The Madison Central School Educational Foundation announced the Norm Johnson Educator Grant awards this spring. Foundation Director, Renae Prostrollo, said, “The MCSEF encourages and rewards innovation in the classroom and provides educational and enrichment opportunities for students and staff beyond what is provided for within the school budget. Every year, we allocate more money for these grants and every year. We work hard to find additional funds so we can fund more of the requests- you keep us growing!”

The foundations Norm Johnson Innovative Grant is for technology and classroom tools, books, and subscriptions, or experiences that innovate or enhance an educator’s classroom.

Becky Fjerstad & Michelle Stark, 100 copies of the book “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls for their 5th grade elementary classroom; 1st grade teacher Michelle Hojer, diversifying her classroom with 27 new books; Middle School teacher, Valerie Wilkens, added flexible seating to her 8th grade reading classroom; 4th grade teacher, Casey Materese, hands on Math tools, to give her 4th grade students a hands-on experience with numbers and math concepts; Wilkens & Middle School teacher Jennifer Flemming, teaching Reading with Informational Texts-Scope Magazine; 7th grade Science teacher, Jeff Larsen, Spero Coding with soccer/space mat; Fjerstad, Barton Reading and Spelling, a tutoring system for children, teenagers or adults who are struggle with reading, spelling, and writing due to dyslexia or a learning disability; Special Education teachers, Amanda Klawonn & Marcella Hofman, Scholastic Scope, Scholastic Action, and Scholastic Choices magazines.

The Norm Johnson Educator Enhancement Grant is for professional development opportunities for educators. The following educators received awards to help them attend professional development opportunities:

3rd grade teacher, Lindsey Dietterle, What School Could be book study; 4th grade Casey Materese, 2nd grade Megan Janke, 4th grade Darcie Kavanagh, & Special Education Erin Szilvasi, Behavior is Language course; 6th grade Jennifer Flemming, Windows & Mirrors-an online self-paced workshop.

Back (l to r) Megan Janke, Becky Fjerstad, Darcie Kavanagh, Michelle Hojer, Renae Prostrollo. Front (l to r): Michelle Stark, Lindsey Dietterle, Casey Materese, Erin Szilvasi.

The Foundation also awarded two Performing and Fine Arts grant. Dawn Wiebers, L.A tech support, a workshop regarding costumes, set design, costume shop details to assist new tech crew members; High School Art’s teacher, Cassandra Grogan, received a new photography camera to use in her new Photography class.

During the 2020-21 school year, the MCSEF awarded $5137 grants to better prepare the teachers, students, and staff in our school district. If you would like to donate to the Norm Johnson or Performing & Fine Arts grants, please contact executive director, Renae Prostrollo at renae.prostrollo@k12.sd.us.