experiences relating to the fairy tales they are familiar with, including problem solving with The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and The Three Bears, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” TEAPIE stated.
Ms. Hrinda, St. Mary’s 2nd and 3rd multiage teacher, will be using funds to build her classroom library with literary and informational texts from the Superkids Curriculum suggested teacher read-alouds.
For more information about TEAPIE and to learn how you can become involved as a volunteer, contact the organization’s officers – Brenda Bartz, President (715-453-5354), Heather Jones, Vice President (715-612-6951), or Jennifer Turkiewicz, Secretary and Treasurer (715-453-7088).
Checks for tax-deductible donations may be made payable to Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, and mailed to Tomahawk Area Partners in Education Fund, to TEAPIE, P.O. Box 531, Tomahawk, Wis., 54487.
TEAPIE can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TEAPIEWI/.