The excitement at the East Grand Rapids Public Schools’ “Opening Day” celebration at the start of the school year is hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t been there. The enthusiasm from teachers and staff is incredible, and it peaks when the Foundation announces the recipients of the Excellence in Teaching Awards and the James and Georgia Nicholas Endowed Award for Math, Science and Technology.
This year’s Excellence in Teaching Award recipients were Breton Downs Elementary teacher Christy Gast, Wealthy Elementary teacher Christen Sarjeant, and East Grand Rapids Middle School teacher Kristine DiVita. Lakeside Elementary teacher Kristen Lecours was honored with the James and Georgia Nicholas Endowed Award for a Teacher of Math, Science, or Technology.
“Our teachers work tirelessly on behalf of our students,” says Foundation Executive Director Amy Stuursma. “It’s extremely difficult to single out any teachers from all the amazing educators in our district. This year, we even had a tie for the elementary level, so we gave out two awards. For these teachers to be chosen is truly an outstanding accomplishment.”
The presentation of the Excellence in Teaching awards kicked off an extraordinary year for the Foundation. This year, thanks to its donors, the Foundation is prepared to provide $700,000 for our students and schools in the form of program support, classroom grants, professional development, and teacher and student scholarships. It’s the largest donation the Foundation has ever made from its endowment in a single year.
In students’ time in East Grand Rapids Public Schools from kindergarten through graduation, the Foundation will contribute more than $6 million to their education.
“Our mission is to enrich the experience of all our students by investing in programs and educational enhancements that support the whole child,” Stuursma says. “These teachers are shining examples of how the district, the Foundation, and our community work together to provide unsurpassed opportunity for our students.”
