Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public School Jan/Feb 2016 | Page 9
Sardis Elementary students are getting creative with Makerspaces thanks to LIFT grant
When students walk into the media center at Sardis Elementary, they have
the opportunity to let their creative juices flow thanks to a special
section of the library called “makerspaces.”
“Makerspaces is all about creativity,” said Blair Austin, Sardis’ media
coordinator. “It’s where kids come in and make things.”
When the idea of makerspaces was born, Austin applied for a $500
Leadership and Innovation Funding for Teachers (LIFT) grant with the Union
County Education Foundation. This is the first year LIFT grants have been
awarded.
Austin, the first recipient of a LIFT grant, said the funding would enhance
her school’s media center, and help accomplish her goal of providing more
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experiences at her school.
Now students will be able to practice and apply the scientific process to
explore their own interests.
Amy Sperry, the executive director of the Union County Education
Foundation, said the grant awards are based on innovative ideas. Judges were
so impressed with Austin’s idea they gave her $1,500, three times what she
had requested in her grant application.
“Her grant was really well written, innovative and creative,” Sperry said.
“She is going to do engineering stations in the media center that she is calling
Blair Austin, a Sardis Elementary School media coordinator,
‘makerspaces.’ It has Legos and other things were students could come in and
at left, stands with her principal, Theresa Benson, after
build.”
receiving a $1,500 LIFT grant from the Union County
Austin was kept in the dark about winning the grant, only finding out
Education Foundation.
during a surprise celebration held in her media center. As she walked through
the door with her principal Theresa Benson, she was greeted with cheers and rousing applause.
“This draws on my art background that I love so much,” said Austin. “It’s all about inquiry, kids having their own questions and being
creative, making new things, inventions.”
Twenty-four of the 68 teachers who applied for the LIFT grants were awarded their requested grant money. These ranged from $250 to
$1,500. Since 2013, the Union County Education Foundation has awarded a total of $57,000 to 126 teachers through grants.
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Parent Teacher News • Jan/Feb 2016 • 7