Emmett Public School Foundation

Three additional teachers have been granted support from the Emmett Public School Foundation through the winter cycle of teacher grants given annually through the Foundation’s Dean and Gay Welch Fund housed with the Idaho Community Foundation.  With this round of applications, teachers were awarded $7,477.78. This year the needs were so great that the Emmett Public School Foundation utilized other donations in addition to the Welch fund to cover the total awarded this year of $14,063.55.

These monies were awarded for various purposes, but the main goal is always to enhance the educational experience of our Emmett students.  

Tina Myers, EHS English teacher, on behalf of the English Department, was awarded $2,000 to purchase novel sets to supplement the curriculum and collaborate with other content areas.  

Jeremiah Wright, EMS PE teacher, was awarded $2,977.78 for Track and Field hurdles to be utilized by all Middle School PE classes.  

Brendalynn Love,  Instructional Coach, was awarded $2,500 for headphones for students at Carberry Elementary School.  These will be used for digital learning and end-of-year assessments.

Two more grants are in the process of being revised and/or funded through another source.

The Emmett Public School Foundation has completed its Fall 2021 Teacher Grant cycle.  The Foundation awarded $6,585.77 to four teachers to enhance projects in their classrooms or strengthen the educational process offered to their students. 

Robin Wilson, Emmett High School, was awarded $1,489 to purchase materials to allow students to explore the science used to problem-solve during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The students will learn about biotechnology, DNA and RNA, virus biology, and how organisms interact with viruses.

Jodie Farnsworth was awarded $1,920 to provide a local artist/instructor, who will offer art classes at Black Canyon Junior Senior High. This award will also cover the cost of pottery supplies. 

Annette Lutes was awarded $2,000 to purchase iPADS for intervention programs for her Special Education students at Butte View in first and second grades. 

The second-grade teachers at Shadow Butte, Nikael Miller, Cherie Gervais, and Karina Collier, were awarded $1,176.77 to buy sensory tools for their students and training for the teachers to appropriately use these tools.

These monies are made available annually from a fund set up by the Dean and Gay Welch.  The Foundation is greatly appreciative of any donations that we receive to support our local school district, its families, staff, and students. 

Robin Wilson continues to use the Emmett Public School Foundation grants as a way to enhance her science opportunities for her students.  This year she requested funds to support the introduction of Bioluminescence to all EHS science students. 

Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon where a living organism emits light through a chemical reaction in its body.  Bioluminescence is common in marine organisms and insects, such as the firefly, but can also occur with bacteria and fungi.  Humans have genetically modified non-bioluminescent organisms into bioluminescent, such as sheep and rabbits. 

This type of innovation and reaching beyond the routine curriculum is encouraged by the EPSF through this granting process and filling gaps where usual funding processes just won't cover the costs.  Shown in this picture from the left: Justin Walker, EPSF Board Member; Rick Johnston, EPSF President; Robin Wilson, EHS Science Teacher; Cory Daniels, EPSF Vice-President; and Sue Beitia, EPSF Secretary.

The 2019-20 cycle of Teacher Grants from the Emmett Public School Foundation has been completed.   Teachers from across the Emmett School District have requested funds that are made available from the Welch Fund that comes annually into the Foundation.  This year, $10,070.60 has been granted and these funds will enhance the educational experience for students from Carberry Elementary, Emmett High School, the District Preschool, Special Education students throughout the district, Black Canyon High School, and the Patriot Center.   Pictured are Amy Flohr for Mystery Science materials at Carberry, Robin Wilson for Bioluminescence materials for all EHS Science students, Kim Simpson and Melanie Johnson for Preschool STEM stations materials, Rachel Schaefer for books for the Patriot Center, Rick Francis for books for BCHS, Karen Nichols, Alissa Combe, and Katrina Savitz for a 4th grade Idaho History trip for Carberry.   Not shown is Heather Hardman for e-books and audiobooks for the EHS Library and Tereza Hopewell for Special Education Curriculum. In the second row are members of the Board of the Emmett Public School Foundation - Rick Johnston, President; Cory Daniels, Secretary; Rick Welch, Board Member; Justin Walker, Board Member; and Sue Beitia, Secretary.  The Emmett Public School Foundation greatly appreciates any donations that support our efforts to enhance the educational experience for our Gem County students. 

The Emmett Public School Foundation exists to support the students and staff in our local school system and other educational entities in the Emmett community.  We are happy to report that in examining contributions over the last five years, the Emmett Public School Foundation (EPSF) has been involved in giving over $240,000 to individual teachers, departments, grade levels, schools, and/or the district at large. These monies have supported many improvements in the fine arts departments, science enhancements, band uniforms, individual sports teams’ donations, summer literacy programs, Special Education support, preschool equipment, soccer uniforms, technology, and many grants for individual teacher projects. 

These contributions come in several ways to the Foundation.  One is general donations from individuals or memorial gifts.  The second is utilizing the interest from funds set up for scholarships or teacher grants.  Also, the EPSF works with other 501(c) 3 entities to bring money into the district.  Without the existence of the EPSF as a 501c 3, these last funds would not be a possible source of revenue for the district.  In addition to this support for the district, the EPSF oversees several scholarships and, again, these fall into different categories. Some are set up as a fund that we invest through the Idaho Community Foundation for ongoing scholarships to individual students.  Others are set up through a one-time donation or a direct fund with the EPSF that covers several years of scholarships. 

Legacy giving, business altruistic contributions, and individual donations are the main ways that these generous monetary gifts are possible.  The board of the EPSF would like to thank all the individuals, businesses, and other 501c3 Foundations in our community and beyond for their generous contributions.  This makes it possible for us to support the local educational process with this $240,000 to help education in our community be the best it possibly can be.