Cedar Rapids schools foundation names grant recipients

The Cedar Rapids Community School District Foundation has announced the 2010 recipients of the Ruth Harbour Memorial Scholarship, the Weyerhaeuser Foundation STEM grants, the Ernie Pence Memorial professional development grant, and the CRCS Foundation grants.

Constance Starr, instructional coach at Pierce Elementary School, received the $200 Ruth Harbour Memorial Scholarship to enroll in the PreK-12 principalship program at the University of Northern Iowa. Glenn Varner earth science/principles of technology teacher at Metro High School, and Jennie Kies, technology teacher at Jefferson High School, received $675 Weyerhaeuser Foundation STEM grants to pursue technology-related studies at the University of Northern Iowa. Justin Sands, music teacher at Kennedy High School, received the $400 Ernie Pence Memorial professional development grant to continue working on a Master's degree in music education at VanderCook College of Music.

The Foundation also awarded four professional development grants. Noreen Humphrey, nurse practitioner at Metro High School, received a $160 grant to attend the 2010 Nurse Practitioner Conference. Amy Gardner, teacher/librarian at Erskine and Monroe Elementary Schools, received a $195 grant to attend a conference in Washington D.C. titled “Drawn to Delight: How Picture Books Work (and Play) Today.” Stephanie Grant, paraeducator at Taylor Elementary School, received a $250 grant to attend Grant Wood AEA's paraeducator certification courses. Elizabeth Driskell, band director at McKinley Middle School, received a $250 grant to attend the Iowa Bandmaster's Conference.