Owasso Teachers Awarded Over $70,000 In Grant Money To Fund New Projects

Several Owasso teachers are sharing more than $70,000 in grant money for classrooms across the district. The money allows teachers to pay for projects that otherwise would go unfunded.

The Owasso Education Foundation, a group that raises money through donations from businesses and individuals, awarded the money to teachers last week. Educators are asked to apply for grants on items they can use to help students learn in the classroom.

Scott Bushyhead sits on the board for the foundation and says they do not know which teacher or school is applying for the grant unless it is chosen to be funded. Members of the board traveled with district officials last week to the different school sites to announce the grants.

"The teachers are there day in and day out, and they're seeing what can help education every day," said Bushyhead. "The OEF is a group of volunteers that wanted to help those teachers meet those needs."

Jamie Fleming is the Media Center Specialist at Ator Elementary. She's been rewarded more than $8,000 to purchase new virtual reality headsets for students at her school.

Fleming says she is always looking for ways to bring learning to life when applying for grants.

"The students get to be involved, they get to have a hands-on application, they get to experience learning in a different way than sitting in their desk," says Fleming. "I'm always looking for the new and next thing coming out."

Teachers who did not have their grant request selected can apply again next year.